Komodo Dragon Lizard Information
Komodo Dragon Lizards are mysterious, but here are the facts.
What is a Komodo dragon?
Komodo dragons, or Komodo monitors, are actually lizards. They just happen not to spend much time in the water and are much larger than other lizards. They grow as large as six-feet long and can be fairly substantial in weight. They aren't generally very fast creatures, but their hunting strategies are based on power and size. Compared with lions and other carnivores, Komodos can eat larger bites of meat with each bite and waste no time in swallowing or chewing. The lizards tend to prey on animals like monkeys, goats, wild boars, and rodents.
Komodos have four legs and prefer tropical climates. The reason there aren't many of them around is because young Komodos often end up as victims of prey to larger animals. However, if they can live past their fifth birthday, there's a good chance they'll be fine.
Mating generally happens in the summer and males regularly get into fights over the females. When they fight, the Komodos lean back on the hefty tails for support as they grab each other's forelegs and attempt to wrestle the other to the ground. The most powerful get to breed.
Why are Komodo dragons mysterious?
Komodo dragons were unknown to the Americas until 1910. That was the year Lieutenant van Steyn van Hensbroek, a Dutch colonist, heard about the "land crocodile." People in the western world then talked about the animal for years as if it were an ancient creature that may not really exist, or may even be God-like. Van Hensbroek took it upon himself to find the dragon, and he did just that. He eventually killed a Komodo that was about six-feet long. Van Hensbroek and a zoo director named Peter Ouwens compared their dragons and then determined that the Komodos were actually a form of monitor lizard. It wasn't until 1912 when Ouwens wrote a scientific paper about the Komodo.
The Dutch colonial government believed the Komodo to be magnificent and rare, so they immediately issued plans to protect the creature. Explorers then traveled to the island of Komodo, where this rare dragon was believed to originate. There were as few as 3,500 Komodos in existence, and were listed on the endangered species list.
Much more is known about Komodos today, and much of the mystery is gone. While scientists are still learning more about these creatures, they aren't nearly as mysterious as they once were. However, the Komodo dragon's reputation for being a special and magnificent creature for the most part still exists.
Wednesday, February 11, 2009
Tuesday, February 10, 2009
Set Up A Home For Your Pet Lizard
Set Up A Home For Your Pet Lizard
What kind of home will your pet lizard like?
How do you make your pet lizard's home as natural for it as possible?
The basic structure
Like all reptiles, a lizard needs a large enough space so it can have room to move around. You need to make sure there are different temperature levels in its home. A good rule of thumb is to reserve about one-third of the space for moving around, eating, and defecating. Your lizard will likely establish certain spots for each of these needs.
If your lizard is still a baby you want to be sure to plan ahead. Lizards grow quickly. When determining exactly how big your lizard's enclosure needs to be, you first need to measure your adult reptile from the tip of its nose to the end of its tail. The length of its enclosure should be at least two to three times this length; the width should be at least equal to one length of the reptile; and the height should be at least twice its' height.
What to include inside the enclosure?
The overall goal is to make the living arrangements as close to natural as possible. While the basic needs of all reptiles are quite similar, they do have some basic differences.
The main area should be a basking area. This allows the lizard a place it can lie in a warm temperature to help with digestion and sunning. Your lizard will spend most of its time in this spot.
The spot should be somewhere pleasing. This may be next to a window, so it can look outside. You should set up a human heating pad on the bottom of your lizard's enclosure. Also, outfit the basking area with an incandescent light bulb. You'll want the area to be mostly a solid color to be sure the heat stays in, ensuring that your lizard has a consistently heated place to stay.
Most types of lizards also need places they can climb and explore. You'll want to create such a spot for your pet. Again, each species has a different need. Consider building a contraption out of crates that can lead to a top level across the ceiling of the room. This provides them places they can go that simulate their natural habitats.
What conditions to maintain inside your lizard's home?
The most important issue is the temperature of your lizard's enclosure. It should have several different climates in which it can go, depending on its mood and needs. Monitor the temperatures regularly to make sure your lizard has areas that exceed 80 degrees and areas that are less than 70 degrees in which to roam.
What kind of home will your pet lizard like?
How do you make your pet lizard's home as natural for it as possible?
The basic structure
Like all reptiles, a lizard needs a large enough space so it can have room to move around. You need to make sure there are different temperature levels in its home. A good rule of thumb is to reserve about one-third of the space for moving around, eating, and defecating. Your lizard will likely establish certain spots for each of these needs.
If your lizard is still a baby you want to be sure to plan ahead. Lizards grow quickly. When determining exactly how big your lizard's enclosure needs to be, you first need to measure your adult reptile from the tip of its nose to the end of its tail. The length of its enclosure should be at least two to three times this length; the width should be at least equal to one length of the reptile; and the height should be at least twice its' height.
What to include inside the enclosure?
The overall goal is to make the living arrangements as close to natural as possible. While the basic needs of all reptiles are quite similar, they do have some basic differences.
The main area should be a basking area. This allows the lizard a place it can lie in a warm temperature to help with digestion and sunning. Your lizard will spend most of its time in this spot.
