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A couple questions, please answer them if you can.

amazinglyricist Mar 25, 2004 09:41 PM

I'm looking into getting a couple horned lizards, but I have a few questions first, here they are...

1)Where can I buy some horned lizards? I've been searching around online and could only find tehm for sale from one dealer, but it doesn't state what species.
2)Size enclosure for 2?
3)Which species don't eat just ants?

Thanks for your time. I've liked these lizards since I can remember and have had them once when I lived in Oklahoma but they were wild caught and I let them go after a couple of days. I currently live in Ohio though, so getting them from the wild isn't gonna work here.
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http://joshmilliken.tripod.com/

Replies (10)

Jeff Judd Mar 25, 2004 10:09 PM

It is best to buy captive bred HLs. Wild caught individuals are usually skinny and on the declining side. Sundial Reptiles offers captive bred. If you feel you are up to the task Desertreptiles.com sells good wild caught HLS. A 55 gallon is a good size to house a pair. Their isn't any species of HL that only eats ants. I am raising a group of hatchling solare,(which has been shown to eat the most ants it's natural diet) on a diet of 50% ants and 50% crickets. They are growing like weeds and are very healthy.
Sundial Reptiles

amazinglyricist Mar 27, 2004 11:51 PM

I'm looking at the hatchlings on Desert Reptiles.com, would a 40 gallon breeder tank be too big for 3 of them at that size, or big enough for 3 of them as adults? I could just use it for them for a while until I get a larger tank.
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http://joshmilliken.tripod.com/

Jeff Judd Mar 28, 2004 05:39 AM

A 40 gallon will be big enough. The main things to consider are :
1.The enclosure must be big enough to provide a range of temperatures.
2.The enclosure must be big enough to support a 160 watt mercury vapor reptile heat lamp.
3.Bring the substrate level up so it is only 12 inches below the top of the enclosure. This allows for proper air flow and ventilation.
4.The HLs must feel comfortable and not try to escape all the time.

amazinglyricist Apr 18, 2004 11:31 AM

Sorry to ask so many questions but I bought a 1.1 pair of horned lizards at the columbus reptile expo from Lockland Creatures on saturday and have only a couple more questions. I belive they're desert horned lizards, I know they're captive bred cause I asked but forgot to ask the species, I'll post pictures in a little bit.

1)What are the best temperatures for them?

2)How often do they need to eat ants, they seem to enjoy munching down crickets?

3)Should I limit them on how much they eat or let them eat as much as they want?

4)Why 160 watt mercury vapor bulb, is there something better about the higher wattage bulb than if I got a lower wattage one that can attain the same temperatures?

Thanks in advance.
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http://joshmilliken.tripod.com/

amazinglyricist Apr 18, 2004 11:41 AM

Here's both of them together.

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http://joshmilliken.tripod.com/

amazinglyricist Apr 18, 2004 11:42 AM

Here's the female alone from the front.

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http://joshmilliken.tripod.com/

amazinglyricist Apr 18, 2004 11:43 AM

Here's the male alone from the front.

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http://joshmilliken.tripod.com/

Les4toads Apr 19, 2004 10:28 AM

How do you know they are "captive bred?"

They appear to be two males. They are about two to three years old (judging the horn length and body structure from the pictures).

Temps for Desert HLs, Phrynosoma platyrhinos, are night temps of 50 to 55 degrees (sometimes as high as 70 during the summer) and day temps up to 110 degrees.

Ants should be offered daily as the main food item. Crickets offered only as "snacks." Let them eat as much as they want. There are no controls in the wild on the intake of sood items.

The larger the enclosure, the better for temp regulation.

Lester G. Milroy III

amazinglyricist Apr 19, 2004 11:06 AM

I asked the guy I bought them from if they were captive bred or not and he told me they were captive bred and that most of his stuff is captive bred. And he said they've got some growing to do yet, they're about 3"svl. And thanks for the info, I'll be sure to order some ants on a regular basis. Although I'm not sure how intelligent the guy is since he was laughing about having them between a python and a uromastyx cage and they were trying to bluff the python and uromastyx out to scare them off.
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http://joshmilliken.tripod.com/

Jeff Judd Mar 28, 2004 05:48 AM

Sorry, I should have been more specific. No size is too large but they can be too tall. How many individuals you can house depends on individual temperment. A very nervous wild caught will sometimes need to be housed alone until it feels comfortable in captivity. I always house a number of CB HLs together without difficulties.

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