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 needs to get the right type of equipments, the whole affair can turn into quite expensive. The cost might be cut down a bit by not relying on the pet store completely and doing a little self-research.
Before thinking of buying a lizard, the most important factor to be thought-about is the full-grown dimension of the lizard as some of the species can grow up to six toes long also. They need additional care and many space. Naive pet house owners should definitely 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 dimension, require less maintenance and do not demand special circumstances such as big terrariums with special UV lightning. Following closely are bearded dragons. They certain are simple to handle but they require a giant 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 difficult it becomes to have them as pets. They need an even bigger environment; there will be handling issues and plenty of other factors. For example, iguanas certain are excellent pets, but they need numerous area along with a number of care. Other animals that pose challenge as pets are chameleons, savannah screens, iguanas, white tegu, geckos, and Argentinean black.
Lighting and temperature are crucial factor. A lot of the lizards are very specific concerning 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 offered to the pet. Lizards are omnivorous. They eat fruits, leaves, insects, and smaller mammals.
Potential house owners must rigorously observe the lizard before buying it. Often most of them get wired with all the travelling and changing environments. There are signs that give indication about whether the pet is healthy or not. Firstly, the physique should be fleshy and not flaky. The skin must be shinny and shouldn’t have wrinkles or any scratches. They need to be very healthy and not bony. If the tail and hipbones are visibly, they are definitely sick. Swelling on the abdomen or on another part of the physique must also be checked out.
The eyes must be clear and should have no discharge. If the reptile has any respiratory illness, its eyes will probably be swollen and there can be mucus formation across the nose. The overall sanitary circumstances also needs to be checked. The more unclean the encircling is the more the probabilities of reptile having a disease. Also, ask for handling the pet. This ought to be carried out to test the power of the lizard. The limbs must be firm and strong.
