So you’ve decided that you want to buy a lizard for a pet, great. But what kind of lizard? How big do you want it to be? What do they eat? What will it live in? Before getting a lizard for a pet there are many questions to answer first.
Lizards come in all shapes and sizes. That little cute 6 inch iguanas can grow to 5 ft long. So make sure you know what size lizard you want. Many want one they can pickup in their hand or place on their shoulder.
But some go for the bigger ones that can walk around the house. Make sure you know how big your lizard will get and get the right type for the size you want. Next comes the equipment.
Lizards need a lot more than a box or aquarium. You can buy lots of special equipment for lizards that end up costing a lot of money. Make sure you check and find out just what your lizard will need to have a happy home.
All lizards carry the bacteria Salmonella, as well as lots of other diseases. Find out what ones are safer than others and how to protect yourself from diseases from lizards.
If at all possible get a captive lizard from a good breeder. Wild caught ones are harder to tame and carry more diseases on them. Look them over and see if they look healthy.
Leopard Geckos, bearded dragons and green Anoles are great lizards for beginners. They are easy to handle, mild mannered and relatively easy to care for. Lizard need special lighting and heat also, so make sure you study up on that and what your lizard will need.
Feeding your lizard is another thing you’ll have to learn. Many eat live bugs and crickets you can buy at a pet store or raise yourself. You will have to learn what and how much to feed your lizard.
So as you see, buying a lizard is more than getting one and throwing it in a box. I’ll talk about all the steps to caring for your lizard, feeding it, equipment for it and what type of lizard you might like. Stay tuned!
