What Does a Pet Lizard Really Need to Survive?

Get the right supplies for your pet lizard.

Everything You Need to Care for Pet Lizards

So you're thinking about getting a lizard? Awesome. You totally should. Just do yourself and your future lizard a huge favor and read up before you bring him home.

Lizards can be one of the easiest, low-maintenance pets you can buy. That said, reptile care is typically less familiar to most people than dog or cat care. Unlike our fellow mammals, reptiles don't produce their own heat. Some also have special humidity requirements, and no lizard eats kibble.

Some species of lizard are much better suited to first-time reptile owners than others. Iguanas, for example, are actually jerks. Bearded dragons, on the other hand, are wonderful, easy to care for and easy to handle. Once you've chosen which species is right for you, it's time to shop.

We've carefully selected some of the best lizard products on the market to cover all of the most popular pet lizards, but make sure to review the needs of your chosen lizard species before you buy anything.

An Appropriate Lizard Enclosure

Choosing a lizard enclosure depends on both the size and humidity needs of your lizard. Tropical species need higher humidity levels than temperate and desert species, so a PVC enclosure may be a better option than one with a mesh lid if you live in an area with low humidity.

Another important consideration is whether your reptile of choice likes to climb or hang out on the ground. Arboreal species will prefer a tank with lots of vertical space, while terrestrial species prefer a home with a nice, open floor plan.

Our top choices:

Best overall: Exo Terra Outback Terrarium 24" x 18" x 12", "20 Gallon, $239.99

Best value: Zilla Reptile Starter Kit 10 with Light and Heat, $77.99

Best for small lizards: Calpalmy Reptile Tank with See-Through, Easy Access Front Panel Door, $86.99

Best for large lizards: Oiibo 67 Gallon Reptiles Premium White Knock Down Glass Terrarium, $379.99

A Reliable Heat Source

All reptiles are cold-blooded. We won't get into the details, but that means they can't regulate their own body temperature.

Each type of lizard has its own comfortable heat range, but the vast majority of reptiles require a heat gradient. That means that one side of their enclosure is warmer than the other so that the lizard can switch back and forth as needed to maintain a healthy temperature. This can be done with heating pads that stick onto the underside of the enclosure, heat lamps, radiant heat panels or some combination of those options.

Heating pads are one of the least expensive and most popular ways of warming an enclosure, but some reptiles prefer heat from above. Make sure you know what type your lizard species prefers before picking a heat source.

Our top choices:

Best overall: Tikaton Reptile Heat Pad — Temperature Adjustable, $19.99

Best value: 2 Pack 20W Reptile Heating Pad Tank Warmer with Temperature Control, $24.99

Best for small lizards: Vivosun Reptile Heating Pad 8W, $14.99

Best for large lizards: Vivarium Electronics Radiant Heat Panel, 80 Watt, $89.99

A Basking Lamp

Infrared heat lamp for reptile and amphibian care. Green iguana relaxing and warming up under the red glow of a heat lamp in the tank.

As mentioned above, some reptiles prefer overhead heat sources. Basking lamps are a simple heat source, but bright white lightbulbs shouldn't be used around the clock.

Make sure to use an infrared heat lamp at night or a light-free ceramic heat emitter at night. Even nocturnal reptiles need a consistent light cycle to maintain their sense of day and night.

Our top choices:

Best overall: Repti Zoo Dual Reptile Light Fixture, $39.99

Best value: Zilla Premium Reflector Domes 8.5 Inches, $16.20

Best for nighttime: Aomryom 75W 2 Pack Basking Spot Infrared Night Heat Lamp, $12.49

Best light-free heat emitter: Aquarium Stand, Reptile Lamp Stand for E27 Lamp Holder, Including 75W Ceramic Heat Emitter, $14.99

A UV Light

UV lights aren't required for all reptiles, but some of the most popular reptile species do need UV light to maintain their long-term health. This is because many reptiles, like bearded dragons and tegus, don't produce vitamin D without UV light.

Without enough vitamin D, they can't absorb the calcium from their diet, which causes a whole host of health problems. Owners can feed them supplements to help, but supplements work best when used in tandem with UV lighting.

Our top choices:

Best overall: Zoo Med ReptiSun 10.0 UVB Reptile Lamp, $16.99

Best terrarium hood: Zoo Med Naturalistic Terrarium Hood, $36.57

Best Value: Zoo Med Desert UVB and Heat Lighting Kit, $39.99

A Thermostat to Keep Your Lizard From Overheating

Now that we've covered heating and lighting options, let's talk thermostats. Arguably just as important as the heating element itself, a thermostat is an absolutely essential lizard care item.

Most heating elements, whether it be a heating pad or a basking lamp, don't come with reliable temperature controls. That means they'll always reach their maximum temperature output regardless of how hot it is outside.

At best, a lizard with no thermostat will struggle to find a comfortable temperature. At worst, they might burrow into the substrate and burn themselves on the dangerously hot glass beneath. Every single heat element must be plugged into a thermostat. Trust us.

Our top choices:

Best overall: Pymeter Digital Temperature Controller Dual Probe Reptile Thermostat, $27.99

Best value: Vivosun 10"x20.75" Heat Mat and Digital Thermostat Combo, $25.99

Most high-tech: Inkbird WiFi Reptile Thermostat Temperature Controller with 2 Probes and 2 Outlets, $34.99

Best for multiple tanks: Poniie TC-DN2 Digital Heat Mat Reptile Thermostat Day/Night Temperature Controller, $13.99

A Thermometer and Hygrometer

While thermostats utilize heat probes to measure the temperature near the heating element, it's important to keep an eye on ambient temperatures as well. Place one thermometer on the cool side of the enclosure and another on the warm side to maintain the correct temperature gradient.

