Lizards as pets

Buying a pet and looking after it is a huge responsibility. As a pet owner you have to make sure that your pet has a suitable environment to live that allows it to express natural behaviors like they would in the wild.  Correct nutrition is also important as well as lots of loving care and attention, allowing you to notice when your pet is not feeling well and may need to be taken to see a veterinarian.

The most commonly kept pets are mammals such as dogs, cats, rabbits and hamsters. Humans are mammals too, so we generally find it quite easy to relate to other mammals and to realise when they are unwell or in distress. If you stand on your dog’s paw he will yelp therefore showing signs of pain. If your dog is too cold you will notice that he is shivering and if he is too hot you will notice that he is panting. If he doesn’t eat his dinner you will realize that he is feeling unwell. This is not the case for lizards.

Lizards are reptiles and reptiles are very different from mammals. Your lizard will not give you such obvious signals to let you know that he is feeling unwell, too hot, too cold or is in pain. His signs of distress are much subtler, so getting to know your lizard’s daily routine and behavior will help you pinpoint when something isn’t right. You will have to observe him very closely to ensure that he remains healthy; otherwise his suffering will go unnoticed. You should weigh your lizard regularly as it may not be obvious just from looking at him that he is losing weight. A change in weight can indicate that your lizard is unwell.

Many of the health problems which occur in lizards are related to some aspect of their environment or their diet. Lizards take a lot of special care and attention. There are lots of factors to consider when caring for them, some include; temperature, humidity, diet, furniture, etc. The sort of set up required for a lizard can be costly. This is something to consider before purchasing.

Wherever possible buy a captive bred lizard. Lizards bought from wild stock are often exposed to, and can carry a wide range of different parasites, bacteria and viruses. Buying a wild caught lizard also encourages this unethical trade.

Reptiles carry many different bacteria, one of which is salmonella. Although not harmful to them, the bacteria can cause illness in humans. Therefore, it is essential to wash your hands thoroughly after handling all reptiles and before handling or eating food.

There are two species of venomous lizards which require a zoo license to keep and are not suitable as pets!

Everybody needs a holiday! When going on holiday ensure the carer of your lizard fully understands how to care for him. Like minded lizard owners are a good port of call as they have the knowledge of care required.

Try to find a carer that is happy to come to your house to care for him rather than moving your lizard to a strange new environment elsewhere. Alternatively, it’s worth considering if you can move your lizard’s whole vivarium to the carers house if they would prefer to care for your lizard in their own home.

Disease risk is a factor to consider when choosing a carer. If your lizard is either living in isolation, or in an isolated group, suddenly placing him in an environment where there are other lizards would be dangerous. There is a huge risk of disease spread. Wherever possible, arrange for your lizard to be cared for at your own home rather than letting the carer take your lizard to their own set up.

Please remember that lizard health care is specialized and if they become ill treatment can be expensive. Insurance is one way to protect your lizard and help towards the cost of veterinary care. Ensure to research companies that are exotic specific to ensure a good cover and policy for your reptile pet.

At some point you may need to take your lizard to see a veterinarian. Try to choose a veterinarian who has an interest in reptiles. Some veterinarians choose to study further in exotics or zoo medicine so therefore they carry out extra qualifications in zoological or exotic medicine qualifications. If your local veterinary practice are not reptile enthusiasts, they should be able to recommend a veterinarian who is. If you have difficulty finding a suitable veterinarian, you could contact The Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons – www.rcvs.org.uk.