Lizards
The lizards form an extremely diverse group of animals that has populated almost all habitats with the exception of the world’s ice regions. Only a very few species are herbivores, so can be fed without animal live food. Please be very careful when selecting their terrarium size. Many lizards are very large and need a lot of space. Climbing species require high terrariums, while ground dwellers need a lot of floor space. Aggression within the species can be extremely pronounced (e.g. in chameleons).
Bearded dragon (Pogona vitticeps)
Although these agamids need a terrarium size of at least 150 cm in length, they are among the most popular lizards of all.
They quickly become very trusting and eat out of your hand. Agamids, which can grow up to 60 cm long, are among the few species of lizards, which (apart from live food such as house crickets, crickets, grasshoppers) mainly need plant food, such as JBL Iguvert , salad, vegetables (no cabbage!), dandelion and flowers. Daytime temperatures in their dry terrarium should be between 30 and 35 °C with a humidity of 30-40%. At night, the temperatures need to be lowered significantly and the humidity should rise to about 60%. The ideal stock is one male and two females. A suitable substrate is JBL TerraSand natural yellow , often mixed with clay. The substrate needs to be 15-20 cm deep, because the animals like to burrow. Wood and stones are often welcomed as a basking spot. Bearded dragons need a lot of light, heat and UV and therefore need light sources which meet all these requirements. The best lighting are LUW spotlights, which offer all three factors ( JBL ReptilDesert L-U-W Light alu (Special lamp for use in reptile keeping! Not suitable for other applications! No EEK label required. Exemption according to (EU) 2019/2015 Annex IV 3. c) UV radiation > 2mW/klm) ). But well positioned UV spotlights can also be used ( JBL UV-Spot plus (Special lamp for use in reptile keeping! Not suitable for other applications! No EEK label required. Exemption according to (EU) 2019/2015 Annex IV 3. c) UV radiation > 2mW/klm) ). Hiding places are important, so that the animals can retreat to cooler areas. Please note that, when using heating mats like JBL TerraTemp heatmat , to create cooler areas, never place them under the entire surface of the terrarium. A drinking bowl ( JBL ReptilBar GREY ), is important to guarantee the animals are getting enough liquid.
Spiny-tailed lizards (Uromastyx species)
These agamids (also called agamas) live in desert regions of North Africa and reach 30-40 cm in length.
Your dry terrarium should have at least 120 x 80 cm of floor area. A substrate such as JBL TerraSand natural red is suitable for burrowing animals. Don’t use fine, slippery sand with a 20-30 cm layer thickness! Stones, wood and cork offer good climbing opportunities, but need to be secured with JBL PROHARU UNIVERSAL adhesive to prevent them from collapsing. LUW spotlights are the best lighting source to provide light, heat and UV ( JBL ReptilDesert L-U-W Light alu (Special lamp for use in reptile keeping! Not suitable for other applications! No EEK label required. Exemption according to (EU) 2019/2015 Annex IV 3. c) UV radiation > 2mW/klm) ). But well positioned UV spotlights can also be used ( JBL UV-Spot plus (Special lamp for use in reptile keeping! Not suitable for other applications! No EEK label required. Exemption according to (EU) 2019/2015 Annex IV 3. c) UV radiation > 2mW/klm) ). It’s important to provide some hiding places, so that the animals can retreat to cooler areas. Please note that, when using heating mats like JBL TerraTemp heatmat , in order to create cooler areas, never place them under the entire surface of the terrarium. Spiny-tailed lizards are predominantly vegetarian and feed on dandelion, millet, rice, sunflower seeds and supplementary animal food comprising crickets, cockroaches and grasshoppers. The terrarium needs temperatures to be between 28-35 °C during the day, up to 45 °C under the spotlight, and 18-20 °C at night. The humidity is ideally between 50 and 60%. The lizards can be kept individually and in pairs, whereby it can come to brawls. A drinking bowl ( JBL ReptilBar SAND ), is important to guarantee they are getting enough liquid.
Beaver-tailed agamas (Xenagama species)
These African highland lizards, which don’t grow larger than 15-20 cm, are becoming increasingly popular as their terrariums only need a length of 100 cm.
