As an avid reptile enthusiast, you are always on the lookout for new additions to your collection. While the most popular pet lizards—bearded dragons, leopard geckos, and anoles—are wonderful options, you crave something a bit more unique to showcase your passion for these cold-blooded creatures. If you find yourself browsing the listings on Reptilessales.com, you may have come across some lesser-known lizard species that pique your interest. Before you make an impulse buy of one of these more exotic pets, learn more about their specific care requirements to ensure you can properly care for your new scaly friend for many years to come.

Leopard Geckos: A Great Beginner Pet Lizard

Housing

For housing, an aquarium or enclosure specifically meant for reptiles is best. A 20 gallon long aquarium is a good size for a single leopard gecko. Provide a secure mesh or screen lid and escape-proof doors. Leopard geckos can live up to 20-30 years, so their housing needs to be a long-term commitment.

Substrate like reptile carpet, tile, or cage liner is ideal as loose substrates like sand can cause impaction if eaten. Provide hiding spots, climbing areas, and other enrichment but avoid anything sharp. A heat lamp and under tank heater are required to maintain a temperature of around 90 F. Leopard geckos are cold-blooded, so supplemental heating is essential for their health and activity.

Diet

A diet of live insects like crickets, dubia roaches, and mealworms is necessary 2-3 times a week. Gut-load feeder insects before offering to provide more nutrition. Calcium and vitamin powder should also be lightly dusted on the insects 2-3 times a week to promote bone health.

Always have a shallow water bowl available for drinking, though leopard geckos get most of their water from their food. Change and refill the water bowl daily and mist your gecko with lukewarm water or give it access to a damp hide a few times a week to help with hydration.

Handling and Interaction

Leopard geckos can become quite tame and socialized to handling and interaction. Gently and gradually introduce yourself to build trust. Never grab a leopard gecko by its tail, as it can drop off, though it will regrow. Keep handling sessions short, around 15-30 minutes a few times a week.

With the proper enclosure, heating, lighting, diet, and interaction, leopard geckos can make wonderfully friendly and rewarding lifelong pets. Their easy care and handling make them ideal for first-time reptile keepers.

Bearded Dragons: An Interactive Reptile Friend

Bearded Dragons: An Interactive Reptile Friend

Bearded dragons, also known as “beardies,” are popular pet lizards known for their friendly and interactive temperaments. If you’re looking for an engaging reptile companion, a bearded dragon could be the perfect choice.

Bearded dragons are medium-sized lizards from Australia that can live 15-20 years with proper care. They are very social and bond closely with their owners, especially if handled frequently from an early age. Bearded dragons enjoy climbing, basking in the sun, and being scratched and petted.

To keep a bearded dragon happy and healthy, you will need to provide:

  • A large enclosure with areas for basking, climbing, and hiding
  • Specialized UVB and heat lamps to maintain a temperature of 95-110 F
  • A diet of live insects and chopped fruits and vegetables
  • Calcium and vitamin supplements 2-3 times a week
  • Fresh, filtered water daily
  • Regular interaction, feeding, and handling

While bearded dragons do require daily care and commitment, many owners find their intelligence, personality, and social nature very rewarding. If given the necessary habitat, diet, lighting, and love, bearded dragons can make wonderful lifelong friends.

Reptiles Sales has a variety of captive-bred bearded dragon morphs available, from juveniles to adults. Our dragons are bred for health, hardiness, and temperament. For more details on the specific dragons we have for sale, please contact us or visit our website. We are always here to help match you with a new scaly companion!

Green Anoles: Active and Colored Lizards

Green Anoles: Active and Colored Lizards

The green anole is a small, active lizard known for the ability of males to change color. Native to the southeastern United States, green anoles make an ideal pet lizard for beginners.

Green anoles, also known as Carolina anoles, are diurnal and arboreal lizards found throughout warm habitats in the southeastern U.S., ranging from North Carolina to Texas. The adult size of a green anole is usually between 5 to 8 inches in length from snout to tail.

Male green anoles, in particular, are well known for their ability to change color. They can turn from their usual bright green to brown or gray. This color change is mostly due to temperature and mood. The color change allows the lizard to camouflage itself and signal to other lizards. Females and juveniles may also change color but not as dramatically as adult males.

