How to Build a Lizard Terrarium

This lizard loves his terrarium home.

A terrarium is a closed ecosystem, usually in a glass case or bottle, that houses various plants. Building a lizard terrarium is similar, but special care must also be taken to satisfy the needs of your exotic pet. With research, it is possible to build a terrarium habitat that will help your lizard thrive.

Things You'll Need

• Glass fish tank
• Wire mesh tank lid
• Substrate
• Decor or habitat structures
• Plants
• Water dish
• Food dish
• Heated rock
• Heat lamp

Instructions

1. Determine what type of ecosystem or habitat your pet lizard will need. Most do well in either desert or tropical habitats. The materials you use for the lizard terrarium will depend on the particular needs of the species. Choose a glass fish tank or other glass container that is large enough to provide ample room for movement and growth of your lizard. Wash the container well before use.

2. Choose an appropriate substrate for your lizard's habitat. Sand is a standard choice, especially for desert varieties. Aspen wood particles are sold for tropical and temperate species. Lizards who enjoy more humidity could have moss or other types of wood that hold more moisture. Keep in mind that the substrate will have to be changed frequently to remove waste and prevent build-up of mold or bacteria colonies. Layered substrates with sand or gravel at the bottom and more organic materials at the top are great for live plant growing.

3. Add hard decor items to the lizard terrarium. These include wood pieces for the lizard to climb on, rocks that help with climbing and skin shedding, and an electric heated rock for the many types of lizards that enjoy warmth in their habitats.

4. Include plants in the terrarium for your pet lizard. Some plants are injurious or even poisonous to lizards, so take care in selecting the varieties. If you are concerned about your lizard eating the plants or upsetting their roots, plastic or silk plants are an alternative. Some modern fake plants are quite attractive and look almost like the real thing. A true terrarium includes live plants.

5. Set up the pet lizard's food and water dish. Every pet needs a shallow dish of water to drink from. Food dishes are needed unless you exclusively feed live food such as crickets. If you grow plants in the terrarium that are a part of the lizard's standard diet, you might also be able to forgo the food dish.

6. Include a heat lamp, if necessary, or standard lighting to the hood of the glass fish tank used for the lizard terrarium. The mesh lid should go on the tank first to prevent your pet or any live food from escaping. A heat lamp may be attached to this with a clip. A hood, such as the one sold with the fish tank, can be put at the top to hold in moisture and give more regular light. Be sure there is adequate ventilation for your pet lizard inside the terrarium.