Different types of lizards

Submitted by Admin on 03/04/2009

There are more types of lizard than we could hope to cover in 1 article so for the purpose of this site will we stick to the types of lizard most suitable for keeping as pets. You should check carefully that the type of lizard you are considering as a pet will not grow to a size you are unable to manage.

Leopard Gecko

This is one of the prettier lizards and as such is hugely popular choice for pets, you can keep them in pairs or better still trios, with one male and two females, this is ideal for breeding. The leopard gecko is one of the easiest lizards to care for. The babies tend to have well organized bands along their bodies which tend to break up as the lizard matures, giving them their speckled skin.

Day Gecko

A brilliant emerald green in colour this type of lizard is probably one of the most recognizable of all the geckos. with bright red, blue and gold details. This species can grow up to around 25cm when fully grown. The day gecko likes to feed on small invertebrates such as crickets, as well as honey water or bird nectar which you must keep fresh. Its important you house males separatly.

Green Lizard

The green lizard is unsurprisingly green in colour, although it often has some blue details the patterns can vary from lizard to lizard this is usually a regional feature. As with many other lizard males can tend to be aggressive towards one another and will need to be separated before they are fully mature.

Wall Lizard

Wall lizards require a very specific environment with a constant temperature of 88F in the day time and 63F at night, they will also require and arid area that should include basking areas and plenty of nooks for the lizard to hide away. The prefer to eat invertebrates and sometimes a little fruit.

Bearded Dragon

One of the most popular lizards in the world, the beared dragon also boasts a good personality, this no doubt contributes to its popularity as a pet. The average beared dragon will grow to around 21inches, with some growing a little larger still. Their name comes from the small spikes under the chin, although relatively fearsome looking they are in fact soft and harmless.You can buy manufactured food for them, or they will feed on an array of natural foods indluding carrots, friut, dandelions and a variety of other leafy plants.

Green Iguna

Make no mistake these Iguanas may start out small and cute, but they grow pretty large, in fact up to around 6 feet, making them quite tough to handle, as they are also very strong. The green Iguna likes to bask on branches and this needs to be catered for when youn build their enclosure.

Asian Water Dragon

These lizards do like to spend some time in the water so you will need to ensure they have a pool available as well as something for them to climb on. They are similar in many ways to the Green Iguana, however they do like to eat invertebrates rather than a vegitarian diet. Asian Water Dragons grow to about 36inches in length.

The Chameleon

This is one of the most amazing creatures on the planet, they have the ability to change colours to blend into their surroundings, they also have incredible eyes and the ability to catch flies with their lightning fast tounges. These lizards tend to be loners, and may get aggitataed if housed with another, so its important to keep them separate from others. They also dont enjoy drinking so its important to spray food with water in order to keep them well hydrated.