9 Types Of Lizard Pets: How To Pick The Perfect Lizard Pet

If you’re looking to get a lizard, you need to know the types of lizard pets. Each lizard is different. Some like to be handled, some are shy.

Although, lizards are unusual and exotic animals, many people are interested in having them as a pets.

As lizard’s lifespan is long and any pet should be kept for life, it’s important you make the right choice.

In this article, we have put together a list of lizards that are suitable as pets. We’ve also included their main characteristics, cost and personality.

By knowing this information, you’d be able to decide which lizard is the best fit for you.

Bearded Dragon

Types Of Lizard Pets

There are many types of lizard pets. A popular choice is the Bearded Dragon. Not only is this lizard well-known, but it’s also an easy to care for lizard.

If you are a beginner and looking to get a reptile pet, the Bearded Dragon is good all-rounder.

Habitat, Lifespan And Size

  • Bearded Dragons are native to Australia
  • They live up to 10 to 15 years
  • This lizard grows up to 1 to 2 feet in length

Diet

Bearded Dragons are omnivorous. Furthermore, their diet consists of a variety of fruits and insects.

They should be fed minimum of twice per day and also need a calcium supplement.

Personality

The Bearded Dragons are one of the most sociable lizards and enjoy interacting with their owner.

Although, each Bearded Dragon has its own personality, they are known to be friendly and calm which makes them a good beginner lizard and a suitable pet for older kids.

Cost

Fortunately, this friendly lizard cost is not too high. Their price averages $30 to $60 depending on their size.

Interesting Facts

  • The Bearded Dragon is also known as “beardies”
  • They have folds of skin under their chin that puff out and looks like a “beard”

Green Iguana

Types Of Lizard Pets

More popular types of lizard pets include the Green Iguana. Most pet owners are attracted to this lizard because of their beautiful appearance.

Habitat, Lifespan And Size

  • The Green Iguana is native to Central and South America
  • Their lifespan is 10 to 15 years
  • They grow up to 5 to 6 feet

Diet

The Green Iguana’s diet is herbivore. The herbivore diet includes leaves, fruits, and flowers. This reptile is the perfect pet for anyone that doesn’t enjoy feeding live food.

Personality

Although, the Green Iguana can appear to be shy, it’s important to start handing them as early as possible. The reason for that is so the Iguana begins to feel comfortable and get used to being handled. This needs to be done gently and carefully.

Cost

The Green Iguana can cost anything between $20 to $50. Normally, they are sold as babies or juveniles.

Interesting Fact

  • Green Iguanas can survive a fall of 40-50 feet
  • They are excellent swimmers and will dive into the water to escape predators

Chameleon

Types Of Lizard Pets

One of the many types of lizard pets is the Chameleon. The Chameleon is popular for their color changing features and telescopic eyes.

However, these unique animals are not recommended for beginners as they require special care.

Habitat, Lifespan And Size

  • Chameleons mostly live in the rain forests and deserts of Africa
  • This species can live up to 2 to 3 year in the wild. However, in captivity and given the appropriate care, they can live 3 to 10 years
  • They vary widely in their size. When they hatch, they are 4 inches long. As adults they can grow anything between 15 to 20 inches

Diet

Chameleon’s diet generally consists of insects such as locusts, mantids, grasshoppers, stick insects, and crickets. However, larger chameleons would also eat small birds and even other lizards.

Some Chameleon species have been known to eat plants. However, this is not part of their normal diet.

Personality

Chameleons are popular reptiles and often kept as pets. Chameleons are generally docile and not at all aggressive towards their owners. However, they are very shy and easily stressed, especially when handled.

Overall, this type of lizards is not recommended for beginners. The reason for that is Chameleons sometimes struggle to adjust to life in captivity and require a lot more special care.

Cost

These unique animals can cost anything between $30 to $300.

Interesting Fact

  • Unlike many lizards, chameleons can’t regrow a tail
  • Unfortunately, this beautiful species are rapidly disappearing with deforestation

Fat-Tailed Geckos (Hemitheconyx caudicinctus)

Types Of Lizard Pets

Hemitheconyxcaudicinctus, also known as African Fat-Tailed gecko or Fat-Tailed gecko is also part of our types of lizard pets list.

Their appearance consists of a pale tan or brown solid color that is accented by brown and tan stripes. Some geckos can have a thin white stripe along their back.

Habitat, Lifespan And Size

  • The Fat-Tailed gecko is native to West Africa. Their normal climate is dry, hot and tropical
  • They can live between 10 to 25 years when cared for properly
  • The Fat-Tailed gecko can grow up to 9 inches in length

Diet

This little reptile is primarily insectivore. This means feeding on various kinds of insects and invertebrates such as worms, crickets, beetles, roaches and more.

Personality

The Fat-Tailed gecko is normally friendly and calm.

If you want to learn more about which lizards are friendly click here Friendliest Lizards You Can Own – The Ultimate Guide

Cost

This type of gecko can cost anything between $150 to $600.

Interesting Fact

  • An interesting feature of this gecko is that they seem to have a permanent “smile” because of the shape of their jaw

Leopard Gecko (Eublepharis macularius)

More popular types of lizard pets include the Eublepharismacularius, also known as Leopard Geck. Moreover, this reptile is known for being a great pet for beginners.

Habitat, Lifespan And Size

  • The Leopard Gecko’s natural habitat is semi-desert areas in Afghanistan, Iraq, Iran, and northwest India. Furthermore, they live in burrows and seek shaded areas during the day
  • This reptile can grow up to 12 inches in length
  • The Leopard Gecko can live up to 10 years

Diet

The Leopard Gecko’s diet is entirely insectivorous and need a calcium supplements.

