Baby fence lizards, also known as Western Fence Lizards or blue-bellies, are common across Western North America, including states like California, Oregon, and Nevada. These small reptiles, often seen basking on fences and rocks, have a diet important for their rapid growth and survival. Understanding their natural feeding habits helps ensure their nutritional needs are met.
Natural Diet of Baby Fence Lizards
The diet of baby fence lizards in their natural habitat is carnivorous, focusing on insects and other small invertebrates. They are adept predators, consuming a wide array of small creatures available in their environment. This diet provides the necessary protein and other nutrients for their development.
Their primary food sources include crickets, spiders, and various types of ants. Baby fence lizards also consume small beetles, grasshoppers, moths, and other soft-bodied larvae. For some lizards, ants can make up a significant portion of their diet, sometimes as much as 80%. However, invasive species like red imported fire ants can pose a risk to young lizards.
Essential Dietary Considerations
The size of prey items is a primary consideration for baby fence lizards, as food must be small enough to be swallowed whole without causing choking. Prey should be no larger than the space between their eyes or the size of their head. Providing a varied diet, even within the insect category, ensures they receive a complete range of nutrients for healthy growth.
Calcium and vitamin D3 are important for these young lizards, playing a role in bone development and preventing conditions like metabolic bone disease. Lizards naturally synthesize vitamin D3 when exposed to ultraviolet B (UVB) light from the sun. This vitamin enables their bodies to efficiently absorb calcium from their diet.
Hydration and Feeding Regimen
Baby fence lizards obtain water primarily from environmental sources such as dew drops on leaves, rain, and moisture within the insects they consume. They prefer to drink water droplets from surfaces rather than from standing water. This moisture intake from their prey is sufficient for their needs.
Due to their high metabolic rate and rapid growth, lizards require frequent meals. In the wild, they consume small amounts of food multiple times a day if prey is abundant. Baby lizards may eat several insects daily. This consistent intake of small, nutrient-rich meals supports their active lifestyle and development.