They like borrowing and need a bottom layer of about 20 cm, made of e.g. JBL TerraSand natural red (which is ideal for forming caves when moistened). Rock formations with loopholes form the decoration of your desert terrarium. Stones, wood and cork provide good climbing opportunities, but need to be secured with JBL PROHARU UNIVERSAL adhesive to prevent them from collapsing. A drinking bowl ( JBL ReptilBar GREY ), is important to guarantee the animals are getting enough liquid. LUW spotlights are the best lighting source to provide light, heat and UV ( JBL ReptilDesert L-U-W Light alu (Special lamp for use in reptile keeping! Not suitable for other applications! No EEK label required. Exemption according to (EU) 2019/2015 Annex IV 3. c) UV radiation > 2mW/klm) ). But well positioned UV spotlights can also be used ( JBL UV-Spot plus (Special lamp for use in reptile keeping! Not suitable for other applications! No EEK label required. Exemption according to (EU) 2019/2015 Annex IV 3. c) UV radiation > 2mW/klm) ). Temperatures between 26-32 °C are recommended during the day, but only 20-26 °C at night. The humidity may fluctuate between 40 and 70%, more at night than during the day. Beaver-tailed agamas are vegetarian and feed on dandelion, leaves, JBL Iguvert flowers with supplementary animal food from crickets, house crickets and grasshoppers. A drinking bowl ( JBL ReptilBar SAND ), is important to guarantee they are getting enough liquid.
Chameleons (Chamaelo and Furcifer species)
It’s practically impossible to classify chameleons in one group.
They can be a few centimetres small or up to 60 cm tall. Chameleons live in both rainforests and savannahs. All chameleons eat live food, some even mice, but only the Yemen chameleon (C. calyptratus) also needs vegetable food. Be careful with too fatty foods like mealworms! Most chameleons need a semi-humid terrarium with a lot of places to climb and a floor area of at least 120 x 70 cm. Only smaller species require less floor space. The height can be between 100 and 200 cm because of the climbing places. As a substrate a mixture of peat and soil ( JBL TerraCoco Compact , JBL TerraCoco Humus and JBL TerraBasis ) is suitable. Sufficient ventilation with a gauze cover against heat accumulation and moisture is very important, and this needs to be between 50% and 70%. Water is usually absorbed by drops on the leaves. Spraying is therefore very important. The daytime temperatures need to be 25-30 °C and the nighttime temperatures 20 °C. Most chameleon species are aggressive and need to be kept individually. Only a few species such as the Meller's chameleon and the Malagasy giant chameleon (F. oustaleti) can also be kept in pairs. LUW spotlights are the best lighting source to provide light, heat and UV ( JBL ReptilJungle L-U-W Light alu (Special lamp for use in reptile keeping! Not suitable for other applications! No EEK label required. Exemption according to (EU) 2019/2015 Annex IV 3. c) UV radiation > 2mW/klm) ). But well positioned UV spotlights can also be used ( JBL UV-Spot plus (Special lamp for use in reptile keeping! Not suitable for other applications! No EEK label required. Exemption according to (EU) 2019/2015 Annex IV 3. c) UV radiation > 2mW/klm) ).
Anole species
Anole species are very popular smaller lizards from the rainforests of Central America and the Caribbean Islands.
Almost every island has its own anole species, which always lives in accordance with the geographic features. The rainforest or humid terrarium needs at least 50 x 50 x 60 cm for the smaller species and 150 x 100 x 150 cm for the larger species, such as the knight anole. For a substrate use a mixture of sand and soil ( JBL TerraSand natural yellow with JBL TerraBasis ). A drinking bowl ( JBL ReptilBar SAND ), is important to guarantee they are getting enough liquid, even if the animals absorb drops of water after spraying. All anole species eat only live food such as flies, house crickets, wax moths and crickets. The big species also like baby mice. Some island anole species also eat fruit. Make sure the daytime temperatures are around 28-32 °C and the nighttime temperatures 20-25 °C (the green anole even needs 16-20 °C). The humidity is ideally between 60 and 70% (80% at night). We recommend you keep them in a harem with one male and several females. LUW spotlights are the best lighting source to provide light, heat and UV ( JBL ReptilJungle L-U-W Light alu (Special lamp for use in reptile keeping! Not suitable for other applications! No EEK label required. Exemption according to (EU) 2019/2015 Annex IV 3. c) UV radiation > 2mW/klm) ). Aber auch UV-Spots können gezielt eingesetzt werden ( JBL UV-Spot plus (Special lamp for use in reptile keeping! Not suitable for other applications! No EEK label required. Exemption according to (EU) 2019/2015 Annex IV 3. c) UV radiation > 2mW/klm) ).
Collared lizards (Crotaphytus collaris, C. bicinctores)
Only 25-30 cm in length, they are one of the smaller iguana species.