Green anoles are active, fast-moving lizards that love to climb and jump. They require a well-ventilated enclosure with multiple perches at multiple levels. Provide UVB and heat lamps to maintain a temperature of 75 to 88 F. Mist your anole with lukewarm water or give it access to a shallow water bowl for drinking and soaking.

Feed your green anole a diet of small insects such as crickets, waxworms, and mealworms. Gut-loaded (recently fed) insects should make up the majority of an anole’s diet. Offer food 2-3 times a week. Dust the feeder insects with a calcium and vitamin powder to ensure your anole gets proper nutrition.

With the proper care and environment, a pet green anole can live 4 to 8 years. Their active and colorful nature makes them an enjoyable lizard to observe. Green anoles can be handled occasionally but are generally better as display pets. By providing the necessary habitat, heat, light, and diet, you’ll have a happy and healthy green anole lizard.

Blue Tongue Skinks: A Unique Find

Blue-tongued skinks are unique lizards native to Australia, New Guinea, and parts of Indonesia. Their most distinguishing feature is their large blue tongue, which they flash as a warning display to predators. Blue-tongues are popular exotic pets due to their docile and friendly nature.

Housing Requirements

Blue-tongued skinks require a spacious enclosure with opportunities for exercise and mental stimulation. An aquarium or reptile tank of at least 20 gallons in size is recommended for a single adult skink. Provide a secure mesh or screen lid to prevent escape, as these lizards are adept climbers. Include hiding spots, branches or platforms at multiple levels, and other enrichment items. Keep the enclosure in a warm area away from drafts, with a consistent ambient temperature of 75 to 88 F.

Heating and Lighting

Blue-tongues are ectothermic, meaning they rely on external heat sources to regulate their body temperature. Provide an under-tank heat mat and UVB light to maintain a proper temperature gradient. The basking spot should reach 95 to 110 F, while the cool end remains around 75 F. Use a thermometer to monitor temperatures regularly and make adjustments as needed based on your skink’s behavior. UVB exposure is also important for vitamin D synthesis and overall health.

Diet

Blue-tongued skinks are omnivores, feeding on both plant and animal matter. A balanced diet should include:

  • Insects: Crickets, mealworms, waxworms, cockroaches
  • Fruits: Berries, melons, papaya
  • Vegetables: Leafy greens, carrots, squash
  • Pelleted food: High-quality pelleted skink food 2-3 times a week

Feed juveniles every day, while adults can be fed 2-3 small meals per week. Always have fresh, clean water available.

By providing the proper housing, heating, lighting, diet, and other essential care, blue-tongued skinks can live 20-30 years and make wonderfully interactive lifelong pets. With regular interaction and bonding from an early age, these skinks can become quite socialized and tame. Their unique characteristics and biology make them fascinating animals for novice and experienced herpetology enthusiasts alike.

Crested Geckos: Low Maintenance Lizards

Crested geckos, also known as eyelash geckos or New Caledonian geckos, are popular pet lizards that do not require live insects as food. Unlike most gecko species that feed on live prey, crested geckos are frugivores and consume a diet primarily of fruit, fruit puree, and insects. This makes them easier to care for as live insects are not a necessity.

Diet

As frugivores, crested geckos thrive on a diet of fruit puree and insects. Commercial crested gecko diet and fruit puree should make up 60-80% of the gecko’s diet. Acceptable fruits include mango, papaya, and apricot. Feed crested geckos 2-3 small crickets 2-3 times a week, or as directed on the product packaging. Always have fresh, clean water available in a shallow water bowl.

Housing

House crested geckos in a vertically oriented enclosure, such as an aquarium or enclosure designed for arboreal lizards. Provide multiple climbing areas at different levels using branches, cork bark, and climbing platforms. Include hiding spots, foliage, and other cage decor that provide cover and climbing opportunities. Mist your crested gecko 2-3 times a week to maintain humidity around 70-80%. Use a hygrometer to monitor humidity and make adjustments as needed.

Handling

Crested geckos can become quite tame and socialized to handling, however, some individuals remain skittish. Handle crested geckos gently and deliberately, starting with short periods a few times a week. Never grab a crested gecko by the tail, as their tails can detach. Always support the whole body. With regular interaction, many crested geckos will become quite social and enjoy interacting with their owners.

In summary, crested geckos are a popular pet lizard that does not require live insects and has basic care requirements, making them suitable for beginners. With the proper diet, housing, temperature, and humidity, crested geckos can live 15-20 years and make amusing and personable lifelong pets.