What Do Lizards Love to Eat?

Lizards are natural hunters that capture their prey. A variety of insects and worms allows the lizard to hunt and stay healthy. Lizards require sources of calcium and protein in their diets. Adding vegetables and fruits to a lizard's meal provides variety in their diets. Insects eat the same vegetables and fruits prior to being consumed by the lizard. This food-chain process aids in supplying the lizard with proper nutrients.

  1. Crickets

    • Crickets are "gut loaded" before becoming a meal themselves. "Gut-loaded" means that crickets are fed nutrients the lizard requires. When the cricket is eaten, the nutrients are carried into the lizard, benefiting the reptile. Crickets are omnivores that eat vegetation and meat. Crickets will eat at the lizard, causing damage to the reptile's toes and eyes. To keep the lizard safe, only a few crickets should be added to a lizard's cage at a time, and the insects should not remain overnight.

    Worms

    • Lizards enjoy earthworms, mealworms, butterworms and grubs. These are considered secondary food sources used in combination with crickets. Mealworms are high in the protein that a lizard requires. Butterworms are only fed to lizards occasionally because of their high fat content. Both can be purchased at local pet stores or online. Earthworms and grubs are also sources of protein and can be pulled from a garden or yard.

    Rodents

    • Larger lizards can consume baby mice and rats. The baby rodents are purchased and can be frozen for months without spoiling. Before feeding, the rodent is thawed by soaking in warm water. Frozen or cold rodents are never fed to lizards. Eating a cold meal would reduce the reptile's body temperature and would cause health decline.

    Fruits and Vegetables

    • Fruits and vegetables offer nutrients and variety in the lizard's diet. Collard greens, mustard greens and turnip greens are all sources of calcium. The greens are thoroughly washed and chopped to an appropriate size for easy consumption. Acorn squash, carrots, okra and sweet potatoes are vegetables suitable for a lizard's diet. Mangoes, apples, papaya, dates and figs are fruits used in combination with other food sources. Fruits and vegetables comprise about 20 percent of the lizard's diet.