They come from the desert regions of southern North America and therefore require a dry terrarium with a floor area of 150 x 60 cm. With stones (well glued with JBL PROHARU RAPID ), cork, roots and plants you can build beautiful decorations. Vertical rock walls with horizontal protrusions have proven to be advantageous. A drinking bowl ( JBL ReptilBar GREY ), is important to keep their liquid levels up. LUW spotlights are the best lighting to provide light, heat and UV ( JBL ReptilDesert L-U-W Light alu (Special lamp for use in reptile keeping! Not suitable for other applications! No EEK label required. Exemption according to (EU) 2019/2015 Annex IV 3. c) UV radiation > 2mW/klm) ). But well positioned UV spotlights can also be used ( JBL UV-Spot plus (Special lamp for use in reptile keeping! Not suitable for other applications! No EEK label required. Exemption according to (EU) 2019/2015 Annex IV 3. c) UV radiation > 2mW/klm) ). Temperatures between 28-35 °C are recommended during the day, but only about 20 °C is needed at night. The humidity needs to be about 30%, and at night much higher than during the day. Hiding places are important, so that the animals can retreat to cooler areas. Please note that, when using heating mats like JBL TerraTemp heatmat , in order to create cooler areas, never place them under the entire surface of the terrarium. Experience shows that sand is an unsuitable substrate and that stones are a better ground for the animals. All collared lizards only eat live food such as house crickets, spiders, grasshoppers and crickets.
Green iguana (Iguana iguana)
At a length of 2 m green iguanas are very impressive to look at and they need a correspondingly large terrarium of at least 2 x 2 x 2 m.
A sand-humus mixture ( JBL TerraSand natural yellow & JBL TerraBasis ) forms a substrate to support the various climbing opportunities and vigorous plants above it. The branches usually need to be thicker than the iguanas’ bodies. Use a drip water system or spray frequently to keep the humidity at about 60-80%. You can keep iguanas in pairs, but also individually or as a group in a correspondingly large terrarium. The animals are very curious and can become tame. Keep daytime temperatures at 25-30 °C and night temperatures at 20-25 °C. Green iguanas are almost the only lizards which feed exclusively on vegetarian diet, even if they are not averse to eating baby mice. Their main food should be leaves, supplemented with seedlings, vegetables and fruit. JBL Iguvert is an ideal basic food for the animals, supplemented by fruits and vegetables. LUW spotlights are the best lighting source to provide light, heat and UV ( JBL ReptilJungle L-U-W Light alu (Special lamp for use in reptile keeping! Not suitable for other applications! No EEK label required. Exemption according to (EU) 2019/2015 Annex IV 3. c) UV radiation > 2mW/klm) ). But well positioned UV spotlights can also be used ( JBL UV-Spot plus (Special lamp for use in reptile keeping! Not suitable for other applications! No EEK label required. Exemption according to (EU) 2019/2015 Annex IV 3. c) UV radiation > 2mW/klm) ). Remember to maintain the correct distance between the animals’ basking area and the lamp to prevent burn injuries. Green iguanas can climb extremely well with their sharp claws. A large drinking bowl ( JBL ReptilBar SAND ), is important to guarantee they are getting enough liquid.
Chuckwalla (Sauromalus obesus)
Chuckwallas live in rocky regions of North America’s desert areas with corresponding daytime temperatures between 30 and 40 °C.
At night, temperatures drop to around 20 °C. As the animals sunbathe intensively, some lighting with strong UV radiation is necessary. With the help of heat-generating spotlights ( JBL ReptilDesert L-U-W Light alu (Special lamp for use in reptile keeping! Not suitable for other applications! No EEK label required. Exemption according to (EU) 2019/2015 Annex IV 3. c) UV radiation > 2mW/klm) ), the temperature can be increased during the day and lowered automatically after switching off. When using heating mats ( JBL TerraTemp heatmat ), it’s absolutely necessary to switch them off using a timer. The humidity should be as low as possible. With stones (well glued with JBL PROHARU UNIVERSAL ), cork and plants you can build beautiful decorations. Each animal needs its own basking area! JBL TerraSand natural yellow is well suited as a substrate. Because the animals like to burrow, the rock constructions should NEVER be built on the sand, but always directly on the bottom pane! Even though the animals cover their liquid needs through the food, a drinking bowl ( JBL ReptilBar SAND ) is still helpful. As vegatarians they like JBL Iguvert supplemented with flowers, leafy vegetables and fruits every once in a while.
Geckos (Gekkota)
Geckos are very popular terrarium dwellers, but they inhabit some very different biotopes.
