Lizards care guides

The lizards keepers ask about most, from the beginner bearded dragon and blue-tongue skink to large, advanced animals like monitors, tegus and the green iguana. They vary hugely in size, heat and space needs, so match the lizard to the room and enclosure you can realistically provide.

Desert reptile · Agamid lizard

Bearded Dragon

Pogona vitticeps

Basking spot 38–42°C · 100–108°F · Cool side 26–29°C · 79–84°F · Humidity 30–40%

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Terrestrial reptile · Omnivorous skink

Blue-tongue Skink

Tiliqua scincoides

Basking spot 35–38°C · 95–100°F · Cool side 24–26°C · 75–79°F · Humidity 40–60%

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Desert reptile · Spiny-tailed agamid

Uromastyx

Uromastyx spp.

Basking spot 49–54°C · 120–130°F · Cool side 26–29°C · 79–84°F · Humidity 20–30% (very dry)

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Small arboreal lizard · Southeastern USA

Green Anole

Anolis carolinensis

Basking spot 30–32°C · 86–90°F · Ambient 24–28°C · 75–82°F · Humidity 60–70%

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Dwarf monitor · Arid northern Australia

Ackie Monitor

Varanus acanthurus

Basking surface 50–65°C · 122–150°F · Ambient 26–30°C · 79–86°F · Humidity 40–60% (humid burrow)

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Giant arboreal lizard · Central & South America

Green Iguana

Iguana iguana

Basking spot 35–40°C · 95–104°F · Humidity 70%+ · Adult size 1.5–2 m · 5–6 ft

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Large omnivore lizard · Central South America

Argentine Black & White Tegu

Salvator merianae

Basking surface 52–57°C · 125–135°F · Humidity 75–90% · Adult size 1.1–1.4 m · 3.5–4.5 ft

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Arid monitor · Sub-Saharan Africa

Savannah Monitor

Varanus exanthematicus

Basking surface 50–55°C · 122–130°F · Cool end 24–26°C · 75–79°F · Humidity ~50% (humid burrow)

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Arboreal lizard · Southeast Asia

Chinese Water Dragon

Physignathus cocincinus

Basking spot 32–35°C · 90–95°F · Humidity 60–80% · Adult size ~0.9 m (mostly tail)

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All care guides