How to Keep a Long Tail Lizard As a Pet

While Asian long-tailed lizards are relatively small lizards. Adult body length rarely exceeds 2 inches. But they make up for their skinny build and small bodies with a conspicuously long tail, which can grow up to six times the length of their bodies. Long-tailed lizards are commonly found in the open grasslands and forests of Southeast Asia. They are active lizards that make entertaining pets when kept in groups or alone. Long-tailed lizards are readily available from most pet stores and are easy to care for with a simple terrarium setup and basic husbandry.

Things You'll Need

  • 10-gallon aquarium with lid
  • Sand
  • Peat soil
  • Rocks
  • Driftwood
  • Heat lamp
  • Thermometer
  • UV lamp
  • Water dish
  • Pinhead crickets
  • Water bottle
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Instructions

    • 1

      Fill the base of the aquarium with 3-4 inches of sterilized play sand. Sand is an easy-to-clean substrate that give the long-tailed lizard enclosure a natural appearance.

    • 2

      Add three or four handfuls of peat soil to the sand and mix thoroughly. The peat soil darkens the sand and helps retain moisture and heat in the terrarium.

    • 3

      Landscape the terrarium with rocks and driftwood to create areas for the long-tailed lizard to climb around. Long-tailed lizards are semiarboreal and will explore all areas of the aquarium. Ensure that the driftwood is firmly secured in the enclosure so it does not shift when the lizard is climbing.

    • 4

      Place a heat lamp over one side of the enclosure. You can place the lamp directly on the lid of the aquarium or you can clip it to the side so it stands above the enclosure. Long-tailed lizards, like all reptiles, are exothermic and require an external heat source -- such as a heat lamp -- to warm their bodies to properly digest food and develop in captivity.

    • 5

      Place a thermometer under the heat lamp and ensure that the basking site is between 85 and 90 degrees.

    • 6

      Install a UV light over the enclosure. Long-tailed lizards need UV light to properly metabolize vitamins and minerals in captivity.

    • 7

      Fill a small water dish with fresh, dechlorinated water and place it on the opposite side of the enclosure from the heat lamp.

    • 8

      Feed long-tailed lizards as many pinhead crickets as they will eat three times each week. Always remove uneaten food from the enclosure after 24 hours to prevent the crickets from injuring the lizards with their chewing mouth parts.

    • 9

      Remove feces as soon as you notice it and ensure that there is fresh water available for the lizard at all times.

    • 10

      Mist the enclosure with a water bottle each morning to maintain humidity levels.