Lizards are cold-blooded reptiles belonging to the
Squamata order. They have four legs, visible ear opening and
maneuverable eyelids. Their size can vary from few centimeters
to as long as three meters. They are also very-good inexpensive
pets. But if the owner wants to get the right type of
equipments, the whole affair can become quite expensive. The
cost can be cut down a bit by not relying on the pet store
completely and doing some self-research.
Before thinking of buying a lizard, the most important factor
to be considered is the full-grown size of the lizard as some of
the species can grow up to six feet long also. They need extra
care and lots of space. Naive pet owners should certainly opt
for the ones, which are easier to handle, and certainly not for
the ones which grow very big. The favorite is the leopard
geckos. They are small in size, require less maintenance and do
not demand special conditions such as big terrariums with
special UV lightning. Following closely are bearded dragons.
They sure are easy to handle but they require a big terrarium
with special UV lightning. The investment is quite big. Anoles
are another good option. Like bearded dragons they too are
easily manageable but need a big terrarium with special UV
lightning. Following next are blue-tongued skinks, green anoles,
fat tailed gecko, Madagascar ground, Tokay gecko and day geckos.
The bigger the lizard the more challenging it becomes to have
them as pets. They need a bigger environment; there can be
handling issues and many other factors. For example, iguanas
sure are very good pets, but they need lots of space along with
lots of care. Other animals that pose challenge as pets are
chameleons, savannah monitors, iguanas, white tegu, geckos, and
Argentinean black.
Lighting and temperature are very important factor. Most of the
lizards are very specific about the temperature. The temperature
of their terrariums should be exactly matching to that of the
natural habitat from where they come. Although lizards are
cold-blooded, they require warmth for healthy growth. In the
wild, the reptiles move to areas where they find desirable
temperature. They stay out in the sun and even live in shade
depending on the condition. So a temperature gradient is a must
so that the appropriate temperature can be provided to the pet.
Lizards are omnivorous. They eat fruits, leaves, insects, and
smaller mammals.
Potential owners must carefully observe the lizard before buying
it. Usually most of them get stressed out with all the
travelling and changing environments. There are signs that give
indication about whether the pet is healthy or not. Firstly, the
body should be fleshy and not flaky. The skin should be shinny
and should not have wrinkles or any scratches. They should be
very healthy and not bony. If the tail and hipbones are visibly,
they are definitely sick. Swelling on the abdomen or on any
other part of the body should also be checked out.
The eyes should be clean and should not have any discharge. If
the reptile has any respiratory disease, its eyes will be
swollen and there will be mucus formation around the nose. The
overall sanitary conditions should also be checked. The more
unclean the surrounding is the more the chances of reptile
having a disease. Also, ask for handling the pet. This should be
done to test the strength of the lizard. The limbs should be
firm and strong.