Are you interested in getting a pet lizard that can live with you for many years? If yes, then this article is a must read for you. Because I’ll share with you everything you need to know about lizard lifespans, the best species of pet lizards based on lifespan, and a guide to help you make sure your pet lizard lives a lifetime. long and happy life.
Everything you need to know about the lifespan of lizards
Lizards are classified as reptiles in the phylum Chordata. There are more than six thousand species of lizards known to man. Although all species of lizards are lizards, they are all different from each other. This is the reason why they all have a different lifespan. Some live long while others live relatively shorter lives.
In general, domestic lizards live longer than wild lizards. This is because pet lizards are not threatened by predators in the same way as wild lizards. The fact that wild lizards are threatened by predators makes them more likely to be injured or killed and therefore their lifespan shorter.
Several other factors affect the lifespan of lizards, including their size and species.
The average lifespan of all species of lizards is between 1 year and 50 years depending mainly on the species. In other words, some lizards live for about a year while others live up to 50 years.
Best Lizard Species for Pets Based on Lifespan
If you are looking for the best species of lizards based on their lifespan, this is where you will find them. Because in this section, I am going to reveal to you the best species of pet lizards based on their lifespan.
The species are long-lived, and they have the added benefit of being some of the best lizards for beginners. This is because they are quite easy to maintain. They are also quite easy to feed and interact with. The lizards are leopard gecko, bearded dragon, blue-tongued skink and crested gecko.
- The leopard gecko
A properly cared for leopard gecko can live up to twenty years. It is one of the longest living lizard species you can get and keep as a pet.
The best thing about it is the fact that it is quite attractive to watch. The leopard gecko is also easy to handle and very friendly.
It grows to a maximum length of 10 inches, so it requires a spacious enclosure.
If you decide to adopt a leopard gecko as a pet, you should provide it with UVB light to boost its immune system. You should also get him calcium and multivitamin supplements to make sure he stays strong and healthy.
- The bearded dragon
If you take good care of a bearded dragon lizard, it will live with you for many years. This is because it has an impressive 15 year lifespan.
The best thing about the bearded dragon (despite its creepy name) is the fact that it is very friendly and docile. If there’s one lizard that’s unlikely to harm you, it’s the bearded dragon.
If you decide to adopt this lizard as a pet, you should provide it with UVB lighting and warm water. Without both in its enclosure, it will quickly become ill and die.
- The blue-tongued skink
Blue-tongued skinks can live for over twenty years. This definitely justifies their inclusion in this list of best pet lizard species based on their lifespan.
As its name suggests, the lizard has a blue tongue. This makes it very unique. The tongue is long and the lizard is known to use it to deter predators.
Another thing that makes the blue-tongued skink unique is the fact that it can drop its tail quickly to escape a predator if grabbed by the tail.
If you decide to have this lizard as a pet, you should only have one. If you get two of them, they will fight unless you build them a massive enclosure. This is because they are quite territorial.
- The crested gecko
If properly cared for, a crested gecko can live for over twenty years. It is one of the longest-lived species of pet lizards.
One of the best things about crested geckos is the fact that they aren’t too big. They reach a maximum length of 8 inches, so they can be housed in relatively small 20 gallon tanks.
If you decide to get a crested gecko, you should keep half of its enclosure warm and the other half cool to allow it to regulate its body temperature as it sees fit. Because if it’s too cold or too hot, he can die.
How to Make Sure Your Pet Lizard Lives a Long Life
So now you know the best long-lived lizard species to keep as a pet. However, just because a lizard has a long lifespan doesn’t mean it will live long. A lizard will only live long if it is well cared for. Below are the things you need to do to take good care of your pet lizard and ensure that it lives a long and happy life.
- Build a decent enclosure
If you want your pet lizard to live long, you need to build a decent enclosure for it. It is not enough to buy a glass tank and put decorations in it randomly. You need to build an enclosure with perfect lighting, humidity, and heating conditions for your lizard. You also need to make sure the enclosure is the right size and contains just about everything your lizard would need or use if it were in its natural habitat.
- Give your lizard the right food
If you want your pet lizard to be strong and healthy and to live as many years as possible, you need to feed it the right food. If you feed your lizard only crickets, it won’t live long. Your lizard needs a diverse diet to get as many different micro and macronutrients into its body. So look for all the foods your lizard can eat and try to feed it a balanced diet every week.
- Clean your lizard’s enclosure and give it fresh water daily
Lizards, like many animals, are not very intelligent. They defecate where they eat. They also swim in the water they are meant to drink. Therefore, if you don’t clean your lizard’s enclosure daily and give it fresh water every day, it will eventually consume dirty food and water and get sick. So, if you want your lizard to stay healthy and live long, you need to clean its enclosure and give it fresh water every day.
- Give Your Lizard Calcium and Vitamins
Insects purchased from pet stores are generally not very nutritious. This is mainly because they are fed store-bought food, unlike wild insects which eat a lot of things in the wild. So if you only feed your lizard store-bought insects, it won’t be very healthy and strong. You should diversify his diet and you should also give him calcium and vitamins to make sure he is healthy and strong.
- Give your lizard a roommate
As humans, we feel lonely when we don’t have company. The case is the same with many species of lizards. While many lizards like to live alone, many lizards also like to live in communities. Therefore, find out if your lizard likes to live alone or in a community and if you find that he likes to live in a community, find him a compatible roommate. Lizards that like to live in a community are happier in a community and therefore live longer in a community.
Conclusion
Lizards live between 1 year and 50 years depending on their species. This means that some lizards can only live for about a year, while others can live up to 50 years. The best lizards to keep as pets based on longevity are leopard geckos, bearded dragons, crested dragons, and blue-tongued skinks. This is because they have a very long lifespan; they can live between 15 and 20 years. However, if you get one and don’t take good care of it, it won’t live long.
So, if you decide to become the owner of a lizard pet, you must take good care of it, if you want it to live a very long time.
