🦎 Spotlight: European Legless Lizard (Pseudopus apodus)

Published 11 July 2025

The European Legless Lizard, also known as the Sheltopusik or Glass Lizard, is often mistaken for a snake — but make no mistake, this is a true lizard. Native to southeastern Europe and western Asia, Pseudopus apodus is a hardy, long-lived, and fascinating species that deserves far more attention in the reptile hobby.

🐍 Not a Snake!

Despite its serpentine appearance, the Sheltopusik has several key differences from snakes:

• It has external ear openings and eyelids
• It possesses vestigial limb remnants (small flaps where legs would be)
• Its jaw doesn’t unhinge — so prey must be reasonably sized

This species is an excellent ambassador for teaching the difference between snakes and legless lizards — and it adds a unique flair to any reptile room.

🏡 Enclosure Setup

Legless lizards are active and benefit from space to roam. A 4x2x2 ft vivarium is the minimum, but more horizontal space is always welcome.

• Substrate: Soil/sand mix, orchid bark, or bioactive substrate to support digging
• Hides: Multiple hides across the temperature gradient
• Enrichment: Branches, tubes, leaf litter, rocks for exploration
• Water: Shallow bowl for soaking and drinking

🌡️ Heating & Lighting

Provide a basking area of 30–32°C, with ambient temps in the 22–25°C range. Night drops are tolerated down to 18°C. Use a halogen basking bulb on a dimming thermostat.

UVB is recommended — 6% output T5 or similar — to support bone health and natural behaviour. Use a 12-hour light cycle.

🍴 Feeding

Sheltopusiks are omnivores and should be fed a varied diet including:

• Insects (crickets, dubia roaches, locusts)
• Snails (a favourite in the wild — calcium-rich!)
• Boiled egg (occasionally)
• Lean meats in moderation
• Fruits and vegetables (grated carrot, leafy greens, squash)

Adults can be fed 2–3 times per week with a varied, portion-controlled diet. Overfeeding leads to obesity, so track their intake.

🧠 Behaviour & Handling

While not naturally cuddly, Sheltopusiks can become tame with consistent, gentle interaction. They are alert, intelligent, and quickly learn routines. Be aware they may thrash if grabbed suddenly — always scoop, never snatch.

Start with short, calm handling sessions and let them roam in a safe, supervised space to build confidence.

⚠️ Watch-Outs

• Glass lizard tail drop: Like many lizards, they can drop their tail when frightened. It regrows, but slowly and never quite the same.
• Poor shedding: Caused by dry air or lack of rough surfaces
• Monotonous diet: Can lead to deficiencies — always rotate foods

📈 Track Their Progress

With lifespans of up to 50 years, tracking weight, growth, feeding, and shed cycles is essential. Our upcoming ReptiTrack system will help streamline that care with logs and visual trends.

✅ Final Thoughts

The European Legless Lizard is a bold and brilliant species for those who want something different. With snake-like elegance and lizard-like curiosity, it bridges two worlds beautifully. Given proper space, diet, and respect, this species becomes a standout addition to any keeper’s collection — and a lifelong companion.

Written by the ReptiCareAI Team – Data-smart reptile care for real-world keepers.