What Do Lizards Eat? (In the Wild and as Pets)

Lizards are omnivores, meaning they eat animals and plants. Learn what exactly to feed a lizard and how often.

What do wild lizards eat?

With more than 6,000 species around the world, lizards are the largest group of reptiles. They’re found in every type of terrain and live in different places.

Related: Cory catfish: Species, care, diet, size, and lifespan

In the wild, a lizard’s diet depends on its species and the environment. They may live in trees, deserts, wetlands, forests, and rocky areas.

Since there are different food options in different environments, lizards will eat what’s available.

Out of the different terrain and habitats, most lizards have two food types in common. They’ll eat insects and eggs because they’re widely available around the world.

The most common insects that wild lizards eat are grasshoppers, crickets, spiders, flies, cockroaches, and locusts. If a lizard lives in a habitat filled with vegetation, it’ll also eat fruits and vegetables.

What do pet lizards eat?

Lizards are one of the most popular types of pets. Bearded dragons, leopard geckos, green anoles, chameleons, green iguanas, and skinks are some of the best types of lizards to keep as pets.

Pet lizards are primarily insectivores, which means they only eats insects. Leopard geckos and green anoles are examples of insectivores.

They love to eat flies, mealworms, cockroaches, grasshoppers, crickets, butterworms, Dubia roaches, earthworms, locusts, moths, and redworms.

Aside from insectivores, some lizards are omnivores, such as bearded dragons.

They’ll eat the same insects as insectivores along with other meat, such as mice. Larger omnivorous lizards will eat larger mammals. However, the large ones aren’t usually kept as pets.

They’ll also eat vegetables and fruits. In addition to insects, omnivorous lizards like to eat leafy greens, berries, and sweet potatoes.

Some lizards are herbivores, such as green iguanas. Herbivorous lizards eat mostly dark leafy greens, such as kale and spinach. They’ll also eat some bulk vegetables, such as carrots and broccoli. As a treat, herbivorous lizards will eat fruit like berries and bananas.

By understanding the type of food a lizard eats, you’ll be able to take great care of one and keep it happy.

Baby lizards

Nutrition is important for baby lizards to grow into healthy and strong adults. Baby lizards typically eat the same thing as adult lizards. However, the main focus is on insects.

A baby lizard eats mostly small insects and a small amount of fruit and vegetables. Small crickets, ants, bottle fly spikes, and mealworms are the best insects to feed baby lizards. For fruits and vegetables, baby lizards love dark leafy greens, bananas, and berries.

Since they’re smaller and growing at a faster rate than adult lizards, they’ll eat more often. It’s best to feed baby lizards daily.

Fruits and vegetables

When you’re feeding fruits or vegetables to a lizard, make sure you wash them and cut them into small pieces. Fruits and vegetables must also be cut into bite-sized.

Fruits are appetizing, and they make great treats. However, fruits make up a small portion of a lizard’s diet.

Aim for 10% or less of its diet because fruits are high in sugar. Also, be sure to remove pits, seeds, and peels from the fruits.

The following are the best fruits to feed a lizard:

• Apples
• Bananas
• Blueberries
• Figs
• Grapes
• Honeydew melon
• Kiwi
• Mangoes
• Nectarine
• Peaches
• Pears
• Pineapple
• Plums
• Strawberries

Vegetables are beneficial for lizards. It’s the main source of food and nutrients. The following are the best vegetables to feed a lizard:

• Asparagus
• Bell pepper
• Broccoli
• Carrots
• Celery
• Collard greens
• Cucumber
• Kale
• Pumpkins
• Romaine lettuce
• Spinach
• Sweet potato
• Tomatoes
• Yams
• Yellow squash

How to feed a lizard

Feeding lizards are straightforward. The first step is to understand what they eat. Then, give them food when they’re awake and active.

It’s also important to provide the right amount of food. Typically, a small lizard will eat 5 small insects, while a larger lizard may eat 10.

If you’re unsure about the amount, contact a veterinarian that specialized in reptiles and lizards.

When you’re feeding your lizard fruits and vegetables, remove any leftovers to ensure it doesn’t begin to rot or grow mold.

A common mistake when it comes to feeding lizards is repeating the same meal over and over. It’s best to provide variation in a lizard’s diet.

Choose a handful of foods that your lizard likes to eat and rotate the meals every week. This will give them a variety of nutrients, which leads to healthier and happier lizards.

Conclusion

Lizards aren’t picky eaters. The key is to understand the type of food that’s acceptable for your lizard. Most commonly, lizards eat insects, fruits, and vegetables. By providing the right portions and delicious meals, your lizard will be happy.

Featured image courtesy of Canva.