Personality

This lizard is docile and not likely to bite. They are easy to care for. Therefore, are suitable for beginners.

Cost

The Leopard Gecko cost is between $20 to $40.

Interesting Fact

  • These lizards are nocturnal
  • The Leopard Gecko can be quite vocal, especially when hungry

Crested Gecko (Correlophus Ciliates)

Correlophusciliates, also known as Crested Gecko are a medium sized semi-arboreal gecko.

Habitat, Lifespan And Size

  • The Crested Gecko is native to New Caledonia, islands near Australia. Furthermore, they need a warm environment and a very high humidity to lead a healthy and happy life
  • This gecko’s lifespan is 10 years or more when cared for properly
  • Crested Geckos are relatively small and can growing up to 8 inches in length

Diet

The Crested Gecko’s diet consists of plants, seeds and insects. In captivity, they should be fed 3 times a day.

Personality

Crested Geckos are very calm animals and are not aggressive towards their owner. This makes them easy to handle and good for beginners.

Cost

The Crested Gecko can cost anything between $30 to $300

Interesting Fact

  • These geckos are well-known for having “eyelashes”. The eyelashes are spines that connects their eyes to their tail
  • This species was thought extinct until it was rediscovered in 1994 during an expedition led by Robert Seipp

Chinese Water Dragon

There are a few species of Water Dragons. Common types of lizard pets from this species are the Chinese and Australian Water Dragons with the Chinese one being more popular.

Habitat, Lifespan And Size

  • The Chinese Water Dragon are normally found along the banks of freshwater lakes and streams in southern China and south-eastern Asia
  • The lifespan of the Chinese Water Dragon is 15 to 20 years
  • They can grow up to 3.3 feet in length, including the tail

Diet

The Chinese Water Dragon’s diet is predominately insectivore. In addition to that they also eat leafy vegetables.

Personality

In order to get used to handling, the Chinese Water Dragon must be socialized from a young age. However, once socialized, they are very friendly and enjoy being picked up.

Cost

The cost of the Chinese Water Dragon is anything between $20 to $80. However, if you are looking to buy an Australian Water Dragon, which is more rare, the cost goes up to $200 to $300.

Interesting Fact

  • The Chinese Water Dragon enjoys swimming and can stay under water for quite some time to escape predators

Moroccan Uromastyx (Spiny-Tailed Lizard)

Moroccan Uromastyx, also known as Spiny-Tailed Lizard, are from the same family of lizards as the Bearded Dragon. Similar, to the Bearded Dragon, we have include the Spiny-Tailed Lizard in the types of lizard pets list.

Habitat, Lifespan And Size

  • The Spiny-Tailed lizard is native to the Middle East
  • Although, they can reach up to only 14 to 16 inches in length, they are still quite bulky and heavy
  • The lifespan of the Spiny-Tailed lizard is 15 to 30 years

Diet

The Spiny-Tailed lizard is entirely herbivorous. This means they eat mainly vegetables, including leafy greens. In addition to that they will also eat insects. However, when kept as pets, they should be fed insects only once a week.

Personality

The personality of the Spiny-Tailed lizard is friendly and calm. Furthermore, they are easy to care for and make a good beginner reptile pet.

Cost

The cost of the Spiky-Tailed Lizard is $75 to $300. The price depends on the species.

Interesting Fact

  • The name Uromastyx comes from Ancient Greek use of the “oura” which means “tail” and “mastix” which means “whip”
  • The Uromastyx will hibernate in winter for 2 to 5 months

Green Basilisk

The Green Basilisk is a long and thin lizard. Their appearance is normally green or green/blue with dark stripes towards the back of the tail.

Habitat, Lifespan And Size

  • The Green Basilisk is found in the tropical rainforests of Central America
  • They can live up to 8 to 12 years
  • Usually, the Green Basilisk can grow up to 3 feet long and is very light for their length

Diet

The Green Basilisk is an omnivore. They will eat invertebrates, mice and an occasional fruit.

Personality

The Green Basilisk can struggle to adapt to being handled. Therefore, this lizard is for people who are willing to admire it rather than pick it up.

This pet can be kept by beginners, but it’s important that you’re prepared to provide it with the special care it requires such as their need for privacy and alone time.

Cost

The Green Basilisk costs anything between $25 to $65.

Interesting Fact

  • The Green Basilisk is known as the lizard that can run over water. This has earned them the nickname “Jesus Christ Lizard”

Final Thoughts

There are many types of lizard pets you can choose from. However, each lizard has different care requirements and characteristics. It’s important that you make an informed decision and choose the right lizard for you.

If you want a friendly and calm lizard that is comfortable with handling, you should choose one of the following:

  • The Bearded Dragon
  • Leopard Gecko
  • Crested Gecko

If you want a larger reptile pet, you should go for:

  • Chinese Water Dragon
  • Green Iguana

On the other hand if you want types of lizard pets that are small in size, you should choose from:

  • Crested Gecko
  • Long-Tailed Gecko

If you’re not interested in handling your pet, but you want a unique animal to admire and display, you should pick one of the following:

  • Green Iguana
  • Chameleon

Before choosing your pet reptile, make sure you research into what are the care requirements and if the lizards’ needs fit your lifestyle.

unusualpetsguide

My name is Iliyana and I'm a passionate animal lover and pet owner. As there is significantly less information online about unusual and exotic pets, I decided to found this website and recruit expert writers to help pet owners.

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