Types Of Pet Lizards

I am often asked about different types of pet lizards. When considering what kind of reptile a novice keeper should get, it is important to know some of the differences between them. While keeping pet lizards and other reptiles can be a fun experience, all to often it seems people don't have the right expectations when they purchase and bring home their new exotic animal.

When I use to work in the reptile department of a local pet shop, I would ask questions about the customer's home situation to get an idea about what type of pet lizard would be most suitable. Here are some the questions that would help me decide a good fit:

• Is is important for you to be able to hold and handle your pet lizard?
• How much time do have each week to devote to your reptile care duties?
• How much space is available to accomodate the animal's adult needs?
• Will you be enjoying your pet lizard's activities during the daytime or in the evening?

For many people, being able to handle their animals is an important thing. If this describes you, then you will want to look into the types of pet lizards that can tolerate this behavior without being damaged or stressed. Bearded dragons, dwarf tegus, and green iguanas can all deal with being handled, but you should know that it is always a stressful experience for the animal and should be limited whenever possible.

Being exotic animals that are not domesticated like cats and dogs, captive pet reptiles require varying amounts of attention and care in order to keep them healthy and happy. Some types of lizards, like small geckos and chameleons, require much more daily care than others. The previously mentioned bearded dragon is one of the hardiest pet lizards around, and only needs a little bit of daily care. Feeding, inspecting for signs of illness, and cage cleaning for these animals is minimal compared to a veiled chameleon, who needs much more attention to their habitat to make sure it stays within parameters (heat, humidity, etc.) that foster good health. I would often recommend people buy a book about the care and feeding of their animal prior to purchasing the new pet home.

If you don't have a lot of space to dedicate to the reptile's habitat, then this may limit what types of lizards you should be looking into. The green iguana showed above lives in a home-built cage that takes up a sizeable chunk of living room real estate! Many people who buy the baby green iguanas at pet stores do so without considering just how big the animal will grow. When you bring your new pet home, please make sure you've purchased a habitat that will accomodate their adult needs. They might be small now, but they will grow.

Finally, whether you will be home during the day or the evening to enjoy your pet will determine which kind of reptile would be a good fit. When I worked the swing shift, I would bring crickets home late at night to feed my nocturnal geckos. These animals won't eat when the sun is out, and even if they did, I wouldn't be there to enjoy it. And ask any avid reptile keeper or enthusiast, watching the reptile hunt prey is one of the best parts of the hobby!