Reptile & Amphibian Forums

I have a ton of questions, where to begin? My 10-year old son has wanted a lizard for years. My husband took him yesterday to a local pet store where they carry many different kinds. They spent about 2-hours there discussing the different types with the lady who worked there. My husbands exact words were "I'm looking for a reptile for my 10-year old son who has no experience and he would prefer one that is great with being handled". The woman insisted that the Desert Horned Lizard was the perfect choice for a first timer. My husband called me from his cell to explain and my oldest daughter (15) who is very familiar with lizards said "no, you might want to go with the bearded dragon". To make a long story short, he came home with the Desert Horned Lizard and I jumped on the internet immediately to do research. The Phrynosoma.com site was awesome and I learned a lot. I found out that we need Harvest ants and not so much crickets and wax worms like the store suggested. However, I'm a little nervous and quite furious with the store. I guess I'm looking for some advice. I'm trying very hard to research. We currently feed him wax worms, the hot side is at 110 and the cool at 80 during the day, it has only been one day and I hope we are doing everything right.

pl,ease conmsider reading the posts below yours, you will see pictures of ematiated sick horned lizards that died. Once they get sick they are very difficult if not impossible to turn around unless caught early and even then experienced people don't always catch them as being sick. SO the pet shops I have to say are irresponsible for selling these to a qo yer old or any one that is not experienced with many species of lizards. These are not for novices in my opinion. Dad should of listened to his daught3r the beardeed dsragon would have been an excellent chjoice, as there are care sheets everywhere they are omniveropus eating plants and insects, they can be handled shen they get older, and have long life spans. The horned lizard should not be handled much at all, poor husbandry can send them down the tube. It is my best suggestion that you take him back to the shop and complain, and get the bearded dragon.. Now that dfoesn't leave the poor horned lizard in any good condition. SO if your going to keep him, please do go to our site, this horned lizard cannot stay healthy without ants. If you go to the site you'll finds the liknk to puchase ants. THis is going to be a financial committment for you as we suggest on our site these animals are expensive to keep correctly. YOu should consider a 20 gallon long tank of bigger. The temls you mention are fine. YOu need a mercury vapor bulb, or a flourescent for UVB. Use home depot play sand for a substrate which is cheap which is cheap. Feed him small crickets liek 1/4" not big or full grown ones. You can order mini-king mealworms or mini-mealworms and also occasionally a wax worm is good, but at leat if it was me 70- percent of this diet is going to be ants, and there are many people that think they don't need to feed ants to their horned lizards, please read one of the recent posts form Lester milroy below, he is a biologist and you can read his take on that. So as long as you get all this going within a week or so hopefully you should be fine, if you have a large container or some way of putting him outside for sun that woudl be excellent, even an hours worth of sun is rerally good for the horned lizard. The other thing is I am giving you this information, but have no idea whether this anmimals is in good condition or not. So I need you to post a picture or post on a picture site so we can see what he looks like, if he's in bad shape then a lot if this might not end up with the best results,but definately get him some ants. I don't knwo where you live, but if you son or daughter can find some of those big red ants not the grease ants but the big ones that make the mounds (not fireants either) get a big potatoe spoon and scoop up a bunch of ants into a tupperware and put tiny holes in it with a wet paper towel a little dirt and put in apple slices or a a few potatoes or bran, they will stay healthy for about 10 days or so. THen just scoop them up with the spoon and put in the cage, start out slowly with 3 or 4 o and see if he goes for them, you don't want to put too many in and then they overhelom the horned lizard and stress him out. Until you get ants feed him small vcrikets or even a moth or spider from around the house (not black widows), Let us know and we will try and help...............
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Phrynosoma.com

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I thank you so much for the reply. I do understand a lot more after visiting so many sites. I'm just very upset with the pet store, however it is just as much our fault for not researching the proper species for my son. I know we will keep him and I will do whatever it takes to make sure he stays healthy. We have already spent over $250 in accessories, food, vitamins, lamps, lighting, etc (we already had the 40 gal. tank). How could I take him/her back when I know that it will be sold to someone else who may not do any research? The woman at the pet store stated that she had 2 of them for over 2 years, so I guess they figured she knew what she was talking about. I believe that pet stores should not be allowed to sell such delicate creatures and I'm going to go back and say something. I am having my daughter help me take care of him/her because she has a lot of experience with lizards and snakes. I will continue to read everything possible and I will send over a photo, this HL looks very healthy right now. Thank you again.

I forgot. I live in Wisconsin, I highly doubt I will find the proper ants here and if I did, they will be gone by late October. I will have to order them on-line.

Thanks again.

Don't divorce yourself from the forum, thats what we are here for. You should get plenty of help to see the little guy through. i am glad that you are confident that he is in good shape, I would like to see a post though if you can. SOunds like you have all the contraptions and info, but may need a little fine tuning. If you need info on the internet sights to buy ants from and other insects you can get that from Phrynosoma or let us know and we'll get you the links. I am gald that you made the decision to see him through, and many people have had good luck with the desert horned lizard, but again they do need attention. If you have any issues or just odn't feel confident please chime in with a question or need help! Cheers!!
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Phrynosoma.com

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signature file edited. [phw 11/14/04]