Owning a pet lizard is a lot like getting an odd tattoo. You probably love the idea. Some of your friends will too. Then there are some that just don't really get it and honestly, there isn't much you'll be able to do to change their minds. And that's fine! Because lizards make fantastic pets. They're relatively low maintenance, they're calm and they're just really cool to look at. Plus lizards don't really like each other all that much so you don't need to worry about getting them a friend to keep them company!
If you're thinking about getting a pet lizard, or if you've already taken the plunge, the question of what on earth to feed it has probably come up and hopefully it has led you here. So in this blog, we'll take a look at some of the key things to know about feeding your lizard so that your reptilian friend stays happy and healthy.
What Should I Feed My Pet Lizard?
It won't surprise you to know that there are quite a few different types of lizards out there, and which one you go for will also depend largely on where you are in the world. In Australia, we certainly have our fair share of reptiles roaming about and some common pets include – bearded dragons, blue-tongued lizards, water skinks, geckos and an assortment of monitors – just to name a few.
Generally speaking, you can categorise what to feed your lizard based on its size. Small lizards will eat small insects, while larger ones will move on to bigger prey such as rodents. The majority of lizards that people tend to keep as pets are omnivorous, meaning they'll eat vegetables and vegetation, but they also are perfectly happy to nibble something that moves!
In the wild, most lizards are opportunistic feeders which means that they'll eat whatever food is available to them. This is something you need to keep in mind when you're feeding your pet lizard as you want to make sure that their diet is as varied as possible.
A big part of owning a pet lizard is being able to watch them hunt and eat their food. It's actually really satisfying (as long as you've got the stomach for it) to see them catch their own dinner! If you have a smaller lizard, crickets are always a good option and you can buy these live or frozen from our lizard food page!
What Are The Best Live Food Options For My Lizard?
Live food is an important part of an omnivorous lizard's diet and I've seen it widely recommended that it be part of their meals at least once a week. Given that most lizards only need feeding every 2-3 days this can equate to almost half of their meals.
There are a whole range of live food options available for lizards, but some of the most common include – crickets, mealworms, beetles, woodies, cockroaches and earthworms.
If you're looking for some live lizard food that is packed with nutrients, the Black Soldier Fly Larvae stocked at Petwave is a brilliant option. These little critters are rich in calcium which is a crucial vitamin for your lizard as it helps with bone and muscle function.
What Are The Best Frozen Food Options For My Lizard?
While live food is an important part of a lizard's diet, it's not always practical or possible to feed them this way all the time. This is where frozen food comes in handy as it's a great way to ensure that your lizard is getting the nutrition it needs without having to constantly chase down live prey!
There are a whole range of frozen food options available for lizards, but some of the most common include – rats, mice, and baby chicks.
One of the great things about feeding your lizard frozen food is that you can often buy these in bulk, and then keep them frozen to use whenever. Which means you don't have to worry about running to the pet shop all the time!
What Are The Best Dry Food Options For My Lizard?
Feeding your lizard dry foods is an easy and cost-effective way to supplement a portion of your lizard's diet. As previously mentioned, most lizards aren't all that fussy about what dry foods they'll eat. So they'll feed on various types of vegetation like clovers, dandelions and daisies.
Additionally, you choose to use packet dry foods for your lizard for a nutrient-rich feeding option as well.
Vegetables (and fruits!) should also make up a good portion of your lizard's diet and there are actually quite a few different options to choose from. The best vegetables for lizards are typically dark leafy greens such as – kale, collards, mustard greens, dandelion greens and turnip greens. Other good options include – carrots, sweet potatoes, squash and green beans.
You can either feed your lizard fresh vegetables or opt for frozen ones that have been blanched.
So there you have it, try out these different options on your lizard and see what they like!