3 Great Lizards for Beginners

Are you considering adopting a pet lizard? Reptiles can make truly fascinating pets! They’re very beautiful, and can be really interesting to watch. They also don’t smell or make noise, and won’t require training or playtime. However, if you’ve never had a reptile before, you will want to do some research before adopting one. Some lizards are definitely easier to keep than others are! Here, a Las Vegas, NV vet lists some great lizards for first-time reptile owners.

Bearded dragons-known as beardies to many of their fans-are one of the most popular types of pet lizards, and with good reason. They’re quite easy to care for, are absolutely beautiful, and are really interesting to watch. Your beardie will need a good amount of space when he’s grown, however, so make sure you have enough room for a 75-gallon tank or similar enclosure. Your cute pet will also require full-spectrum UVB lighting. As for food, these pretty lizards eat insects, so you’ll want to make sure you can handle offering your pet things often referred to as ‘creepy-crawlies.’

While there are many types of geckos that make suitable pets, the leopard gecko is one of the best choices for beginners. These colorful little guys don’t need special lighting, and do just fine in a 20-gallon aquarium. As with beardies, you will need to offer your scaled buddy live food, such as crickets, which you’ll need to dust with nutritional powder.

While the blue-tongue skink isn’t the smallest lizard around, they have some great qualities that make them suitable pets for first-time reptile owners. They’re typically very gentle, and have wonderful personalities. Your scaled buddy will need an enclosure that is at least 3 x 2. You’ll also need to get some special heating equipment and some UVB lighting, which should be on a cycle. As for food, these guys can eat quite a variety of things, such as boiled eggs; certain fruits and veggies; and even canned dog or cat food.

Adopting a pet is a lifetime commitment, so think carefully before bringing a new animal into your family. This is particularly important with reptiles, as their care needs can vary so much. Ask your vet for more information.

Do you have questions or concerns about lizard care? Contact us, your Las Vegas, NV vet clinic, today!