The spot should be somewhere pleasing. This may be next to a window, so it can look outside. You should set up a human heating pad on the bottom of your lizard's enclosure. Also, outfit the basking area with an incandescent light bulb. You'll want the area to be mostly a solid color to be sure the heat stays in, ensuring that your lizard has a consistently heated place to stay.
Most types of lizards also need places they can climb and explore. You'll want to create such a spot for your pet. Again, each species has a different need. Consider building a contraption out of crates that can lead to a top level across the ceiling of the room. This provides them places they can go that simulate their natural habitats.
What conditions to maintain inside your lizard's home?
The most important issue is the temperature of your lizard's enclosure. It should have several different climates in which it can go, depending on its mood and needs. Monitor the temperatures regularly to make sure your lizard has areas that exceed 80 degrees and areas that are less than 70 degrees in which to roam.
Monday, February 9, 2009
Lizards As Pets
Lizards As Pets
What kinds of lizard should you consider getting as pets?
What kinds of lizards should you avoid?
Which lizards make better pets than others, and why?
What type of home can you provide for a lizard?
If you have lots of room for a lizard, you may be interested in a large lizard such as an iguana, skink, or adult bearded dragon. If not, a smaller lizard like a leopard gecko may be best.
There are three main types of enclosures. You probably want to start out with a 20-gallon aquarium for each. A desert cage requires plenty of incandescent lighting, gravel and rocks. You'll want to also include a log and maintain a constant temperature of 90 to 95 degrees. For a temperate lizard cage, you'll want bark chips or newspaper on the aquarium floor, a log hiding spot, and lighting temperatures in the mid 80's. For a tropical enclosure you want a floor of moss and bark chips to hold water and keep the climate humid, plenty of plants and temperatures at about 85 degrees. Keep in mind that for tropical cages you may have to replace the plants. Lizards sometimes like to eat them.
Once you've decided which type of tank you can maintain, you can then begin the process of deciding which lizard is right for you. Lizards that thrive in desert tanks include leopard geckos, crevice lizards and swifts. Temperate climate lizards are leopard geckos, house geckos, iguanas, anoles, swifts, and tokays. Tropical lizards include day geckos, house geckos and green anoles.
How much care are you able to provide for a lizard?
Consider how much time you have and how many resources you can dedicate to the well being of your lizard. For instance, chameleons need to be checked on a couple times a day, while leopard geckos only need an hour's worth of attention each week. Some lizards need to be hand fed, while others only require you to drop a few insects into their tank once in awhile.
Lizards such as iguanas are herbivorous. They need a variety of foods ranging from bugs to worms and flies, while most eat only insects. They can be the easiest to feed.
Which lizards should the average pet owner avoid?
Lizards aren't generally difficult to maintain. You just need to be prepared and quite dedicated for certain types. For instance, iguanas and large lizards often need space that can take up an entire room in your house. Your lizard may need a pen they can wander in and climb around. Many average pet owners are ready for this type of situation, but you always need to be sure.
What kinds of lizard should you consider getting as pets?
What kinds of lizards should you avoid?
Which lizards make better pets than others, and why?
What type of home can you provide for a lizard?
If you have lots of room for a lizard, you may be interested in a large lizard such as an iguana, skink, or adult bearded dragon. If not, a smaller lizard like a leopard gecko may be best.
There are three main types of enclosures. You probably want to start out with a 20-gallon aquarium for each. A desert cage requires plenty of incandescent lighting, gravel and rocks. You'll want to also include a log and maintain a constant temperature of 90 to 95 degrees. For a temperate lizard cage, you'll want bark chips or newspaper on the aquarium floor, a log hiding spot, and lighting temperatures in the mid 80's. For a tropical enclosure you want a floor of moss and bark chips to hold water and keep the climate humid, plenty of plants and temperatures at about 85 degrees. Keep in mind that for tropical cages you may have to replace the plants. Lizards sometimes like to eat them.
Once you've decided which type of tank you can maintain, you can then begin the process of deciding which lizard is right for you. Lizards that thrive in desert tanks include leopard geckos, crevice lizards and swifts. Temperate climate lizards are leopard geckos, house geckos, iguanas, anoles, swifts, and tokays. Tropical lizards include day geckos, house geckos and green anoles.
How much care are you able to provide for a lizard?
Consider how much time you have and how many resources you can dedicate to the well being of your lizard. For instance, chameleons need to be checked on a couple times a day, while leopard geckos only need an hour's worth of attention each week. Some lizards need to be hand fed, while others only require you to drop a few insects into their tank once in awhile.
Lizards such as iguanas are herbivorous. They need a variety of foods ranging from bugs to worms and flies, while most eat only insects. They can be the easiest to feed.
Which lizards should the average pet owner avoid?
Lizards aren't generally difficult to maintain. You just need to be prepared and quite dedicated for certain types. For instance, iguanas and large lizards often need space that can take up an entire room in your house. Your lizard may need a pen they can wander in and climb around. Many average pet owners are ready for this type of situation, but you always need to be sure.
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