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When you decide to get a Lizard as a pet you need to think about the type of lizard that you want to take on, but then if you are able to give them the right care they need. Lizards are seen as fairly cheap pets to buy, but the equipment and licence to have one really makes the price shoot up making them actually one of the most expensive pets to have. Lizards start off very small but they can grow up to 6 foot, so you need to think about whether you have room to allow them the space they need.
It is advised to get a lizard from a breeder as these lizards are better suited to life as pets unlike those caught from the wild who tend to be much more likely to get a disease, they are also a lot harder to tame and can get very stressed living in a smaller and more controlled environment to that of which they are used to. Either way you should get your lizard checked for any signs of illnesses by getting them a cursory exam. There are types of lizards that are a lot easier to care for than others, so if you are buying a lizard for the first time then it would be best to choose one of the easier lizards to introduce you to the species. Here are some of the lizards for beginners;
Green Anoles these are one of the easiest lizards to get for pets, they can live up to 8 years, and grow up to 8 inches long. Some people call them American Chameleons as they can change colour, from green to brown particularly if they are stressed. They can become very stressed when handled.
Leopard Geckos probably the most popular starter lizard, as they are easy to handle and small. This means they only need a small tank and they also don't need special UV lighting, which also means they aren't particularly expensive.
Bearded Dragons these are easy to handle and are very docile creatures, however they due grow to quite a size which means they need a large tank and special UV lighting, which does make them expensive.
Blue Tongued Skinks these again are docile and grown to quite a size and need UV lighting. They can live between 10 to 20 years, and along with their docile nature they are very gentle, don't mind being handled and are fairly easy to tame.
Lizards for people with experience;
Long Tail Lizards these lizards can grow to about 10 to 12 inches, they need particularly gentle handle and should never be picked up b the tail. They are fast animals, and use their long tail to hang off things. You can keep them in small groups, but males are likely to fight.
Chameleons these are a completed pet as they have very specific needs, they also aren't a pet who enjoys being handled as they can get quite stressed. Chameleons are obviously famous for changing colour, around the age of 5 months they develop the ability to change colour.
Iguanas these are one of the most popular pet lizards, they are available in a number of pet shops and are fairly cheap to buy. They do have very specific needs when it comes to housing and feeding though which makes them more expensive and difficult.
Savannah Monitors though Savannah Monitors only grow up to 3-4 feet they still need a large enclosure to live in, not only do they need a large housing but they also need very secure housing as they are known for being very good at escaping. They can become very tame with regular attention and handling, though they do have the ability to leave you will painfully deep bites and scratches.
All lizards have the ability to carry Salmonella so it is very important you are aware of this and also how to prevent you and anyone else from catching this. Reptiles tend to need a variety of different temperatures in order for them to be able to change their body temperatures when they need to. You also need to be aware that all lizards will shed their skin, so it is important to know how to treat this, as well as their other needs.
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