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Caring for Your Lizard

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Caring for Your Lizard Diet Basic Items for Your Insectivorous lizards prefer live crickets, Lizard Caring for mealworms, and waxworms. Housing enclosure at least twice as long as the lizard Your Herbivores should be provided a mixed Screen tops and clips salad of calcium rich greens, vegetables Basking light and fruits, such as dandelion, romaine, Lizard Full spectrum light watercress, green beans, bok choy, shredded carrot, papaya, cactus fruit and Thermometer Timing device berries. Heat sources (ceramic heater, The omnivorous species need a under tank heater) combination of the above. Larger lizards Hygrometer to measure humidity can be offered pre-killed feeder mice, Appropriate substrate for species Non-toxic plants feeder goldfish, chopped beef heart, or raw egg. Hiding places Misting bottle Take time to learn about the different diets for your pet lizard. Observe their This information is designed as a basic eating habits to make sure they are guide. There are several books and online accepting the food. resources available which provide in- depth information on specific species and their care. Maintenance and Care Spot clean the enclosure daily and remove droppings. Weekly maintenance should Enjoy Your New Pet! include thoroughly cleaning the branches Do right by your pet. and rocks, turning the substrate, removing Do right by our environment. any large clumps, and wiping down the Don't release unwanted pets. glass. Visit Habitattitude™ on www.pijac.org Lizards should be handled with care and adult supervision. Sudden movements may startle a lizard causing him to run for cover too quickly, resulting in serious injury including the loss of their tail. It is always important to wash your hands with an anti-bacterial soap after handling your Pet Industry Joint Advisory Council Pet Industry Joint Advisory Council lizard. www.pijac.org www.pijac.org cycles, and turn the basking lights off at About Lizards Environment Lizards are popular pets. They require The base of the aquarium should be night. Lizards need warmth 24-hours a little space and are easy to maintain. covered with a material called “substrate.” day, so use thermometers, electric basking rocks, and under aquarium heat pads for The proper substrate varies depending on this purpose. The natural habitat of lizards ranges from the species. Common substrates include: the rain forests and jungles of the tropics Desert lizards require a dry heat between to the parched and arid areas of the world. Sand: ground-dwelling desert lizards Many factors influence your lizard’s Coarse bark and/or peat moss based 85-100 degrees Fahrenheit. If the room health and well-being such as light, heat, potting soil: woodland lizards temperature is kept below 70 Fahrenheit, it may be necessary to use an under tank humidity, stress, nutrition, and hydration. Sphagnum moss over bark chips, heater to maintain proper temperatures. Therefore, it is very important to provided they are incapable of being understand where and how lizards exist digested: Arboreal lizards naturally in the wild. Be sure to check Woodland lizards require dry warmth between 70-80 degrees Fahrenheit. with your pet retailer for your lizard’s In addition, you may add materials for specific environmental requirements. You hiding, basking, temperature-regulation, should also ask for recommendations on and climbing such as cork bark, logs, Rainforest lizards require a warm and good books, reference materials, and grapevine branches, driftwood, decorative humid environment between 75-90 online resources about the species. rocks, and artificial plants. This, too, degrees Fahrenheit, as well as a daytime depends on your selected species. basking area. Housing Do not include potentially toxic materials Water The best home for most lizards is an such as cedar wood/shavings, stained While both desert and tropical lizards aquarium, designed into a terrarium. The wood, metal, or paint. Be aware that a require fresh water every day, the way it larger the aquarium, the better it will be lizard’s nails, tails, and teeth can get is provided depends on the species. for your lizard. Reptiles are escape artists, caught on wire or other materials with Options include: and are faster and stronger than most small crevices. As you need to A heavy, shallow water dish people realize. Therefore, it is essential periodically sanitize the substrate, make Misting the environment, allowing that you provide a secure screen cover sure that your substrate material is easily droplets to be lapped up from that has hinges, a latch, or locking device removable for cleaning. leaves, branches, etc. that secures all four sides. Placing weights Special reptile drip system on top of a screen cover is not sufficient. Temperature Check with your retailer about the water It is best to have varying temperatures throughout the enclosure, including areas requirements for your specific lizard. Some lizards require special housing because of their potential size, such as where your lizard can bask. Provide heat Green Iguanas, Tegus, Monitors, and with the addition of a special incandescent larger Chameleons. There are specific reptile fixture and an ultra-violet bulb enclosures for these reptiles that are ideal. (UVB). UVB light is required for most diurnal lizards for vitamin D synthesis. Purchase a timer to establish day/night .
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