Content

• To step
• Part 1 of 3: Creating the right habitat
• Part 2 of 3: Provide food and water
• Part 3 of 3: Providing care

Lizards are popular pets and relatively easy to care for. The specific care for a lizard will depend on the species you are taking. Nevertheless, there are some general guidelines you can follow when caring for your lizard.

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Part 1 of 3: Creating the right habitat

1. Learn what type of cage your lizard needs. The type of cage you get is determined by your lizard. Be aware that lizards must be kept within certain temperature ranges. When the ambient temperature drops in winter, you need a thermally efficient enclosed container. This will keep your lizard warm without skyrocketing your heating bill. You have to be able to control the heat in the loft, and for certain species also the humidity. You also need to provide lighting and give the lizard as much space as it needs.
   • Make sure the enclosure is properly closed and that your lizard cannot escape.
   • A common type is an aquarium with mesh over it. Small geckos do well in this type of cage. With leopard geckos you need an aquarium / terrarium with a volume of 76 liters.
   • Plastic pens are also an option. Bearded dragons do well in such a cage, although the ideal enclosure is a vivarium, made of heat-absorbing material such as wood, with a glass front. Aquariums can become too hot or thermally inefficient. Bearded dragons need an aquarium with a capacity of 210 liters. If you choose a plastic container, it should be at least two feet by four feet and two feet high.
   • A third type of cage is a mesh cage. Chameleons prefer these types of cages as they can climb if they need to. For that reason, their cages must be higher than those for other lizards.
2. Determine your lizard's temperature requirement. Many reptiles need a heat lamp to stay at the right temperature. However, different lights will radiate different amounts of heat, so you should choose one that is appropriate for the temperature your lizard needs.
   • Ask at the pet store how much heat your lizard needs. For example, most lizards will need a place that is between 32 and 38 degrees Celsius.
   • Lizards also need a cool area in the cage, so direct the heat to one side of the enclosure. The cooler part should usually be between 21 and 24 degrees Celsius.
   • Check the temperatures. Consider how high your lizard can get, including its own height. Make sure those parts are not too hot for your lizard by measuring with a thermometer.
   • Turn off heat lamps that glow at night. Therefore, if your lizard needs heat, use a ceramic heater instead.
3. Give them some light. Most lizards need light to thrive. You will need to use lamps that provide UVA and UVB lighting. Only keep them on during the day, for 12 hours.
   • Choose a fluorescent lamp. You need an area for the lizard to bask in and absorb light. If you have a heating fluorescent lamp, you can simply add another lamp for UVB lighting and give your lizard the full spectrum. The heat lamp will provide him with the UVA rays he needs.
   • Place the lamp within the enclosure, but out of reach of the lizard. Note that the lizard cannot touch the bulb as it will burn itself, but it must be close enough to provide effective heat. Check the requirements of the lamp you are buying.
   • Form layers. That is, your lizard needs a place for sunbathing and light, but it also needs room to get away from those sources. Keep parts of the enclosure largely unlit.
   • Turn off the lights at night. Your lizard needs darkness at night, just like you. If you find it hard to remember, you can put the lamp on a timer.
4. Provide a place to hide. Most lizards like to hide sometimes. You have to give them a place where they can do that. Stones and small logs are fine for this purpose.
   • Try to make at least one shelter where it is cooler in the enclosure.
   • If you are using outside rocks, make sure they are properly cleaned and sterilize them in boiling water before putting them in the cage. You can also clean branches and then heat in the oven at 125 degrees Celsius for 30 minutes to kill any bacteria.
   • Branches are also important for certain species, such as chameleons, as they provide the ability to climb.
5. Forget the bedding. While it is tempting to put pebbles or other types of bedding in an enclosure, lizards can eat bits of it. The lizard cannot process these pieces, which can lead to problems.However, it depends on your lizard which is best.
   • You can use parchment paper to cover the tray. Baking paper is a good choice because it is ink-free, and ink can be harmful to your lizard. Another good choice is non-printed newspaper, which you can find at moving companies.
   • But some lizards like to dig, in which case new play sand is a good choice.

