The fast lizard (Lacerta agilis Linnaeus) lives almost everywhere in Russia. Keeping such an animal at home is quite difficult. But, since this reptile is very beautiful and interesting, some terrarium lovers prefer to put up with certain inconveniences. Catching a fast lizard, if necessary, is not difficult, including on your own.
Instructions
Step 1
Go to the nearest stream in your area. Nimble lizards are most often found in hilly or flat meadows. You need to go to the stream because these reptiles feed mainly on insects. The latter also live most often near water. But, of course, you can try to catch a lizard just in the steppe.
Step 2
Look closely at the ground under the grass and bushes. Catching nimble lizards is quite difficult. To spot Lacerta agilis Linnaeu in the grass, you need to try. The fact is that the skin color of these lizards almost completely coincides with the color of dry soil. Therefore, be more attentive.
Step 3
Seeing Lacerta agilis Linnaeu, carefully sneak up behind her. The reptile is likely to quickly spot you and try to hide. To catch a lizard, follow it without taking your eyes off it. The main thing is not to let the reptile out of sight. Nimble lizards can change direction of movement literally with lightning speed. Keep this in mind.
Step 4
As close as possible to the lizard, sharply cover it with your palm from above directly on top of the grass, slightly pressing it down. In no case do not grab the reptile by the tail. Otherwise, you will only "catch" him. Do not grab the lizard by the body either. In this case, it is possible, without calculating the strength, to damage the reptile some vital internal organs.
Step 5
Take the captured lizard home and check for parasites. Often, special brightly colored mites can be seen on the skin of reptiles. It will be easy to remove them. These parasites are harmless to humans.
Step 6
Feed the lizard, according to the instructions, with an anthelmintic preparation for reptiles purchased in advance from a pet store or via the Internet. If you have any other reptiles in your home, place the captured lizard in a quarantine enclosure for two weeks.
Step 7
After this period, move Lacerta agilis Linnaeu to your permanent "residence". Terrariums designed for snakes are best suited for nimble lizards. Reptiles are small, and therefore, for them, you can choose "dwellings" with dimensions of 40x40x60 cm or even a little less. Create two temperature zones in the terrarium - 24-26 ° C and 30-32 ° C. For this purpose, you can use, for example, a special thermal cord. At night, the air temperature in the terrarium should never drop below 21 ° C.
Step 8
Install a 5% UV lamp in the terrarium. Make sure to do this. Otherwise, after a while your pet will simply die. Without enough ultraviolet light, lizards begin to quickly decay bones. This is due primarily to a lack of vitamin D in the body. The UV lamp should work around the clock.
Step 9
Place a large bowl of water in a cool area of the cage. This will ensure the proper level of humidity in your pet's "home". The size of the bowl should be such that the lizard can fit completely in it. Sometimes these reptiles take water treatments. To create a favorable microclimate in the terrarium, you can also spread a few damp sponges along the bottom of the terrarium.
Step 10
Before placing a reptile in a terrarium, equip it. Place a thick layer of loose earth mixed with sand on the bottom. Lizards just love to bury themselves in the ground. Place a thick branch in the terrarium. Your pet will walk along it with pleasure in the future. Place some large pebbles in the terrarium. They will serve as hiding places for the lizard.
Step 11
Of course, the first question that arises from the owner of the terrarium is what to feed the caught lizard. Treat your pet to beetles, grasshoppers, caterpillars, spiders, earthworms three times a day in summer and twice a day in winter. A nimble lizard must receive live food without fail. If you give her only dead insects, she may die. Live crickets and cockroaches will be easy to find, for example, in a pet store, and earthworms in a fishing one.
Step 12
From time to time, a quick lizard is allowed to feed pieces of raw meat and eggs. The difficulty of keeping this reptile mainly lies in the need to develop the most varied diet for it. Never feed your pet the same food day after day. Otherwise, the lizard will get sick.
