The pet reptile industry has seen enormous growth over the past 30 years. Dogs and cats are admittedly still the most widely kept pets, but you will find reptiles available in nearly any pet store you walk into.
I’ve worked with reptiles for 30 years, and today I want to tell you what it’s like to own a pet lizard.
Selecting A Pet Lizard
Perhaps the most exciting part of owning a pet lizard is picking out a new one!
Deciding on which species of lizard you want is only half the fun. For most lizards, you also get to select which colors and morphs you’d like to have. It’s better than picking out a new car!
While all of this can be a thrilling experience, it is also something that good lizard owners take very seriously.
You are deciding on an animal that you will be committed to take care of for the entirety of its life.
Owning a reptile means more than feeding, providing water and getting your pet out for interaction. There are several crucial areas of reptile husbandry that good lizard owners pay close attention to at all times.
- Correct lighting
- Proper heat levels
- Proper humidity levels
- A well balanced diet
- Adequate housing size
- Minimal stress
- Overall health
Each species of lizard has its own unique needs. They have different heat and humidity levels, grow to different sizes, and have various nutritional requirements. Each one also has different tolerance levels for handling. Some readily take to human interaction while others are easily stressed.
Owning a pet lizard means taking all these things into consideration, then taking the time to research which lizard meets the care level you will be able to provide.
Here’s a guide to get you started Choosing Your First Pet Lizard
What Happens When You Hold A Lizard?
Most people who have never owned a lizard before, wonder what its like to hold them and interact with them.
One thing all reptiles have in common is that they are cold blooded. More accurately, they are ectothermic, which means they rely on their surroundings for heat rather than creating it themselves like mammals.
This means when you pick one up, it will be pretty close to room temperature.
Something that surprises many people the first time they hold a lizard is the texture of their skin.
Lizards do not feel slimy or scaly!
Their skin usually feels sort of like soft leather.
Of course some lizards, like the bearded dragon, may have rougher textured skin.
One other thing to note about about the feel of holding a lizard is their claws. Most have sharp claws used for digging or climbing trees. They can be akin to a kittens claws, except they don’t retract. Not a problem for smaller lizards, but bigger ones might hurt a bit if they climb on you.
Speaking of climbing on you, there are a few things you should be aware of when holding a lizard.
- Never hold a lizard by its tail. They are made for breaking off, and whereas it won’t kill them, it’s not healthy either.
- They might decide to jump off of you. Your pet can seriously injure itself if it were to jump out of your arms and land on the ground.
- A lizards toes and claws can easily get tangled in your hair. Keep your pet off your head.
- Always wash your hands after handling. Since your pet lizard will be doing its business in its cage, it’s safe to assume it will inadvertently walk through its own waste. This can cause salmonella if you aren’t careful.
How Hard Is It To Keep A Lizard?
Some people want a pet lizard because they believe it is easier to care for than a dog or a cat.
How hard is it to keep a lizard? Lizards are are fairly easy to keep as pets, and require less care than other animals. You do need to pay more attention to the details however. They have relatively narrow ranges of heat and humidity requirements that need to be monitored daily. You also have to clean their enclosure regularly, and provide fresh food and water on a regular basis.
Most animals can withstand a wide range of temperatures and humidity levels. It can be 50 degrees in your house, or it can be 90. The humidity might be a dry 50% in the winter, or a muggy 90% in the summer.
A lizard has a much narrower range. They typically need a warm side of the cage and a cool side, with the difference between the two being somewhere around 10 degrees. They also have humidity parameters with only a 20% difference between too dry and too moist.
Lizards have to stay within these ranges nearly all the time!
They can be outside of these ranges for a short period of time while you handle them, but being outside of it for a day or two can lead to serious health issues such as respiratory infections.
It’s not hard to maintain an environment within an enclosure that a lizard can thrive within, but it does require constant monitoring.
They also have fairly strict diets which require variety. An insectivore like a leopard gecko for example, needs more than a constant diet of crickets. It’s more work than simply going to the grocery store, getting a bag of dog or cat food, and filling the bowl once per day.
How Much Does It Cost To Take Care Of A Lizard
Part of owning a lizard means paying for everything you need, and the ongoing costs of maintaining your pet.
How much does it cost to take care of a lizard? The cost of taking care of a lizard averages around $75 per month. This includes $40 per month for feeding, $30 per month for electricity and $5 per month for substrate replacement. You should also set aside money each month for eventual vet visits which can run a few hundred dollars.
Obviously these numbers are going to vary based on the reptile you have and where you live.
Electricity and food costs might be higher or lower where you live, but this is an average of what you can expect to pay to own a lizard.
What Do You Do If You Have A Pet Lizard?
A lot of people wonder what day to day life is like with a pet lizard. They want to know what all goes into owning a caring for one.
Here is what you do when you have a pet lizard.
- Check the gauges twice daily for heat and humidity levels. I usually do this once about an hour into the morning, and again in the late afternoon to early evening.
- Spot clean the enclosure daily. Just like cleaning a cats litter box, I go through each morning and scoop the poop.
- Feed your lizard at regular feeding times. Some lizards need fed as much as twice per day while others only need fed every other day or less.
- Weigh your lizard weekly. You should get in the habit of weighing your lizard weekly and keeping a journal. This allows you to monitor the health of your pet, see early warning signs of health issues, and provides a good record for the vet should you need one.
- Change the substrate quarterly. I like to completely empty out my lizards substrate every three months, and put in fresh.
That’s my daily routine!
As for handling and interaction, it depends on your lizard. I’ve had some that I get out every day or two, and others (like chameleons) that are only taken out when necessary.
What Do Lizards Need In Their Tank?
One of the key components to having a healthy lizard is reducing their stress. Much of this can be resolved with the things you keep in the enclosure.
What do lizards need in their tank? At a minimum, lizards need a good substrate, fresh water and a secure hiding place in their tank. Some lizards, like iguanas and frilled lizards, should also have branches to climb on and perches. Having too much open floor space can be stressful for many lizards, so if there is enough room you should have multiple hide boxes.
Anything beyond that is up to you.
For many reptile owners, the enclosure can be an aesthetic addition to a room. Having fake (or real) plants, themed decorations and an appealing background makes for an eye catching attraction rather than a simple lizard cage.
Is Owning A Lizard Hard?
For a lot of people, this is what it really comes down to.
Is owning a lizard hard?
Owning a pet lizard is not hard, it just requires a lot of vigilance. You can’t go several days without checking on the environment that you are providing for your pet.
Health issues in lizards can be difficult to detect. Once they are really noticeable, it is typically either too late to fix, or might be very expensive to cure. They aren’t like a dog or cat who might howl in pain, have a dry nose, or show other obvious signs of illness.
Constant monitoring, strict husbandry practices and good research are all that’s needed to make owning a lizard easy and enjoyable.