What Is the Easiest Pet Lizard to Care For?

Lizards are one of the more diverse groups of animals, ranging from easy to care for and docile to large, aggressive and even venomous. Lizards are interesting creatures, and there are many species that do not have elaborate or complicated care requirements. There are several lizards that can be considered the easiest pet lizards to care for, particularly several gecko species.

  1. Crested Geckos

    • Crested geckos can be considered one of the easiest pet lizards to care for, particularly because they thrive at room temperature and do not need extra heating or lighting. They can be kept in simple enclosures, such as a 20-gallon aquarium with a paper towel lining and plenty of decorations for them to climb on. Crested geckos drink from droplets that collect in the enclosure after mistings with a spray bottle, which can be done nightly or every other day. While they will readily eat crickets, many different powdered foods are available for crested geckos that need only be mixed with water, eliminating the need for crickets altogether.

    Gargoyle Geckos

    • Gargoyle geckos are close relatives of crested geckos, although they tend to grow much larger. They may need a slightly larger cage than a crested gecko, but they still do not require additional heating or lighting. Similar pre-packaged powdered diets are available for gargoyle geckos as well. Gargoyle geckos are slightly more aggressive than crested geckos and do not do as well when kept in groups.

    Leopard Geckos

    • Leopard geckos are relatively easy to care for compared to other lizard species, although they do need extra heating. The easiest and safest way to heat a lizard cage is to use an under tank heating pad, and a thermometer to ensure the temperature remains between 86 and 90 degrees on one half of the tank so the gecko can thermoregulate itself. Like the crested gecko and gargoyle gecko, the leopard gecko is nocturnal and does not require UV lighting. However, they will only eat insects.

    Bearded Dragon

    • Bearded dragons are larger lizards that can grow up to two feet in length, including the tail. They need more room in their enclosure than geckos, although two bearded dragons will be comfortable in a 55-gallon tank. A bearded dragon needs UV lighting and higher temperatures between 100 and 105 degrees in a hot spot in the enclosure, which should be provided via a heat lamp. Bearded dragons can eat insects and varied diet of vegetables and fruits, although their diet is not nearly as complicated as other large lizards, such as uromastyx species or iguanas.