When it comes to pets, a dog or a cat isn’t for everyone; so what can those who want a pet but want something a bit alternative do? How about a reptile? Better yet, a lizard?! They can make great pets, but some lizards are harder to care for than others, which means that some owners become overwhelmed and regret their decision. If you’re a beginners in the pet lizard game, here are the ins and outs so you can choose your pet lizard and fit him into your lifestyle with ease:
Do Some Research
Consider the different kinds of lizards there are and learn all you can about them, so you can effectively choose a lizard that will fit right in with your current lifestyle and will remain healthy and happy. Remember that when it comes to most lizards, you’re making a long term commitment. Although buying a lizard might seem fairly cheap, the equipment you need to care for the lizard will cost you a lot more.
Find out everything you can about every lizard available to you; the cost of keeping it, how large it should get when it becomes adult, how much space you’ll need, etc.
Here are the lizards deemed most suitable for newbies:
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Leopard Geckos – these lizards are perfect as a starter lizard. They are small, easy to handle, and only need a small tank to live in.
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Bearded Dragons – calm and simple enough to handle, you just need special UV lighting and a fairly large tank to house it.
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Blue Tongued Skinks – these lizards are also calm, but need a decent sized tank and UV lighting too.
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Green Anoles – smaller lizards that don’t need a big tank, but they do need UV lighting.
Here are the lizards more suitable for experienced owners:
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Geckos
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Iguanas
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Chameleons
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Chinese water dragons
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Long tailed lizards
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Savannah monitors
These lizards are a bit more difficult to handle than the beginner lizards, as they need careful handling, a special environment, and more. You should only consider getting one of the lizards above when you have some experience and are confident caring for a reptile!
Preparing for Your Lizard
Before you get your lizard, you need to be knowledgeable in how to care for it properly.
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You need to provide your reptile with a suitable amount of light and heat.
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Your reptile will need a range of temperatures, provided by a thermal gradient. You can create a thermal gradient using heat mats such as these from Pet Perfection.
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You should never mix different lizards in the same tank.
Are you prepared to do all this and more in order to care for your lizard?
Buying Your Lizard
Ideally, you should buy a lizard from a reputable breeder. Lizards that are caught in the wild are more prone to diseases, not to mention grumpier. A captive bred reptile is definitely the way to go if you want a happy life with your pet.
If you’ve still got your heart set on owning a lizard, go ahead and buy one. Just remember that it’s your duty to care for it to the best of your abilities!