− | [[Image:Elgaria_multicarinata_eating_mantis.jpg|300px|thumb|right|'''A Southern Alligator Lizard (''Elgaria multicarinata'') eating a preying mantis''' (© Rémi Jouan, CC-BY-SA, GNU Free Documentation License, Wikimedia Commons)]] | + | [[Image:Elgaria_multicarinata_eating_mantis.jpg|300px|thumb|right|'''A Southern Alligator Lizard (''Elgaria multicarinata'')]] |
| The best diet for a pet lizard is one that is as close as possible to the diet of a free-ranging lizard. Unfortunately not all the ingredients are available. Until controlled studies are done, it is best to feed a variety of foods and not rely on any one to form the bulk of the diet. Regular voracious eating is usually a good indicator of health. It is also necessary to have a feeding arrangement so that food is uncontaminated by litter. | | The best diet for a pet lizard is one that is as close as possible to the diet of a free-ranging lizard. Unfortunately not all the ingredients are available. Until controlled studies are done, it is best to feed a variety of foods and not rely on any one to form the bulk of the diet. Regular voracious eating is usually a good indicator of health. It is also necessary to have a feeding arrangement so that food is uncontaminated by litter. |
− | [[Image:Lizard_feed.jpg|300px|thumb|right|'''Insectivore''' (Wikimedia Commons)]] | + | [[Image:Lizard_feed.jpg|300px|thumb|right|'''Insectivore''' (© Rémi Jouan, CC-BY-SA, GNU Free Documentation License, Wikimedia Commons)]] |
| Crickets should not be more than 50% of the diet and the remainder can include mealworms, king mealworms, wax worms, earthworms, cockroaches, giant cockroaches, flies, cicadas, grasshoppers, field crickets, caterpillars and newborn pinkie mice. | | Crickets should not be more than 50% of the diet and the remainder can include mealworms, king mealworms, wax worms, earthworms, cockroaches, giant cockroaches, flies, cicadas, grasshoppers, field crickets, caterpillars and newborn pinkie mice. |