Part 2 of 3: Provide food and water

1. Change the water regularly. However, different lizards will require different types of water bowls. Some require a small container, while others require a drip water system. Chameleons, for example, need dripping water because they don't drink from a container.
   • You can either ask at the pet store or contact your vet to find out what's best for your pet.
   • Make sure to change the water every day, especially if the lizard has a small container for the water.
   • Some lizards like to swim, so you will need to provide a large enough water bowl for that.
2. Spray your lizard. Depending on the species, your lizard will need to be watered once a day. You can use any spray bottle, as long as you put it on the spray setting and not on the spray setting. The mist helps create the moisture some lizards need.
   • Bearded dragons, for example, will not need to be sprayed, but iguana "s will.
3. Provide suitable food. Most lizards will eat insects and prefer live ones. Crickets are a common food supplement that can be supplemented with a reptile dietary supplement, and waxworms, mealworms and cockroaches are also common. In fact, many owners keep a small colony of crickets or roaches to feed their pets. Some lizards are carnivores, while others are omnivores or herbivores.
   • If you keep live crickets, one-fifth of their diet should be calcium carbonate, and this should be given at least two days before feeding your crickets. The other four-fifths can be cricket food.
   • Carnivores will eat insects, but when they are large enough, they also like to eat smaller lizards or frogs. You may also need to feed them rodents, fish, shrimp or day-old chicks. Leopard Geckos, for example, are carnivores and do well on a diet of crickets and mealworms.
   • You can collect insects from a nearby field with a safety net to feed your lizards. However, you have to make sure the fields have not been treated with insecticide, and you will probably only be successful when it is warm outside.
   • Some lizards are omnivores, and they also eat plants such as dandelions, clover and other common fruits and vegetables. For example, tomatoes, pears, apples, and lettuce are common fruits and vegetables that you can feed your lizards. They will also eat other small insects, such as snails and mealworms, or even dog food (with a little water added if they are dry kibble). Bearded dragons are omnivores, and can live on mostly green foods (such as cabbage and leaf lettuce) and squash, with mealworms and grasshoppers or other insects making up the other quarter of their diet.
   • Most omnivores and carnivores will not need to be fed more than 2 to 3 times a week. But smaller or younger reptiles may need to be fed more often. How much your lizard eats depends on its size.
   • Some lizards are herbivores, which means they only eat vegetables. Iguanas are a good example of this kind. They can eat leafy greens, as well as many fruits and vegetables, and they should be fed every day.
   • For the most part, food should be about the size of their head wide to avoid choking. In addition, you should put food on a small plate to eat from, especially if you have sand in the bowl.

Part 3 of 3: Providing care

1. Take your lizard to the vet. You should take your pet to the vet as soon as you get it to make sure it is healthy. Like other animals, you should also take your lizard to the vet for a check-up once a year.
   • Most lizards need a worm cure at some point in their lives. Ask your vet about this.
2. Watch for health problems. Loose stools are a sign of poor health, at least if they last longer than 48 hours, and you should consult your vet about this. The same is true if they don't poop.
   • Be on the lookout for weight loss. Sudden weight loss can also be a problem. It may mean that your lizard is not eating or drinking, and you should see your vet with this.
   • Be aware of other changes. Other changes that could be a sign that your lizard is sick include a runny nose or mouth, or joints that are swelling or difficulty shedding. You can also see discolored skin, or whether it avoids open areas.
3. Quarantine new lizards. New lizards that you bring home should be kept in a separate cage for at least a month. Because of this, if your new lizard carries a disease, it will not pass it on to your other lizards.
   • Make sure to always feed, water, or clean the quarantined lizard last to avoid infesting the other lizards.
4. Clean the cage. Once a week you should completely clean the cage. But in addition, you should check the cage every day to remove uneaten food, remove old skin, and remove poop. You should also remove any spilled food and clean the food and water dishes.
   • Place your reptile in another clean cage or container while you clean the cage once a week.
   • Put on gloves. Get everything out of the cage. Discard any bedding you may have used.
   • Clean and sterilize the water bowls and food bowls. Wash it in hot water with soap. Use a disinfectant afterwards, but make sure to rinse it thoroughly and then dry it.
   • Wash the cage. You will find that it is easier to do this part outside. Use hot water and soap to scrub the cage thoroughly. You can use a clean toothbrush to help you scrub if needed. Also wash and scrub any decoration in the same way.
   • Disinfect the cage. You can use an agent specially formulated for reptile cages to protect your pets, but also make sure to rinse thoroughly afterwards.
   • Put in a new layer of paper or sand and replace the rest. Let everything dry well. If there are parts that do not dry easily, you may need to replace them every now and then.
   • Keep reptile cleaning supplies separate from other cleaning supplies, and make sure to wash them thoroughly after use. Don't forget to also scrub your own hands afterwards.
5. Provide incentive. A well-stocked cage can keep most lizards busy, such as having enough rocks, branches, hollow spaces, and even plants, depending on the lizard. You can also use live food to provide enrichment, or you can hide your lizard's food in the enclosure to give it something to do.