Humidity is also important. Check out this list of ideal reptile humidity levels for different lizard species to find out what the ideal humidity range is for your species of choice.

Our top choices:

Best overall: Veanic 4-Pack Mini Digital Electronic Temperature Humidity Meters, $12.99

Best value: Zoo Med Labs Digital Thermometer Humidity Gauge, Single, $10.89

The Right Substrate for Your Chosen Lizard Species

Sand might look beautiful, but it's not the right fit for every reptile. This comes down to whether your lizard likes to burrow, and where their natural habitat is located.

Desert species need a substrate that holds less water, while tropical species need more absorbent bedding that can suck up water and release it slowly, elevating the humidity level in the entire enclosure.

Our top choices:

Best overall: Critters Comfort Coconut Reptile Bedding Organic Substrate — Fine, 21 Quarts, $19.99

Best value: Zoo Med (2 Pack) Eco Earth Loose Coconut Fiber Substrate, $39.95

Best for desert species: Zilla English Walnut Shell Desert Blend, $21.82

Best for burrowing species: Zoo Med Excavator Clay Burrowing Substrate, 10 Pounds, $12.10

A Water Dish

Learning how to care for a lizard isn't hard. They're pretty much as low maintenance as a pet can get, and that comes with a few pros and cons. They're inexpensive to feed and don't need attention to be happy, so that's awesome for anyone who doesn't have time to take a dog out multiple times a day.

That said, lizards are so low maintenance that it's possible to forget you own one at all. No, we're not joking. People have forgotten about their pet reptiles for weeks at a time.

While this is more common with snakes that are only fed every couple of weeks, it has been known to happen with lizards too. Most reptiles can last quite a while without food, but water is another matter. Every living creature needs water to survive, and lizards are no exception. Make sure to keep an appropriately sized water dish filled with clean, fresh water at all times.

Our top choices:

Coolest Option: Nomoy Reptile Chameleon Drinking Fountain Water Dripper, $33.58

Best value: CalPalmy 2 Pack Reptile Food Bowls, $10.99

Best for small lizards: Zoo Med Repti Rock Reptile Food Water Dishes (Small), $5.49

Best for large lizards: Zoo Med KB-40 Reptile Rock Corner Water Dish Large, $20.50

A Cozy Reptile Hideaway

Reptiles of all kinds feel most secure when they have places to hide. You wouldn't feel secure resting out in the open without any shelter, would you?

While requirements vary by species, it's usually best to keep a hideout or cave on each side of the enclosure. Most reptiles prefer their hides to be cozy rather than roomy, so don't size up too much.

Your lizard should be able to fit inside their hide fully, but without lots of extra space, upgrading to larger hides as your lizard grows. You also can add natural moss to make them feel more at home.

Our top choices:

Best overall: Zilla Rock Cave, $29.99

Best value: Zipefy Reptile Hide Box, $10.99

Best for small lizards: Galapagos Mossy Cave Hide, Small, $6.88

Best for large lizards: Mac's Creatures & Critters Pet Refuge, X-Large, $12.99

Cleaning Supplies

Cleaning your lizard's cage is one of the less glamorous elements of lizard care. Fortunately, it's not complicated or time-consuming.

Provide fresh water daily and scoop out any visible waste. Once a week, thoroughly clean food and water bowls and sift through the substrate to make sure no waste is missed. Once every two to four weeks, replace all substrate, clean the glass, remove all decor and disinfect it.

Don't ever use household cleaning products inside your reptile's tank. Instead, use vet-approved cleaning products that won't harm them if small amounts are accidentally injested.

Our top choices:

Best overall: Fluker's Super Scrub Organic Reptile Habitat Cleaner, $8.99

A close second: Zoo Med Wipe Out 1 Disinfectant, 32 oz, $18.99

Best for removing waste: Reptile Sand Stainless Steel Fine Mesh, $14.99

Best for feeding and spot cleaning: Eonmir Feeding Tool, Cleaning Supplies Scooper and Tweezers for Reptile, $10.99

Lizard Decor for Fun and Enrichment

A house for humans without any furniture would be really, really weird. So would a reptile enclosure with nothing but the bare minimum in it. The most important reason for decorating your lizard's tank is to provide them with species-specific items to explore, climb and relax on.

The second reason? Their enclosure is in your home, so why not make it look cool? There are so many fun enclosure ideas, so feel free to go all out. Some people have even made bioactive enclosures with live plants, but those are better left to more experienced keepers.

Some easy-to-clean decor bought at the store will do just fine.

Our top choices:

Most unique: Oiikury Aquarium Decorations Large Cave, 11.5inch Length Fish Tank Ornament Reptile House Shelter, $27.99

Best value: Leopard Gecko Tank Accessories, $16.49

Best for lounging lizards: Penn Plax Reptology Lizard Lounger, Small, $6.96

Best for climbing lizards: Aqua KT Reptile Climb Tree Branch, $29.99

More Helpful Lizard Resources

Is learning how to care for a pet lizard hard? Nope. You can totally handle this. We believe in you.

To help you get started, check out Clint's Reptiles and Snake Discovery, two incredibly helpful reptile channels on YouTube. Both channels feature reptile experts who offer first pet recommendations, care guides and so much more.

Watch one of Clint's most popular videos covering some of the best pet lizards for beginners below.