Reptile & Amphibian Forums

Hello!
Well, From my very first encounter with a horned toad, I have always been interested in them. First off, I have heard that they are terribly hard to care for...is this true?! I am experienced with the more difficult herps, becuase I own 2 chameleons right now, which are suppodedly very hard reptiles to care for and maintain. I have been caring for herps for 11 years now, and am quite experienced. I know that horned toads require UV lighting, red ants and other insects to feed upon, and many other special needs. I am also sad to hear about the decline in the wild populations, and would only buy CB animals.
Do you think I am "ready" to purchase one of these beautiful and fascinating Lizards? I mean this by someone who has personal experience with them. I have also read many care sheets on them, and know extensive information on them. Thank you soo much, and any input would be appreciated.
Michele
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2.0 veiled chameleons (ahkeel and godzilla)
4.0 cinnamin blue face button quail

Check out www.phrynosoma.com
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www.phrynosoma.com

Is that your site? Its magnificent. I sent the link to my brother in law who was planning on catching a few of them. He lives on desert border.
After reading your site he opted not to as to much work with the live ants which is what I wanted because I knew he wouldnt care for them right.
He thought mealworms,wax worms would be fine for them. Great informative site.
Luis

Glad you like the site and that it helped make the right decision.

It is my website but I have had quite a bit of help from others lurking here on the forum, so we share it's ownership.
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www.phrynosoma.com

I knew they ate ants but had no idea they ate so many ants. I remember a product like 5 yrs ago or so that claimed that you dust tiny crickets with it and it provided the same benefits to these lizards as ants did.
I imagine you heard about it.Since its not around I guess it didnt work. I looked into this few weeks ago when my brother in law told me he planned to catch a few . Couldnt find it. He was told by his area pet store that they would eat mealworms and waxworms,etc and thrive.
Your site convinced him otherwise.

I have heard rumors of something like that. I have never seen it or actually heard the product named.
The pet store advice you got was pretty typical. They seem to say whatever is easiest. There are some species that will live without ants, but the word wouldn't be thrive. I know of someone who worked at petsmart and had desert horned lizards as a teenager. She said they lived on crickets and meal worms for several years but that they never bred. This to me indicates the lack of diet provision.
I had a pair of solare last year, acquired from a friend as hatchlings. They were fed nothing but ants and bred that first year (after one hibernation). Their growth was also pretty remarkable.
Have you ever kept horned lizards before?
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www.phrynosoma.com

I have never kept them but have thought about it . I have gone "exploring" with my brother in law by his house when I have visted and have found them.
Considering the ants it would be impossible for me to keep them. My wife would "explode" lol if I had live ants in the house.
I do keep other types of small desert cricket eating lizards such as banded geckos and sandfish skinks also shovel nose snakes.
I like desert style set ups and small herps. My brother in law keeps kingsnakes. He to has thought of horned lizards but after I sent him your site opted not to.
They are fascinating and I have seen them a few times out of the zillion times I have gone exploring in the areas where they are found.
I wouldnt remove any from the wild anyway . I have never seen them at a pet store or any reptile expo.

If they have or will have captive born Desert Horned Lizards available, I would buy from Sun-DIal Reptiles (on the internet) and buy a captive born animal. You needd to e-mail them now to let them know you want to purchase one. CB is always preferable. Are you ready to either capture ants or order ants from life west at 10.00 a pop for 500 ants. These animals can eat up to 150 to 200 ants at a setting. You can feed them small 1/4 crickets dusted with vitmin powder but another consideration is to buy a bug napper (Zooomed Product) plug it in at night and capture wild insects such as moths and other flying insects and put those in as well for feedings every other day or so. But you must be willing to keep these lizards fed with ants over the long term in order to keep good health. we can help you through some of this. You will need a 40 gal aquarium or equivelant reptile cage, you'll need a UVA/UVB Buld such as a Mercury Vapor or a fixture with a flourescent bulb from Zoo-med or ESU I would use the 7.0 or above in a flouresct. Our site has many of the products already listed for proper husbandry. If you put the ants in the refridgerator they keep longer and are easier to handle. YOu must be committed. LAst of all handling horned lizards are stressful, so these are not like other lizards. Best to not handle them except when your cleaning the cage excetra......Let us know how it goes? Any quesions please don't hesitate. You'll need to provide ants for about 7 months out of the year, in Novemebr they slow down and usually go into hibernation until Feb. or March when they are heated up slowly to normal temps.
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Phrynosoma.com

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