Always wash your hands before and
after you hold your lizard. If your lizard is
small, handle him gently. Never hold your lizard by
the head or tail.
Small lizards live three to five
years, while larger lizards can live up to twenty
years. Be sure to keep this in mind when selecting
your pet.
Lizards have two lungs, and can
breathe through their skin as well as their lungs.
They are "sun seekers," meaning they seek out warmth
for hunting and digesting their food, while they
look for cooler temperatures when they begin to
overheat. Your healthy lizard will molt, or shed
his skin.
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Choosing Your Lizard
Generally, there are a few lizards that might be your
best choice as a first time lizard. Leopard Geckos
grow up to 8 inches long, but are nocturnal - they
will not be active during the day. Bearded dragons
can grow to 2 feed as adults - requiring a larger
habitat.
You might consider a skink as well. The Blue
Tongue Skink grows up to 30 inches long, and require a
large terrarium. The Berber/Schneider skink grows
up to 18 inches long, and may be suitable as a first
time lizard.
Be sure to read about Lizard Diets and Lizard
Housing before you decide to purchase a lizard.
Lizards take a great amount of care, require
fairly large habitats, and can be a lifelong
responsibility. Research and read everything you
can before purchasing a lizard!
Always wash your hands before and
after you hold your lizard. If your lizard is
small, handle him gently. Never hold your lizard by
the head or tail.