East Bay Vivarium 1827-C 5^th Street Berkeley, Ca 94710 (510) 841-1400 http://www.eastbayvivarium.com

Habitat:

Temperature: Establish a range of temperature from 90-110ºF (hot end) to 70-80ºF (cool end). It is important to offer your animal a choice of conditions at all times.

Water: Mist tropical species once or twice a day. Mist desert species a few times a week. Additionally, fresh water should be available at all times on the cool side of the cage.

Bedding: Pine shavings, peat moss, coco fiber, orchid bark or sand are suitable substrates. Find out what kind of habitat your animal comes from and try to mimic that. Tropical lizards should be kept moist and desert lizards should be kept dry.

Cage Decorations: Provide your lizard with a hide box (a warm dark place for your lizard to sleep), a basking rock and branch beneath the heat source to help with digestion.

Tank Size: Tank size will depend on your lizard’s current and future size. Choose a tank accordingly.

Special Lighting: It is essential to provide your lizard with a UVB light source. These lights simulate natural sunlight and aid lizards metabolize key vitamins and minerals. UVB lighting is essential for preventing calcium deficiencies.

Feeding:

Feed Daily: Offer babies food once per day. Food should include crickets, mealworms, wax worms, and roaches. A few lizards require vegetable plates that should include leafy greens and small amounts of tropical fruits. Adult lizards should be fed 3-5 times a week.

Vitamins: Lightly dust all foods with a 50/50 mixture of calcium supplements and vitamin supplements. These items are an essential part of your dragons’ diet. Without them, dragons may develop vitamin and calcium deficiencies, which are ultimately fatal.

Maintenance:

Shedding: It is important that your lizard shed it’s skin completely, especially the skin on the fingers and toes. Incomplete sheds over a period of time can lead to the loss of digits. We recommend soaking your lizard once a week in a shallow bath of tepid water for 20 minutes, and then peel any unshed skin by hand.

Cleaning: Spot clean individual messes and replace with fresh substrate daily. A wide screen fish net is useful for sifting sand. Clean the entire cage bimonthly or when needed.

Clipping: You should clip your lizard’s toenails every few weeks. Cut just the tip off with a pair of fingernail clippers.

Handling: Frequent handling is the best way to allow your lizard to feel comfortable under human care. However, do not handle your animal for the first week you own it. Make sure it is eating and well adjusted to its new home. Some lizards are better to handle than others so make sure you handle appropriately.

Problems: The first sign of an unhealthy lizard is a lack of appetite. First check the cage temperatures and make sure that they are correct. If the environment is set-up properly and problems persist, please call the East Bay Vivarium for assistance.

Further Reading: