Setting Up Your Lizard’s Habitat

                 Setting up you’re reptile habitat is as personal as the animal itself. You can’t pick out any old thing that says “Reptile” or “Amphibian, and expect it to be all right. For example, pacman frogs(AKA african horned frogs) need special coconut fiber, called “coconut coir”; If you just get the first dirt you see in the substate isle, then it probably won’t work for pacman frogs.

                                                        Designing a lizard’s habitat

            The selection of lizards in the pet trade is huge, some say just as much as dogs. Because of huge diversity, there are many habitats for lizards that will probably work for yours. But, due to the diversity between the different species, we can’t get into all the habitats, unfortunately, but, we can get into three methods for three different types of lizards.

                                                   1: Tropical lizards

                              By tropical lizards, we mean day geckos, iguanas, anoles, chameleons, etc.

                              To make a tropical habitat, here are some ideas for what you might want:  Substrate, moss, artificial plants, real plants (optional, and depending on the plant), rocks, fake trees, lights, heating rocks, water bowls and heating mats. Now, you will probably not need all the heaters I mentioned, and possibly won’t be good for that animal. An exception to this may be iguanas, if you don’t have it warm enough in their massive twelve-foot terrarium (which is hard to keep warm). Now, not only will real plants look good, but they may also keep your lizard healthy, depending on the plant; but the wrong type of plant can harm or even kill you’re pet, so always make sure that the plant that you get is safe for that species before you put it in the terrarium, to prevent risks.  Artificial plants, on the other hand, are perfectly safe for you’re pet if you wash them off with warm water. To set up your terrarium, first, put in the proper substrate in the proper amounts on the floor of the terrarium. After you’re done with that, add the basics , like  heat rocks, heat mats, in place. Make sure you add a warmer area to your terrarium, as well as a cooler area so that your pet can feel comfortable at all times,  and can bask in the warm area while lay in the cool area. After this, you can start putting in some of the decorations, like moss, hides, plants, water bowls and fake trees. After this, all you have to do is set up the light.

                                                                                      2: Desert  lizards

A juvenile bearded dragon in ideal environment. Note natural-looking sand, realistic rocks and large tank.

  You probably know  of desert lizards, (mostly Bearded dragons) considering they are  through the roof in popularity, even more popular than tropical ones. You might have even had one. Desert lizards include bearded dragons, leopard geckos, desert collared lizards, thorny devils, and zebra striped lizards, which are all in the pet trade. There care is a little harder than tropical ones (other than iguana) due to their need of high temperatures, low humidity and complex health, but they do appeal to thousands of people. For  desert lizards, as long as they aren’t young and have a risk of choking, will want (you guessed it!) sand as their substrate.  Make sure you by chemical-free sand for the substrate to prevent risk of health problems. Now, just set up lamps!

If you want something cooler than an iguana, and so big it’s  illegal in some states, then a monitor lizard is for you. Closest lizard  to a dinosaur, monitors can grow 8 feet long, weighing over 250 pounds, making them peek predators. We recommend monitor lizards only for experienced hobbyists, due to  the fact that they can be aggressive, and are hard to care for. If you decide to get a monitor, you need a cage bigger than an iguana’s. These lizards need at least a 15-foot terrarium,  which, as you can Imagine, can be extraordinarily expensive. So, most people, If the climate is ok, keep theirs outdoors in a fenced-out area.  Now, the only problem with a fence is that you have to  build it, unless you pay someone, on your beloved weekends. We recommend teeny-tiny chicken wire, so you’re lizard doesn’t climb out. You’ll also want to make the fence as tall as possible,  so you’re monitor doesn’t stand up and go over the fence. You will need a top, typically chicken wire, for the terrarium. Now mind you, the monitor you get may  be small, so you might,  if you don’t make the cage small enough from the start,  re-make it. Make sure to add rocks, dirt, hollow logs (Hides), water buckets or bowls, and hay (optional).