Domestic lizards have long ceased to be exotic in Russia. Reptiles have gained quite a lot of popularity among animal lovers, especially since they are quite unpretentious. The main thing in their care and maintenance is the arrangement of a comfortable home.
It is necessary
terrarium, substrate, fruits, vegetables, snails, fish, branches, shavings, ultraviolet lamps
Instructions
Step 1
The ideal option is to purchase a terrarium for your pet. But keep in mind that it requires a special, rather laborious care. Outside the terrarium, a lizard can easily catch a cold, but inside its home it runs the risk of picking up certain infections in case of non-compliance with zoohygienic standards.
Step 2
The size of the purchased terrarium should depend on the size of the lizard: it should be two body lengths and one width. Arboreal lizards (such as iguanas and chameleons) require vertical terrariums at least two meters high - these animals require more space.
Step 3
Wood lizards also need to equip a terrarium, that is, to place living plants and branches inside, on which they can climb. Buy plants in pots and, moreover, only those that will survive in the conditions necessary for the lizard (that is, they can tolerate a certain temperature and humidity level). Never buy artificial plants.
Step 4
Select the soil depending on the species characteristics of your pet. A universal option is shavings, which are sold in pet stores for rodents. A mixture of sand and earth will suit sandy species. Newsprint is not very aesthetic, but also an acceptable option. Whichever substrate you choose, the main thing is that there are no pieces of bark in it. If swallowed, they can cause constipation in the lizard.
Step 5
A prerequisite for keeping lizards is external heat sources. Thermoregulation is vital for reptiles, since the optimal temperature range for them is up to 37 degrees near a heating source and up to 26 degrees - “in the shade”. This applies equally to tropical species and lizards living in temperate climates (the ideal temperature for the latter is only a couple of degrees lower).
Step 6
Lizards also need an additional source of ultraviolet radiation. Special UV lamps are available at your pet store.
Step 7
As for food, herbivorous lizards rely on fruits and vegetables that have not been treated with chemicals. If you purchased waxed apples, be sure to peel off the skin. Feed carnivorous lizards with snails, finely chopped fish; sometimes you can add a little raw meat, cleaned of bones and cartilage, to the diet.
