Care Guide for a Blue-Bellied Lizard

The Western fence lizard, commonly known as the blue-bellied lizard, is found from Idaho south to Nevada and west to the Pacific coastal region. The male of the species has characteristic blue markings on the underside of its belly. Its small size, just 6 inches from nose to tail, makes it easy to house and feed.

  1. Housing

    • Blue-bellied lizards do not require large enclosures, and you can keep a male and female pair in a 10-gallon aquarium. Males are territorial and should not be kept together, according to Marshall Visser at Ball-Pythons.net. A substrate, such as pine shavings, lining the bottom of the aquarium will help it resemble an outdoor habitat, while rocks, bricks or driftwood provide a places to bask and hide.

    Lighting

    • In the wild, the sun provides not only heat and light to see by, but also helps with the synthesis of vitamin D. Artificial lighting replicates these properties for lizards. Incandescent light sources provide heat -- the higher the bulb's wattage, the more heat it will provide -- while ultra-violet B fluorescent bulbs provide the necessary nutrients, explains Melissa Kaplan on Anapsid.org. The blue-bellied lizard is diurnal -- active during the day -- and requires eight to 12 hours of light each day.

    Temperature

    • The temperature in the blue-bellied lizard's environment needs to range between 85 and 95 degrees Fahrenheit during the day and may drop as low as 75F at night, according to Reptic Zone's "Care Sheet for Fence Lizards." Maintaining the proper light cycle should also maintain proper heat, but lizard owners can use non-lighted heat sources, such as under-tank heaters, if the temperature drops too much at night.

    Nutrition

    • Blue-bellied lizards are insectivores, and typically eat in the morning to allow plenty of time for digestion. The food, which includes insects such as crickets, should be no bigger than the lizard's head, and Visser suggests dusting the bugs with vitamins for extra nutrition. The lizard will eat for about five minutes at each feeding. For water, lightly misting the side of the tank a few times each day is sufficient.

    Cleaning

    • Without proper cleaning, the habitat will become smelly and unsafe for your lizard. Reptic Zone suggests cleaning every two to three weeks by replacing the substrate and disinfecting the accessories and tank with a reptile-safe cleaning agent. Daily removal of items such as uneaten insects and fecal matter will keep your pet healthy.