Q&A for How to Care for Your Lizard

Figure out where your lizard is bleeding from. If it is a wound or broken nail, then apply gentle pressure with a cotton pad for 5 - 10 minutes. If the lizard is bleeding from the vent, this could lead to dehydration and anemia. Drip feed water by mouth, keep him warm, and take the lizard to see a reptile vet.

This depends on the species of lizard. A few species, such as the Western fence lizard, have different coloration depending on gender (the male has the blue belly which gives the species its popular name). However, with most lizard species it's more tricky than this and you need to look at the area beneath the tail. Male lizards often have femoral pores, which are bumps that run in a line down the inside of the thigh. Males also tend to be wider at the base of the tail - although this is difficult to recognize unless you have another lizard of the opposite gender to compare it with. Lastly, female lizards have paired scales near their cloaca, which are bigger than her regular scales.

No, you should never take a lizard from the wild. Not only does this damage native populations and upset the ecosystem, but it is illegal in many states.

Keeping and caring for a lizard properly is an expensive business. Aside from the purchase cost of the lizard and a good quality, thermally efficient vivarium, there are ongoing costs. These include regular changes of UV bulbs (every six months) and heat bulbs, plus the cost of electricity. In addition you'll need to purchase a faunarium to keep the live food in, and buy fresh insects weekly. You also need fresh food to feed to the insects, plus a calcium supplement. Also, if the lizard is ill, it will need to see a reptile vet, who is usually a specialist and more expensive than a regular vet.

That really depends on the type of lizard you have—each one is going to have different husbandry needs. However, the basics are that you'll need to control the temperature and lighting. Some lizards require a UVB light, but there are other lizards that are nocturnal and will only need a heat source of some kind.