Spiny lizards, found across various North American habitats, have specific dietary needs. Understanding their diet, both in the wild and as pets, is important for their well-being. Their diet is primarily insectivorous, though it varies by species and availability.
Natural Diet of Spiny Lizards
Spiny lizards primarily consume insects and other arthropods in their natural habitats. Their diet includes crickets, grasshoppers, beetles, ants, spiders, caterpillars, and woodlice. They are often sit-and-wait predators, using keen vision to detect and ambush prey.
While insects are their main food source, some spiny lizard species may opportunistically eat plant matter like leaves, flowers, or fruits. Occasionally, they might also consume small vertebrates, such as smaller lizards or newborn rodents. Dietary composition can vary by species, age, and region, but their diet remains insectivorous.
Water Intake
Spiny lizards, particularly those residing in arid or semi-arid regions, obtain water from limited sources. They acquire hydration primarily through moisture in their prey. They also absorb water from environmental sources such as dew, condensation, and moisture from wet sand.
While some lizards, like the thorny devil, have specialized skin structures to channel water to their mouths, spiny lizards primarily hydrate by drinking and consuming moisture-rich foods. They may drink from small puddles that form after rainfall, or by licking dew droplets from surfaces. Consistent hydration is important for their metabolic functions and overall health, even if direct drinking is not frequently observed.
Feeding Spiny Lizards as Pets
For pet spiny lizards, providing a balanced and nutritious diet is important for their health. The staple diet should consist of live feeder insects such as crickets, mealworms, Dubia roaches, and silkworms. It is important to offer a variety of these insects to ensure a broad spectrum of nutrients.
Before feeding, these insects should be “gut-loaded” by providing them with nutritious food, such as dark leafy greens and vegetables, for 24 to 72 hours. This process enhances the nutritional value of the insects, transferring those benefits to the lizard. Supplementation with calcium and vitamin D3 powders is also important to prevent metabolic bone disease. Feeder insects should be dusted with calcium powder daily or several times a week, and a multivitamin once a week.
A shallow water dish should always be available in the enclosure, with fresh water changed daily. Misting the enclosure two to three times a week can also encourage drinking, as lizards may lick water droplets from surfaces. Juveniles typically require daily feeding, while adult spiny lizards can be fed every few days, or as much as they will eat in a 10 to 20 minute period. Foods to avoid include wild-caught insects due to potential pesticides or parasites, and certain human foods that can cause nutritional imbalances.