Types of pet lizards
There are lots of different types of pet lizards that people keep and enjoy, but how do you decide which is right for you? It can be a lot of fun and incredibly rewarding to keep an exotic pet lizard, but there are a couple of considerations to think about before diving in.
One of the most important considerations is of course size. Some lizards that are readily available start out small from the breeder or pet store, but can grow quite large and become burdensome. If you only have room for a 20 gallon tank in your house, it would probably not be a good idea to get a baby green iguana. It might look like that 10 inch cutie will be happy in there, but he will very quickly grow out of it. Contrary to what a lot of people think, most animals don’t just “grow to the size of their cage.” If you are going to keep one of the large types of pet lizards (iguanas, monitors, tegus, etc.), please be prepared to purchase a habitat large enough to accommodate the animal’s adult size and needs.
Another very important distinction between different types of lizards and reptiles is what they eat. Some eat plants, but most eat live insects. There are commercial foods in cans and bottles that you can buy, but these can never fully replace the need to supply the animal’s natural food items. The green iguana mentioned above is one of few lizards that eats plants. Most small and medium sized reptiles require a consistent supply of crickets, mealworms, and waxworms, available from online suppliers and pet stores. Though keeping bugs in your house takes a little getting used to, many keepers find that watching their pet feed is one of the best parts!
This brings us to an often overlooked difference between different types of pet lizards, which is whether they are active during the day (diurnal) or at night (nocturnal). Many popular geckos do their activities at night after the lights turn off. There are special infrared bulbs that let you observe them feed and move around when its dark, but this will have to be in the evening. Other lizards, like bearded dragons and iguanas, need their food in the morning or during the afternoon. Being informed on your potential animal’s natural habits in this regard will help you select the type of pet lizard that will accommodate your work and lifestyle schedule.