The leopard gecko, for example, lives in the Near East’s desert regions. In contrast, the tokay gecko and the day geckos of Madagascar live in rainforests. So accordingly the terrariums need to be designed differently. Leopard geckos and other desert geckos need at least 120x80 cm of floor space with about 40-50 cm of height for the rock constructions. A sand-clay mixture ought to be used as substrate. The perfect substrate is JBL TerraSand natural red , which is also well suited for burrowing species. All rock constructions need to be secured with an adhesive ( JBL PROHARU UNIVERSAL ) to prevent them from collapsing. Keep the daytime temperatures at 28-32 °C and the night temperatures at 20-24 °C. The ideal humidity is 40-60 % during the day and 60-80 % at night. When setting up hiding places, you need to remember that each animal needs its own hide. Since leopard geckos are nocturnal, UV-producing lighting is not necessary. You can simulate night lighting with blue light. A UV and heat-generating lamp during the day, such as JBL ReptilDesert L-U-W Light alu (Special lamp for use in reptile keeping! Not suitable for other applications! No EEK label required. Exemption according to (EU) 2019/2015 Annex IV 3. c) UV radiation > 2mW/klm) is not a problem and automatically leads to a reduction in temperature when you switch it off in the evening. A drinking bowl ( JBL ReptilBar SAND ), is important to guarantee they are getting enough liquid. Leopard geckos are predatory feeding on baby mice, insects and beetles. Do not feed mealworms and waxworms too often because of their high fat content.
Rainforest inhabiting species, such as Madagascar's day geckos, need a smaller floor area of approximately 90 x 90 cm, but a greater terrarium height of 120 cm. This allows the animals enough space to climb on (smooth) wood and plants. A sand-clay mixture is suitable as a substrate and a daytime temperature of 25-30 °C is needed. At night, lower the temperature to 18-24 °C. The humidity needs to be 50-90%. Day geckos feed mainly on insects, but also eat fruit pulp and fruit nectar. LUW spotlights are the best lighting source to provide light, heat and UV ( JBL ReptilJungle L-U-W Light alu (Special lamp for use in reptile keeping! Not suitable for other applications! No EEK label required. Exemption according to (EU) 2019/2015 Annex IV 3. c) UV radiation > 2mW/klm) ). But well positioned UV spotlights can also be used ( JBL UV-Spot plus (Special lamp for use in reptile keeping! Not suitable for other applications! No EEK label required. Exemption according to (EU) 2019/2015 Annex IV 3. c) UV radiation > 2mW/klm) ). The animals can climb along almost every surface, so heat protection screens for the lamps are a must ( JBL TempProtect II light ). Despite regular spraying a drinking bowl is necessary.
Skinks (Scinocmorpha)
With over 1000 species the skinks are the lizard group with the most species.
The lacertid, the tegu and the East African spiny-tailed lizard belong to this lizard group too, although they themselves do not have smooth skin like the skinks. The Berber skink, which can become up to 40 cm long, is very popular. It lives in northwest Africa and needs a dry terrarium with a floor area of 150x 100 cm. The rock constructions, which can be interspersed with plants, give it some height. A sandy soil made of JBL TerraSand natural yellow with a 10 cm thickness is recommended, because the animals also like to burrow. Keep part of the substrate slightly damp at all times (no substrate heating!). Raise the temperature to 28-30 °C during the day with a JBL ReptilDesert L-U-W Light alu (Special lamp for use in reptile keeping! Not suitable for other applications! No EEK label required. Exemption according to (EU) 2019/2015 Annex IV 3. c) UV radiation > 2mW/klm) spotlight and lower it to 18-20 °C at night. This emitter also ensures the all-important UV supply. A drinking bowl ( JBL ReptilBar GREY ) is important to guarantee they are getting enough liquid. The humidity is less important. Berber skins are predatory, like many skinks, and like to eat young mice and insects of all kinds. Soft fruit, vegetables and salad are also welcome.
Monitor lizards (Varanus)
The 3 m long Komodo dragon must be the best-known representative of this lizard group.
Some species are only 20 cm long! These are the monitor lizards (e.g. emerald tree monitor Varanus prasinus) which live in rainforests and need their terrariums equipped as jungle terrariums. A lot of monitor species (e.g. Asian water monitor V. salvator) love water and need a terrarium with a large water /bathing area. A large number of monitor species come from dryland areas (e.g. savannah monitor V. exanthematicus) and need a dry terrarium. Almost all monitor lizards are predators and feed off anything they can hunt and eat. Find out exactly which food is right for the monitor species you have chosen! The spiny-tailed monitor (V. acanthurus), for example, should only be given insects! Humidity, temperatures and lighting need to be adapted to the respective terrarium type. Since all monitors are diurnal, you’ll urgently need some lighting with a high UV content. Thanks to metal halide lamps JBL ReptilDesert L-U-W Light alu (Special lamp for use in reptile keeping! Not suitable for other applications! No EEK label required. Exemption according to (EU) 2019/2015 Annex IV 3. c) UV radiation > 2mW/klm) and the JBL UV-Spot plus (Special lamp for use in reptile keeping! Not suitable for other applications! No EEK label required. Exemption according to (EU) 2019/2015 Annex IV 3. c) UV radiation > 2mW/klm) you can always rely on having the right UV-A and B supply.