Lizard Habitat Requirements

Taking care of a pet is more than bringing it home and giving it a name, and lizards are no exception. In addition to integrating the lizard into your home and family, you have to meet its requirements for basic needs, such as its habitat, or living conditions. Providing the proper habitat for your lizard will help ensure that it's a happy and healthy part of your family.

  1. Basic Requirements

    • All lizards need food and water. Different breeds need different diets; make sure that you give your lizard the proper diet. Many lizards are herbivores, meaning they eat plant matter, while others are insectivores, and eat mosquitoes, flies or other insects. Trying to simulate the food and water availability in your lizard's natural habitat will help ensure that it's healthy and content. For example, buy insects to put in your chameleon's habitat to let it catch them instead of trying to feed it insects that have already died.

    Containment

    • Most lizards will need to be kept in a cage or terrarium. Larger lizards, such as an iguana, may not need to be contained, but most lizards are smaller and need a place to keep them safe and cared for. This is also dependent on the breed of lizard. More active breeds may need to be kept in a terrarium, while more docile breeds may be able to have more freedom in your home.

    Breed Requirements

    • Different breeds of lizard will have specific needs for habitat. For example, the desert iguana needs a warm, dry habitat, while the chameleon needs a tropical habitat. Creating a habitat that simulates the lizard's native environment will help ensure that your lizard is as comfortable as possible. Lizards may have light and heat requirements, as well. A lizard used to a desert habitat, for example, may need a heat lamp to help regulate its body temperature.

    Social Aspects

    • When setting up the habitat, determine whether your lizard can live with other lizards or animals or if it needs to live in a habitat alone. Lizards that are aggressive with other animals, such as Tokay geckos, should be kept alone, while more docile lizards, such as the Chinese water dragon, may be able to live in a habitat with additional lizards.