Caring for Your Pet Lizard

The allure of a pet lizard is undeniable. Often chosen for their perceived ease of maintenance and compact spatial needs compared to more traditional pets like dogs or cats, lizards make fascinating companions. While their natural habitats might span from the humid depths of a rainforest or jungle to the arid expanse of a desert, your pet lizard will undoubtedly thrive in a thoughtfully designed home environment.

This guide outlines the five primary elements of successful lizard care, providing essential information for each to help you create an ideal reptile habitat.

1. Housing: Crafting a Secure Home for Your Pet Lizard

When it comes to housing your pet lizard, many enthusiasts find that a glass aquarium, repurposed into a terrarium, serves as an excellent enclosure. Aquariums offer several advantages for your reptilian companion:

• Escape Prevention: Lizards are surprisingly adept escape artists and will frequently attempt to break free from their enclosures. Many people underestimate their strength and speed relative to their size. Therefore, your pet lizard’s home absolutely must feature a secure screen top. Look for one with hinges on one side and a reliable lock on the other to prevent your cunning reptile from making a daring escape.
• Visibility: Glass provides clear visibility, allowing you to observe your lizard’s behaviors and ensure its well-being.
• Humidity Control: Glass enclosures help maintain stable humidity levels, which is crucial for many lizard species.

2. Environment: Designing an Enriching Reptile Habitat

Beyond just the tank, your pet lizard’s environment must include essential elements for hiding, basking, and temperature regulation.

• Substrate Selection: The bottom of the aquarium should be covered with a material called substrate, chosen to best match your specific lizard’s natural habitat.
  • Desert-dwelling lizards: Thrive with a sand substrate.
  • Woodland lizards: Prefer natural options like bark chips or peat moss.
  • Arboreal (tree-dwelling) lizards: Do best with larger bark chips that are too big to be accidentally ingested.
  • Important Note: Always avoid toxic elements such as cedar or any materials treated with harmful chemicals like pesticides, as these can be detrimental to your pet lizard’s health.
• Enrichment and Climbing Elements: To promote natural behaviors and provide enrichment, consider including climbing elements such as sturdy branches, rocks, or reptile-safe decor. These allow your lizard to explore, exercise, and establish territories within its home.
• Hiding Spots: Providing secure hiding spots, such as caves, hollow logs, or dense foliage, is paramount. Lizards are naturally shy and need places to retreat and feel safe, reducing stress levels.

3. Temperature: Crucial Climate Control for Your Pet Lizard

The ambient temperature comfortable for humans is likely too chilly for your reptile, which, being cold-blooded, relies on external heat sources to regulate its body temperature. Your pet lizard will greatly benefit from basking under a dedicated heat lamp.

The ideal temperature range for your aquarium depends entirely on the specific species of pet lizard you have. Here’s a general guideline:

• Desert Lizards: Thrive in a dry heat between 29 and 39 degrees Celsius.
• Woodland Lizards: Prefer a tank that maintains temperatures between 21 and 26 degrees Celsius.
• Rainforest Lizards: Will enjoy a humid warmth that stays between 23 and 32 degrees Celsius.

While you’ll need to regulate lighting to provide natural day and night cycles for your lizard’s optimal health, warmth is required around the clock. If your home regularly stays colder than 21 degrees Celsius, consider adding an under-aquarium heat pad to provide consistent ambient warmth, especially at night. Always use a thermometer to monitor temperatures accurately within the reptile habitat.

4. Water: Hydration Methods for Your Pet Lizard

Proper hydration is critical for your pet lizard’s health, and the method of providing water can vary significantly by species:

• Water Dish: Some reptiles do well with a heavy, shallow water dish that prevents spills and allows easy access.
• Misting: Others prefer to lap up water droplets from surfaces, making a daily misting of the rocks and branches within their tank an effective hydration method.
• Drip Systems: Certain species require a specialized “reptile drip” system that simulates natural rainfall.

The best method for your pet lizard will depend on its species. Always consult your veterinarian or a Reptile Encounters handler for personalised advice. Regardless of the method, one thing is constant: your reptile will need fresh, clean water available on a daily basis.

5. Food: Tailoring the Diet for Your Pet Lizard’s Needs

A proper diet is fundamental to the health and longevity of your pet lizard. The type of food will depend on whether your lizard is an insectivore, herbivore, or omnivore:

• Insectivores: These lizards will happily thrive on a diet of feeder insects like crickets, mealworms, waxworms, and similar appropriate insects. Ensure insects are “gut-loaded” with nutritious food before being offered.
• Herbivores: Herbivorous lizards prefer a vegetarian-like diet rich in leafy greens, a variety of vegetables, and appropriate fruits. Some wild plants may also be offered if approved by your veterinarian or a Reptile Encounters handler. These should be provided on a daily basis.
• Omnivores: An omnivorous pet lizard will enjoy a combination of the above, along with occasional protein sources such as pre-killed feeder mice, live feeder goldfish (ensure they are healthy and free of parasites), and even a bit of raw egg.

Important Ongoing Care

Plan to thoroughly clean your lizard’s cage every week. This involves turning the substrate, wiping down branches and decor, removing any large clumps of waste, and washing the aquarium itself. Daily dropping removal and spot cleaning should also be tackled to maintain hygiene and prevent bacterial growth.

Always remember to handle your pet lizard with great care and gentle movements, as sudden actions can startle them, causing them to jump out of your hands or run for cover outside of their environment. The information provided here is a basic guide; optimal lizard care will always depend on your specific lizard’s age, size, and species.

Considering a Pet Lizard?

There are many benefits to introducing a pet to your family. If you are still considering whether a reptile, specifically a pet lizard, is the right companion for you, we invite you to come out to a Reptile Encounters live performance! Here, you can get an up close experience with a wide range of incredible animals – including various lizards – and speak with our experts to learn more about the joy and responsibility of lizard care.