Lizards. Many born and bred right here.

Lizards make great pets

Lizards are active, curious and fun to watch. Bearded dragons bask under their lamp and come to the front of the tank at feeding time. Leopard and crested geckos stay small and calm in the hand.

You may be surprised to learn that lizards can be very loving and social pets. Keeping a lizard has a few challenges, and we're here to set you and your new lizard up for success.

Why lizards make great pets

• A daily routine (lights, food, fresh water) teaches kids real responsibility.
• Quiet, with no walks, and less space and cost than a dog or cat.
• Many live 10 to 20 years. Leopard geckos may live 20 years or more.
• There's always something to watch: hunting, basking, digging, shedding.
• The honest part: most lizards need heat and UVB lighting, UVB bulbs wear out and need replacing, and many lizards eat live insects every week.

A good first pet for kids?

Leopard geckos and bearded dragons are two of the most popular family lizards. They're hardy, put up with gentle handling, and live on a simple daily routine. A parent should own the setup and find an exotics vet before there's ever a problem.

The CDC says children under 5 shouldn't handle or touch reptiles or amphibians, or anything in their enclosures. These animals can carry Salmonella even when they look healthy. Everyone washes their hands with soap and water after handling the animal or anything in its tank, and an adult watches over younger kids.

Cool lizard facts

• Bearded dragons wave one arm in a slow circle. It's a polite signal to a bigger dragon that they don't want trouble.
• Leopard geckos store fat in their tails. Unlike most geckos, they also have eyelids and can blink.
• Crested geckos can drop their tails to escape a predator, and the tail never grows back. Plenty of adults live happily without one.
• Blue-tongued skinks flash their bright tongue at the last second to startle an attacker.
• A chameleon's eyes move on their own, so it can look in two directions at once.

What we carry

We sell bearded dragons, geckos, uromastyx, skinks, chameleons and other lovable lizards. Many are born and bred right here.

• Bearded dragons
• Geckos
• Uromastyx
• Skinks
• Chameleons

Monitors and tegus through NERD

Looking for a monitor or a tegu? NERD has a variety of water monitors for sale, including captive-bred Asian black dragons and captive-bred albino monitors, plus a variety of tegus. Buy online and pick up in the store.

Setting up at home

In the store you'll find live and freeze-dried bugs, several types and styles of vivariums and enclosures, and all your heating and lighting. Start with our care sheets for leopard geckos, bearded dragons, crested geckos and blue-tongued skinks.

• Enclosure: sized to the adult, with a secure top
• Heat: a basking spot at one end, cooler at the other
• Light: UVB for day-active lizards like bearded dragons and blue-tongued skinks
• Food: live or freeze-dried insects, plus greens for dragons and skinks
• Supplements: calcium dusted on the insects

Leopard gecko →Bearded dragon →Crested gecko →Blue-tongued skink →

Come meet them

Come in and see what we have. We'll help you pick the right animal and set you up with habitat and feeding information.