Reptile & Amphibian Forums

We caught these guys near the Mojave desert. I have a 40 gallon breeder with a 125 watt light/uvb on one end and a 75 watt light for heat on the other end. Thermometers on the wall of the tank (glass) show temps of 100 and 85 degrees. At night I replace the 125 watt with a 75 watt red bulb. The 75 watt red bulb is the only light in use at night. On both ends are hiding places constructed from limestone piled up to form caves for cooling and shelter. branches were taken from where they were captured and placed throughout the tank to look more homey.The bottom of the tank is covered with sand (sorry - don't know what brand. I'll find that info out). It is deep enough for them to tunnel in and cover themselves up, (at least 2 inches)The desert iggy seems to stay on the cool side with the horned lizard and whiptail really loving the hot side.Yesterday I dumped about 18 crickets (dusted w/ calcium/d3 powder) and most were eaten, I saw 2 scarfed up by the iggy. The iggy did not like the grated zucchini and yellow squash. These guys should do well together, right? How do I feed the iggy - just grate up a bunch of stuff on a plate? Put the food on the rocks? All and any help is massively appreciated.

I have a feeling these guys won't really do too well together. They may like the same basking temps, but their food needs and basic personality types are very different. Please visit the Horned Lizard forum to get an idea about the very specialized needs of these lizards. Visit Reptoman's posts and click on his link at the bottom of his posts. There you will discover the dietary needs of the HL, VERY SPECIFIC!! And the Desert Iggy will not love having ants in his eyes.

The Desert Ig will have needs closely related to Chuckwallas for diet, but it is omnivorous, and will love the dusted crickets. Colorful flowers will be the big winner! This lizard will be the most handlable of those you have, and from that standpoint, the best pet. Ask questions pertaining to that lizard on the Chuckwalla Forum, as many Chuck keepers also may have Desert Iggys.

The Whiptail? Well, he's insectivorus and goes about digging everywhere and will undermine the rocks you may have put in the viv and bothering the other two, especially the Horned Lizard, which is high strung and shy and should best be alone or with others of his own kind.

I wouldn't keep these guys in the same viv. Maybe others disagree, but go ask the same question on the Horned Lizard forum. Good luck with them!

Thanks for your response, Maureen. The Horned lizard (Larry) already has a 10 gallon tank set up for his specific feeding needs. No ants will come into the main tank. He'll be fed his favorite ants and some crickets daily/bi-daily(new word.) Larry and the Whiptail are buds. They spend much of the day basking together. The whiptail explores everywhere. The desert iggy ate 2 large dandelions and some banana plus 5 crickets (dusted). The ants should be here friday and I have just bought some of the greens for the iggy. All in all they are starting to come together. This is only their third day together and I am starting to get more optimistic. The whiptail is a lawnmower with the crickets...

Good show! Post pictures soon.