For most of my life I had pet lizards, all different kinds. Most of them became quite tame and friendly. We had my iguana for 17 years: he was like a dog or a cat, I’m sure he thought he was a mammal. All his friends were mammals. And then there were those cute little fence lizards who laid eggs that hatched…
Feel free to mute the narration. I found it annoying. But the video–
Nature is crazy sometimes. The basilisk lizard has the ability to run across water without sinking in. No, it’s not swimming. It’s running–on the surface of the water. Go ahead, try it yourself.
This pet bearded lizard doesn’t like his reflection. A lot of animals don’t like what they see in the mirror. I’ve seen many lizards try to fight with their reflections. Forsooth, take the mirror away if the lizard looks like he might go ballistic. P.S.–Serves you right if you get bitten.
I’ve had a lot of pet lizards. Here’s a monitor lizard who has the run of the house (“Oh, boy, dog-food!”). My iguana slept in his cage and did his, er, business there, but the rest of the time he was on the loose. He was good at making friends with dogs and cats. I’m telling you–there’s more to lizard-minds and hearts than you might think. So much more!
I love these little lizards, and have had several of them as pets. It doesn’t take long for them to tame.
The head-bobbing and dewlap-puffing can be a courtship display, but it can also be a threat display. How big do these guys think they are?
Some call them “chameleons” because they can change color, green to brown and back again. They’re no relation to real Old World chameleons.
God’s stuff–how can we help but enjoy it?
The little brown anole lizard can’t resist the mealworms included in the snacks at the bird feeder. He’d better watch out or he’ll wind up as bird food, too. Notice how skillfully he disappears whenever the blue jays show up, to reappear just as smoothly after they leave.
I have included this video in today’s program to discourage high-risk behavior by lizards.
Yeah, sure, I’ve got stuff to write, no shortage of it–but would you mind if I had my cigar and took a snow break? I’d like to enjoy the snowflakes while they’re here. So much more enjoyable than nuisance phone calls.
(What’s with the lizard?)
Oh, I just love these little guys–green anoles, aka pet-store chameleons. The head-bobbing and the strawberry throat fan are threat displays, warning the human with the camera to back off if he knows what’s good for him. As pets, they get very tame and you can have a lot of fun with them. But they won’t do threat displays anymore… except to each other, now and then. Maybe they’re just keeping in practice.
I hope you’re not put off by lizards. Here’s an iguana who jumps onto her daddy’s lap when he coaxes her. Iguana are social animals. My iguana thought he was a mammal and acted accordingly. Oh., he was okay with other lizards. But he really preferred the company of humans, dogs, and cats.
I found something very rewarding in that!
I love the little American anoles, often called “chameleons,” which they’re not. They don’t have the magic tongues. They’ve got to sneak up on insects and quickly grab ’em before the bug can assess the danger.
All it takes is keen eyesight, patience, and superb muscular coordination.
Note: I passed up video of a savannah monitor lizard eating a rattlesnake. I had a savannah monitor once and I wouldn’t dream of feeding her rattlesnakes.
The best lizards to feed are iguanas. They can eat whatever you’re having for supper. Polish off a bowl of raspberries in seconds flat.
I wonder how many anoles you’d need to patrol your house and keep it bug-free.
Here’s a little green anole (you might know them as “dime-store chameleons”) who’s found his niche in the suburbs–
As an aviator.
The maker of this video tells us the lizard is on the air conditioner almost every day. Why? It looks dangerous.
By the end of the video, I think you’ll have an answer to the question.
P.S.–These are very good little lizards and can make nice pets.