Reptile & Amphibian Forums

Hey guys-

I promise I will put up some pictures as soon as I can get my computer on the internet...right now we are having networking problems. But I was wondering if it is normal for one lizard to grow a lot faster than another lizard. Bam Bam has gotten very large...and Pebbles has only grown a little bit. Let me know if I should worry yet.

Becca

Sure, people grow at different rates don't they? Males also get larger than females and probably grow a little faster too.

I have very little experience specifically with collared lizards, but with captive animals in general, I'm concerned only with whether they have constistent appetite, and look happy and healthy.

Beyond that, if one lizard is growing more slowly than the other, I will *try* to repress the natural concern that something's wrong. Granted, I'll probably be more concerned that the smallest lizard always gets something to eat, and that it isn't going to be picked on excessively.

I remember with some kinds of cichlids, if one fish grows too slowly, its going to be a problem eventually, since it will eventually get beat up too much, lose it's appetite and in order to be humane you'll have to find it a kindler gentler home.

I get the impression that being of comparable size isn't so much the issue with collareds, but competition with a male might be the larger issue here.

Again, I'm still under two weeks keeping collared lizards! Take what I say with a grain of salt, or if you're on a low sodium diet, just skip it all together.
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1.3 Collared Lizards
90 Gal Aquarium
Minneapolis, MN

....is not really the growth "rate", as it seems pretty variable. The things to watch for are signs of health and general condition; if it is staying well fleshed out, hydrated and active, then it is not really a concern that it is not growing as rapidly as some other. Some of my smaller females are the more aggressive feeders.

DC