Pet Lizards

Pet Lizard Information

Most lizards seem lazy. They eat, sleep and that's about it. Some lizards sleep all day or prefer to stay hidden. Others stay frozen on a branch for long periods of time waiting for prey to come by. Such frozen or unseen pets can be disappointing to kids.

A lizard is not the kind of pet you can really interact with but they are pretty cool. If you handle them from time to time they can become tame and will not bite or try to escape when you pet them. Be aware that they are not as tough as they look. Many pet lizards die within the first year because people do not know and supply their requirements. And many smaller lizards have fragile legs or other bones and can be harmed easily by rough handling.

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Feeding

All lizards require particular foods on a regular basis, from crickets to mealworms to mice. Fruits and vegetables are also part of their diet.

Their Home

You need special equipment and food. Some lizards need special lighting to replicate the sun. Others need warm rocks or shelters. And, of course, you'll need a cage with a secure top to keep them from escaping.

Some good choices are:

Green Anole

The Green Anole is sometimes also called American chameleons, although they are not true chameleons. They can do a color change from green to brown, especially when stressed.

Bearded Dragon

The Bearded Dragon is a moderately sized lizard native to Australia. They are social creatures and can be easy to tame and handle. They have some fascinating behaviors that make them interesting to watch.

The bearded dragon gets its name from its appearance when it is intimidated. They will flatten their body while standing upright with their mouth gaping. The mouth lining is light colored. Spines border their lower jay. And they have a puffed-out blackish beard. A formidable foe, indeed.

Blue Tongued Skink

At maturity the Blue Tongued Skink averages about 20 inches. Their life span is 10-20 years. They are ground dwellers with a flattened, elongated body. They look something like a snake. They are docile and gentle and can be easy to tame and handle.

Leopard Gecko

They are nocturnal (active at night) ground dwellers and are generally docile and easy to tame. They do not have the toe pads like other geckos so they cannot climb very well. They do have eyelids, also unlike other geckos. They grow to 8 - 10 inches and live about 20 years.