Herper’s Insight: Free Roaming Lizards

When your monitor gets too big (3.5 ft. or larger) for a cage, you have to make a decision. Do you:

  • build a BIGGER cage;
  • convert a room into a monitor room;
  • give your monitor free roam of your home.

I made the choice of number 3 and will tell you how you also can live with a monitor sharing your living space. As you’ll see, the monitor does not “roam” all over the house as best as can be described as roaming. The monitor is very intelligent and has an excellent memory of where he is and where he is going — he simply memorizes certain areas. At least, that is the conclusion I’ve made of the observations in the four years Nessie has been “roaming free.” (more…)

 

Taming the Lizard

A quiet lizard sitting in your lap enjoying all the attention you bestow upon it. A gigantic snake that enjoys riding swung over your neck. Dangerous looking monitors who can be carried around like a baby or walked down the street on leash. That is what many reptile keepers hope each time that they purchase their next reptile. So how do you help ensure that you are successful in taming and training your pet? (more…)

 

Solomon Island Skink FAQ

Common Names

  • Solomon Island Skink
  • Monkey-tailed Skink
  • Prehensile-tailed Skink

(more…)

 

Green Anole. Anolis carolinensis

green anole anolis carolinensis
Scientific Name: Anolis carolinensis

Other Common Names: American Anole, American Chameleon, Carolina Anole, Red-throated Anole

Total Length: 5-8 inches

Range: North Carolina to Florida, and then west into Texas and the West Indies.
(more…)

 

Lizard Reproduction

The lizards may stop eating during the courtship period. There is no need to worry if they were well fed beforehand. Eating will begin later and the females will often eat more than usual. The reason for this is because females need more energy than usual for the production of the eggs.
(more…)

 

Iguanas F.A.Q.

1. Do iguanas make good pets?
What do you mean by a “good pet“? If you mean a creature that is easy and cheap to look after, then no iguanas do not make good pets! Iguanas can grow to 5 or 6 feet in length, they can become aggressive particularly during the breeding season, they require specialised housing that can be quite expensive to set up, they need a balanced and varied diet, and they can be very expensive to take to the vet! (more…)

 

Taming the Beast

A quiet lizard sitting in your lap enjoying all the attention you bestow upon it. A gigantic snake that enjoys riding swung over your neck. Dangerous looking monitors who can be carried around like a baby or walked down the street on leash. That is what many reptile keepers hope each time that they purchase their next reptile. So how do you help ensure that you are successful in taming and training your pet? (more…)

 

California Newt. Taricha torosa

California Newt Taricha torosa

Scientific Name: Taricha torosa

Other Common Names: Pacific Coast Newt, Western Newt
(more…)

 

Iguana Egg Incubater

Things you will need:

  1. 10 gallon tank
  2. Plastic shoe box with lid
  3. Vermiculite
  4. Submersible fish tank heater
  5. Two bricks
  6. Two thermometers
  7. Spray bottle
  8. Sheet of glass big enough to cover the top of the tank

(more…)

 

Young Lizard Care

After hatching, the young lizards should be placed in a tank (not with the parents or any other animals that may eat them). Make the set up appropriate for the species of lizard. Their egg tooth will fall off a few days after hatching. The hatchlings must slowly adjust to their parents’ climate. There is no reason to keep them warmer. (more…)