Lizards are gaining more and more popularity as house pets during the recent years. These are animals that are very interesting and exotic. Perhaps these simple characteristics of lizards is the primary reason for their rising popularity.
With the number of its species counted to be close to 5,000, it is even more enticing to collect and own as many lizard pets as you can. In fact, there are people who would have rooms with multiple tanks or aquariums in their houses where they would keep their pet lizards. But there is a danger to this, recent studies have shown that there are poisonous lizard species. Logically speaking, not all lizards could be owned as pets for some of them may be dangerous. Which types of lizards then, would be acceptable and safe to be pets?
What we have below is a short list of lizard species that are both popular and safe to be taken as pets.
-
Bearded Dragon - this is one of the more popular pet lizard types. Owners like them for two basic reasons: manageability and looks. Bearded dragons are mean looking animals with pin like scales sticking out their bodies and the around the head. But despite the mean and scary look of bearded dragons, they are known to behave properly. They are easy to take care off and they have no problems interacting with humans. And in terms of size, you may need a big tank because bearded dragons love to move a lot. -
Chameleons - probably one of the more popular lizard types because of its notorious ability to copy and blend to its environment. Chameleons are small carnivorous reptiles. But inverse to its size, the chameleon is quite a complicated animal to care for. There are proper ways to care for it especially in terms of feeding it. But despite the complicated feeding habits, chameleons are still interesting animals because of their unique ability. -
Green Iguana - this is the funky looking lizard with a line of pin shaped scales sticking out of it’s head and along its back that looks like a mohawk. They look just as mean as the bearded dragon but these green iguanas are peace loving animals that won’t hurt other living beings. Feeding this animal would be relatively easy since its dies comprises mostly of fruits and vegetables only. But despite not taking in proteins, green iguanas could grow really long, up to 2 feet. This type of lizard will require a big tank to house it. -
Green Anole - an interesting type of lizard. This is just a small species of lizard but this is, just like the chameleon, a purely carnivorous animal. In fact, this small reptile is a hunter. It feeds primarily of small insects that it catches. Another trait that it shares in common with chameleons is the ability to change colors. Green Anole turns brown when it is inactive or cold and turns green when hot or active. Also, as small as this lizard is, it will require a large tank, specifically a vertically large tank. This lizard is very active and jumps a lot so it will require a spacious tank to live in. -
Water Dragon - Another big lizard that likes to move around. This somehow looks like the green iguana, the only difference is that the spine of the water dragon is relatively shorter than that of the green iguana. You could feed almost anything to this lizard: insects, small animals, fish, crickets, bugs, leaves, fruits and vegetables. The only problem with this animal is that it will require a really huge tank horizontally and vertically. The water dragon likes to move a lot and likes climbing things that’s why adding branches to it’s tank would be good for the lizard as well.
These are just samples of lizards that you could take as pets. Obviously, with the almost 5,000 species of lizards known to man, other species of lizards could be taken as well as pets. But before you take on any pet, make sure that the species you are intending to buy is safe, not poisonous and if it was bred in captivity, that might be better.