Keeper timer setting
T5 UVB: one hour later on, one hour earlier off
During active care — ON: 1 hour after daylight starts.
OFF: 1 hour before daylight ends.
During hibernation / full brumation: T5 UVB OFF (0 hours). In transition months, keep UVB off while dormant and use the active timer only once the animal is warmed and active.
October: daylight 11 h 30 m; T5 UVB 9 h 30 m.
The active T5 duration is the photoperiod minus two hours. Example: daylight 08:00–20:00 means UVB 09:00–19:00. Follow the monthly UVI strength measured beneath the tube and provide access to shade. This timing rule does not introduce hibernation for species whose schedule has only a mild or active winter rest. If an older combined heat / UV column is present, the new T5 UVB duration column governs UVB timing; existing heat settings are preserved.
UVI beneath the optional T5 tube
Working exposure targetOctober target at normal back height
UVI 3-4directly under the tube when it is on
The retained range remains a provisional captive working target. No new species-specific result was found that clearly requires a numerical change. Retaining it is not certification of an experimentally established optimum.
Your measuring point
Measure at the animal's normal back height directly beneath the brightest accessible part of the T5 strip, positioned toward the middle/back. The animal can enter and leave this area freely.
Keep a lower-UVI gradient and fully covered refuges near UVI 0. This is the optional exposure area, not the average across the cage.
Use a UV Index meter, such as a Solarmeter 6.5/6.5R. Warm the tube for about 30 minutes; keep reflector, guards and mesh in place. Raise or lower the fixture within its manufacturer's minimum-distance guidance, then recheck the reading and every higher accessible surface.
Evidence level: Provisional retention. These are working recommendations, often inferred; exact species optima and seasonal UV dose usually have not been measured. Log lamp-on time and animal behaviour as well as UVI.
Baines et al. (2016), UV-Tool · Muryn, Baines and Dishman (2026), Reptile Lighting Guide V10
October management
Selected automatically using the Netherlands date
Recovery / conditioning
Hot xeric lowlands, open rocky ground, dry scrub and altered habitats of Hispaniola; native to Haiti and parts of the Dominican Republic
25-29 CDay ambient
21-23 CNight
38-42 CBasking
3-4T5 UVI*
11 h 30 mPhotoperiod
9 h 30 mT5 UVB duration
45-60 / 60-75%RH day / night*
Morning mist 2-3x/wkSpray / rain
3-4Food*
Annual schedule
Scroll sideways on smaller screens
| Month | Day ambient | Night | Basking | T5 UVI* | Photoperiod | T5 UVB duration | RH day / night* | Spray / rain | Food* | Seasonal management |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | 18-22 C | 17-19 C | Off | Off / 1 | 9 h | Off during rest; 7 h when active | 50-65 / 65-75% | Light morning mist 2x/wk | 0-1 | Short cool / low-light phase |
| February | 24-27 C | 19-21 C | 36-40 C | 3-4 | 11 h | 9 h | 45-60 / 60-75% | Morning mist 2-3x/wk | 3-4 | Wake-up / courtship |
| March | 25-28 C | 20-22 C | 38-42 C | 4-5 | 12 h | 10 h | 45-60 / 60-75% | Morning mist 2-3x/wk | 4-5 | Courtship / mating |
| April | 26-29 C | 21-23 C | 39-43 C | 4-5 | 12 h 30 m | 10 h 30 m | 45-60 / 60-75% | Morning mist; moist nest | 4-5 | Mating / follicles |
| May | 27-30 C | 22-24 C | 40-44 C | 4-5 | 13 h | 11 h | 45-60 / 60-75% | Mist 2-3x/wk; moist nest | 4-5 | Main laying period |
| June | 27-31 C | 22-24 C | 40-44 C | 4-5 | 13 h 15 m | 11 h 15 m | 50-65 / 65-80% | Rain pulse 3x/wk | 4-5 | Laying / incubation |
| July | 27-31 C | 23-25 C | 40-44 C | 4-5 | 13 h | 11 h | 50-65 / 65-80% | Rain pulse 3-4x/wk | 4-5 | Incubation / hatching |
| August | 27-31 C | 23-25 C | 40-44 C | 4-5 | 12 h 45 m | 10 h 45 m | 50-65 / 65-80% | Rain pulse 3-4x/wk | 4 | Hatching / possible repeat laying |
| September | 26-30 C | 22-24 C | 39-43 C | 4 | 12 h | 10 h | 50-65 / 65-80% | Mist 3x/wk | 4 | Recovery / late wet-season activity |
| October | 25-29 C | 21-23 C | 38-42 C | 3-4 | 11 h 30 m | 9 h 30 m | 45-60 / 60-75% | Morning mist 2-3x/wk | 3-4 | Recovery / conditioning |
| November | 24-27 C | 20-22 C | 36-40 C | 3 | 11 h | 9 h | 45-60 / 60-75% | Morning mist 2x/wk | 3 | Dry-season taper |
| December | 22-25 C | 18-20 C | 32-36 C brief | 1-2 | 10 h | 8 h | 50-65 / 65-75% | Light morning mist | 2 then taper | Pre-rest / gut-lightening |
Keeper notes
Use measured gradients and animal behaviour, not single thermostat readings
T5 UVI measurement
Measure UVI at normal back height directly beneath the brightest accessible part of the optional T5 strip. Place the strip toward the middle/back with free access to and away from it; preserve a gradient into fully covered refuges near UVI 0. These numbers describe the exposure area, not the whole enclosure or a daily average.
UVI review
The retained range remains a provisional captive working target. No new species-specific result was found that clearly requires a numerical change. Retaining it is not certification of an experimentally established optimum.
Habitat and enclosure
Terrestrial curlytail of hot, open, xeric lowlands. For one adult use about 120 x 60 x 60 cm or larger; a compatible pair benefits from about 150 x 70 x 70 cm or more. Provide stable rocks, multiple hides and at least 15-20 cm of diggable sand/soil because the species excavates burrows.
Thermal biology
Selected body temperature is about 36.3 C and active wild animals average close to 36 C. Use a local 40-44 C basking surface during the active season but preserve large 24-28 C shaded zones and cooler burrows. UVI 4-5 is a cautious captive translation, not a measured species-wide field UVI.
Humidity
Morning misting can simulate dew, while lower substrate layers should remain slightly moist. Exposed surfaces should dry completely between mistings. A dry-looking enclosure can still contain a protected subsurface humidity gradient; never dry the entire substrate column.
Seasonal rhythm
Do not cold-brumate. An established captive breeding method uses only 3-4 weeks with 8-10 h light and about 18-22 C, followed by gradual return to normal heat and 12-14 h light. Use this only for healthy conditioned adults; keep juveniles warm and feeding.
Diet
Feed varied gut-loaded invertebrates as the staple. Wild stomachs were dominated numerically by ants, with beetle larvae, other hymenopterans, spiders and other arthropods. Occasional soft fruit or flowers may be sampled, but plant food should remain secondary.
Breeding and incubation
Scientific Dominican data give a mean clutch of about 2.47 eggs (range 1-4), while established terrarium accounts report 4-6 eggs. Provide a deep moist nest tunnel zone. A practical incubation starting point is 28-29 C in slightly moist aerated medium; older captive reports give 27-30 C and about eight weeks.
Keeper warning
Both sexes can defend territories from same-sex conspecifics. Never house adult males together. A pair is the safest breeding unit; larger groups need substantially more floor area, heavy visual structure, duplicate resources and immediate separation capacity.