Reptiles are fascinating creatures that come in all shapes, sizes, and colors, and they range from snakes and turtles to crocodiles. Reptile species range in adult length from a few centimeters (some small geckos) to nearly three meters (Komodo dragons). Some reptiles, such as the popular chameleon, can also change color in response to their environments or in times of stress. In addition, reptiles survive and thrive in habitats ranging from swamps to deserts all over the world. The great diversity among reptiles is one of the reasons many kinds of reptiles from the dinosaur days have managed to survive to today.
In this article we will be focusing on lizards, as they are the subspecies of the big reptile family most kept by pet owners. Lizards typically have a long and scaly body, with ear openings, movable eyelids, four legs, and a long, tapering tail. Lizards are further divided into two different major classes: tropical lizards and desert lizards. Tropical lizards include geckos, anoles (also called American chameleons), and most iguanas such as the green iguana. Desert lizards include desert iguanas, collared lizards, spiny lizards, horned lizards (also called horned toads), Gila monsters, Mexican beaded lizards, and the uromastyx.
Tropical lizards in the wild mainly live in trees in the tropic areas of the world, and so most of these lizards are well adapted for climbing. Contrary to popular belief that lizards are moist and “icky”, most lizards usually have clean, dry skin. In fact, most lizards prefer to avoid water, although most are able to swim if needed. Some lizards, especially desert lizards, are adapted for burrowing and tunneling. There are even a few flying or gliding lizards, such as the flying dragons of Southeastern Asia. Many lizards are also fast runners, some achieving speeds of over 15 miles per hour.
Although there are many similarities in the care of these lizards, there are also many differences. Tropical lizards come from tropical regions and require more humidity and less heat than most desert lizards. The green iguana for example, being a tropical lizard, requires the humidity to be at 60% or higher. For the uromastyx, a fairly common desert lizard, this humidity level can be deadly as the humidity in its native desert regions do not reach much above 30%. In temperature comparisons, the green iguana thrives in day time temperatures of between 95 and 100 degrees. The uromastyx, on the other hand, is very comfortable in day time temperatures reaching 120 degrees.
To humidify your tropical lizard’s habitat, you can place its water bowl directly under the heat light to evaporate (making sure that it does not run dry) and/or mist your reptile once a day with a fine mist of water. To lower the humidity for desert lizards, if you run the air conditioner in your home during the summer and the heater in the winter, that should take care of most of it. Also, do not put the desert lizard’s water source directly under a heat light. Of course, they will not need to be misted daily either, but can be taken out and soaked in some standing water once a week.
All reptiles, including both tropical and desert lizards, are cold-blooded creatures, and they will need a heating source to raise their body temperatures. Good heating sources for both types are under tank heaters, heat lights, and heat rocks. Be sure to identify your lizard’s needs, as heat rocks can burn some reptiles, especially while they are young. Both lizards also require full spectrum fluorescent lighting and UV lighting to replicate sunlight, and this is not just for heating purposes.
UVB light is required for vitamin D3 synthesis for bone health and more, and UVA is required for appetite stimulation and reproductive behavior. Full spectrum lighting is important for utilizing calcium, a nutrient lost in all caged reptiles (note that full spectrum does not include the non-visible UV lights). Desert lizards require 3% more UVB and UVA light than tropical lizards. Again be sure to find out the needs of your exact lizard at Pet World.
Finally, substrate or bedding is an important consideration for both types of lizards. The thicker the substrate is layered, the more humidity it will retain, so a desert lizard should only have a shallow level of substrate. There are also sand substrates that are digestible, edible, and calcium fortified to help with the calcium needs of your lizard. Lizards are carnivorous, and typically feed on insects or rodents, depending on the size of the lizard. A few species are omnivorous (eats plants and animals) or herbivorous (eats plants), such as the iguana.
Be sure to find out as much as you can about your lizard, so that you can appropriately care for its needs, and have a healthy and happy pet.
