Anyone keep Beaded Lizards?
- Thread starter methos75
- Start date
Yeah I have one. They are very awesome but you have to keep in mind that they are still venomous. They eat more like a snake than lizards (a bigger meal once a week or so) and mine loves eggs more than mice. He also chases after crickets but those are just occasional treats for him. Keep the temps in the mid 80's and give him a moist hide box. I got a heavy stone hide box and stuffed it full of sphagnum and let him excavate his own burrow and every few weeks I will open it up, mist it and re stuff it to give him something to do. Mine is about a year old now and a bit over a foot long and is still showing signs of aggresion yet has not tried to bite once I am holding him (with hexarmor gloves just in case). I have seen many that tame down substantially but I would not count on this because there are still many that do not tame. Be prepared to take a VERY PAINFUL BITE for which there is NO ANTIVENIN. Heloderms are the only known reptiles that developed venom as a defence and not a device to take down prey. As such the venom is unlikely to kill you but there are multiple accounts of bite victims essentially wishing they were dead since the venom is designed to create as much pain as possible.
These are an advanced species and I would not recommend them to any one who does not have a lot of experience with monitors or hots.
These are an advanced species and I would not recommend them to any one who does not have a lot of experience with monitors or hots.
Thanks, I have done lots of research and all, but no one seems to actually own one. As for as Substrates and such what do you use, and do they like to soak like Gila's do?
If you give them a humidity box like I did they do not soak nearly as much which will prevent fungus and scale rot issues. I use a mixed substrate of small pebbles, lava rock, various types of sands, and crushed river rocks. I tried to make it as natural as possible. Here are some pics (sorry for phone camera quality):
