Keeping lizards as pets is fascinating and fun, but their care needs are somewhat differentthan other pets such as cats and dogs. In order to provide a safe home to your reptilian friend, it is important for you to first learn how to take care of your pet lizard. With so many different species of lizards, first, you have to decide which lizard you want. After you have chosen, the next step for you is to consider their needs in terms of enclosure set up. In this blog, we are providing you right away with some general tips to take care of your pet lizards of any type.
- Housing
Designing the appropriate habitat is one of the most important aspects of lizard care. Many people who keep lizard pets claim that the best way to keep a lizard is in an aquarium that can be turned into a terrarium. The aquarium is an excellent house due to several reasons. First is because lizards are artists of escape, and they keep trying to escape from their enclosure. Lizards are stronger and faster than one can think, and they can easily break free from enclosures. Therefore, the aquarium or the house must have a screen at its top. The screen should have hinges on one side and a lock on the other. These screens can help these escape artists from making themselves free.
- Habitat and environment
When it comes to the environment, the factors to look for are temperature, lighting, and hiding and basking materials. It largely depends on the type of lizard. For example, a lizard, which is desert-dwelling, will be happy with sand in the environment;those that come from wooden areas will like peat moss and tree barks, while the arboreal lizards like bark chips. Avoid using pesticides and toxic elements like a cedar in the housing space. Some lizards love to climb, so you can add a tree branch in the enclosure.
- Temperature
Reptiles,especially lizards, love to bask under a heat source such as a lamp. The temperature which you feel is comfortable for you can be too cold for your lizard. The temperature requirement of lizards varies with each type. Desert lizards are comfortable between 29-39°C, while the optimum temperature for wood-dwelling lizards and rainforest lizards is 21-26°C and 23-32°C, respectively. Rainforest lizards enjoy a humid environment while the wood-dwelling ones prefer a tank to stay. Providing optimum temperature and light is essential to maintain the health of your lizard pet.
- Food
For insectivore lizards, diet mainly comprises of worms such as mealworms, wax-worms, and crickets. They enjoy their insect meal. Herbivore lizards enjoy vegetarian diets mainly comprising of vegetables, greens, and fruits. Some veterinarians also approve of wild plants for feeding. The third category of lizards, the omnivores, prefers having mice, goldfish, raw eggs, etc.
Owning a lizard requires much attention to the details and more research than usual pets, but this experience is rewarding. Once you have worked on all the details, you are now ready to get a lizard pet home with confidence to give it a good life!