Reptile & Amphibian Forums

I captured and brought home a young short-horned lizard (I believe a P. hernandesi) last weekend while hiking in the foothills near Salt Lake City. This SHL is very cute and my 10-year old son who has wanted a lizard for a very long time is delighted. The little guy (or gal) seems to be doing well, is eating ants captured from our yard as well as small pet-store crickets. But, I am having serious regrets about removing this little SHL from his home and am wondering if I should attempt to return him or keep him? There seems to be some great information on caring for these lizards on Phrynosoma.Com and I do understand that that these guys require a diet of mostly ants.

Hi. Just from one "mom of a son" to another, I understand your serious regrets as well as the desire to make your son happy. My neighbor picked up two SHL in Montana, brought them home, I babysat for a weekend and they haven't been back to her house since. They're "done with them". They are a LOT of work. The struggle to keep them alive in unbelievable. If I could change anything, it would be that she would never have brought them home. They belonged in the wild where they knew their food sources, shelter, protection, etc. instead of running around an aquarium. My son LOVES these lizards as well, however, because handling can cause stress which can cause death he can't handle them much. The crickets they eat would cost me $120 a month at the pet store so now I house 500 crickets in my garage, feeding and cleaning up after them. I have mealworms in my fridge. Just received an order of ants in the mail. I take the lizards outside in the grass everyday for 20 minutes so they can get some actual sun. I know, that if I keep them, with all I'm doing to try to keep them alive . . . they'll probably be dead within a few months anyway. Then my son will be devestated and I will feel badly as well. However, not only do I not know the exact location where they were found (or even a general idea at all) but I don't have the heart to put them back in the wild. So I personally don't recommend taking a critter from the wild. If you do . . . just keep in mind that you are totally responsible to do everything within your power to assure that creatures well being. They might not have a life like yours or mine . . . but it's the only one they've got.

I'm certainly not one to say what you should do . . . I know so little myself and have spent HOURS learning how to care for them and even with what I do know . . . I believe they belong with someone more knowledgable than I in order to best assure their survival. But I would encourage you that if you DO keep them . . . follow these guy's advice to the "T". Spend the time, money and effort it will take to give them a chance at survival. They're adorable creatures. No question. But very sad if they end up dead within months.

Best of Luck to you . . . for sure . . . you're now the keeper of one of God's little critters!!!

Ummmmm . . . . I just assumed by "ginger" that you were the "mom". Hope I was right! lol

Yes, I am the mom . Thank you for your response. I have the weekend to consider what to do with the little guy and yes, if I had to do it again, I would never have brought him home in the first place!

I was contemplating not replying to this question because I have been in a firestorm lately with others on the turtle forums, who without knowledge of reptiles, have kept wild box turtles ( who's populations are also in danger in many areas ).

Many of these people posted similar messages, and it seemed were only looking for emotional reassurance to justify keeping the animal. which I cannot give just to make someone feel better. I'm not saying this is so with you. But consider what is best for the lizard. One of the foremost experts in captive care of horned lizards, Richard Montanucci, advises against any but the very experienced with reptiles keep these lizards, and, I have always agreed. From the time I took on a horned lizard and realized I didn't know enough, eventhough I had many years already with snakes, turtles, and monitor lizards.

To add to that, the SHL species are some of the most difficult to keep alive in captivity. On top of the fact that just horned lizards in general are hard. If you have a few years under your belt with another type of lizard, preferably an Iguana or something similar, I would say you can manage. But, this is just not in the best interest of the lizard in the hands of a beginner, or appropriate as a pet for a child. Unfortunately, it is far more demanding than that.

Mick
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"A man that should call everything by it's right name, would hardly pass the streets without being knocked down as a common enemy." The Complete Works of George Savile, First Marquess of Halifax 1912,246

Thank you everyone for your responses. My family has learned a valuable lesson from all of this and yesterday we took a nice hike and returned the little horned lizard back home. Luckily other SHL were out basking in the sun and so we know he was returned to the correct place. My son is looking forward to getting another type of lizard such as a bearded dragon and hopefully the forums will be a big help for beginners like us. Thank you again.

I applaude you!! More importantly, you taught your children an important lesson about respecting life. Seeing the photo and hearing how he was "returned home" actually made me tear up. From one mom to another . . . . you "done good"!!!