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Desert Horned Lizard
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Desert Horned Lizards are a gentle species, but care must be taken as they may push spines into hands while being held.
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Searched Desert Horned Lizard in Reviews
Desert Horned Lizard 
| Comments |
Awkward is one word! Not much information exists on these guys...because they are quite difficult to maintain and keep successfully, I had my desert horned lizard for only 2 and a half years! After looking into it all of his hatch mates passed on not long after I homed him.
There is lots of debate on whether these little chaps should be kept as pets at all.
In the wild they thrive on Ants. Where as you can get Ants from certain suppliers many people choose to feed their DHL on Crickets, the smallest size possible due to the fact they are only really equipped to deal with ants. These of course have to be gut-loaded and dusted with calcium. And not too many put in the tank at one time or they could turn on the lizard.
For the set up I had one half of the tank heated, with a heat lamp over a bathing rock. I had decorations in my tank like fake cacti and other rocks but you have to bear in mind what the live food will be doing with whatever you decorate the tank with...So try to reduce hiding places, escape routes or high up places for the crickets. DHL also enjoy the ability to "Roam" around their viv's.
You also have to aid in the calcium absorption with a UV light. UVA and UVB also helps the lizard due to the fact they are diurnal(Day time) Reptiles. Temperatures should be 90-100 in the hot end...A lizard with its mouth open signals that it is too hot and should be moved somewhere cooler immediately. Water wise they don't need a lot, but I always made sure mine had a small shallow dish of water. Otherwise I'd just mist the tank lightly, as they have the ability to direct water from their body into their mouths...its interesting to watch :)
All in all ALOT of research has to be done into keeping these reptiles. I did a lot of research and it was still difficult to maintain him. They can loose weight and go downhill very quickly. I wouldn't reccommend anyone to get one of these as a pet unless they were 100% researched and confident with the difficult task of keeping these wonderful lizards happy and healthy.
The time I had with my lizard was wonderful...And he was a nice calm lovely lizard. But I would not get another one now that he has passed on.
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| Liked about it |
Cute
Interesting
Nice calm Pet
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| Didn't like |
Difficult to care for
Doesn't really like being handled
Not a beginner lizard (Despite what some shops may tell you)
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| Overall satisfaction: |
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2.5 |
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Should be left well alone!
| Comments |
I belive, and this is just my opinion that DHL`s are best kept in the wild and just observed in there natural habitat, they are VERY difficult to keep in captivity and most will only live for a few years in captivity! its your choice you can leave it be or shorten its life? not enough research at the moment is happening for us to have a comprehensive care for these little guys, i love them, and its that reason that i dont have one!
they can be kept in a 2.5ft vivarium with a high basking spot temperature of 95-100 and a UV bulb of 10% DHL as you can tell from the name are from the desert so decorate the tank in a desert style, they feed on ants and you can buy ant eggs off the internet.
if you do go for one all i can say is goodluck!
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| Liked about it |
friendly lizard
joy to watch
small
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| Didn't like |
very hard to keep
difficult to get the food
not enough research on them
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| Overall satisfaction: |
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2.0 |
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