My children were given lizards by a neighbor a few days ago. I know nothing about them or even what kind they are. I am just curious to know if it is OK for them to hold the lizards. I don't want the kids to be hurting them and we don't know it. One of the lizards is shedding now...but I just don't want anything to happen to my kids new pets. Please help a worried mom of 3!! Thanks in advance for the answers.
2007-03-23 08:07:14 · 17 answers · asked by ♥just me♥ 5 in Pets ➔ Reptiles
OK most of your answers were along the lines that I was thinking....hand washing. We did get food for them at the pet store. And the neighbor was always holding them but he was a kid too so I had no clue.
They are little lizards...I guess they came from by the river. I am not sure where the neighbor actually got them.
My kids are 7 & 8 and I don't let my youngest who is 2 handle it at all. They are very gentle and everything...I just wanted to make sure that holding them wasn't actually harming the pets. They are actually very nice when you hold them...they don't bit at all =)
2007-03-23 08:34:47 · update #1
Lizzards will need a heat source and a tank to live in and lighting plus a water bowl. For my snake I use a under the tank heater works well.. Lizzards need the heat to digest food but try to avoid a heat rock or cover it with a towel the lizzard will not always move off of it and can burn its-self. Under the tanks heates with some bedding on top in the cage can help prevent this. Depending on the lizzard you will need certian kinds of food.. fruit and veggies, some eat live crickets. Try to find out what type of Lizzards you have so you know what they need.
AND, Please be safe.. my I had two lizzards and my youngest came down with Salmonella.. he was onlly 4 months old then he got very sick, could keep nothing down and really had to poops bad.. he lost weight at first we thought he had the flu but a test showed Salmonella.. I had no idea where he got it from till the health department called me and started asking questions.. like did i just touch chicken in the last week and then they asked the magical question-- do you onw any lizzards --WOW-- that is how he got it.. even though I washed my hands apparently I did not do good enough :( --- I had no idea lizzards carried this till then.. I got rid of the lizzards then foudn them a good home.. I am not saying you should :)
Below you will find some info on Salmonella
animals can carry Salmonella and pass it in their feces (stool). people can also get salmonellosis if they do not wash their hands after touching the feces of animals. Reptiles (lizards, snakes, and turtles), baby chicks, and ducklings are especially likely
A person's age and health status may affect his or her immune system, increasing the chances of getting sick. People who are more likely to get salmonellosis include infants, children younger than 5 years old, organ transplant patients, people with HIV/AIDS,elderly, and people receiving treatment for cancer. But anyone can get Salmonella.
How to help prevent Salmonella
After contact with animal feces (stool), wash your hands with soap and running water.
Wash your hands with soap and running water after touching reptiles or any objects and surfaces that a reptile has also touched. (food bowls, cages,accessories)
If you have a compromised immune system, avoid contact with reptiles, baby chicks, and ducklings.
If you take care you should have no problems just make sure everyone washes their hands real good after touching ANYTHING that has to do with the lizzards.. :)
2007-03-23 08:23:49 · answer #1 · answered by Tonya R 2 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Yeah it fine for your kids to hold their pet lizard. Depending on their ages you might want to make a rule that they can only hold the lizard while you are there to watch them. That away you can make sure they aren't hurting the lizard. Kids tend to be rough with pets and not know it sometimes. I wouldn't allow them to handle the one that is currently shedding right now.
If you have more concerns or questions about your kids new pet. You can always do some research on them on the net by looking up lizards. Or just call your local pet store and ask. They are usually more then willing to answer any pet related question you may have. Good Luck!
2007-03-23 15:12:45 · answer #2 · answered by larrys_babygurl_4life 4 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Because different lizards have different needs, you need to determine what kind of lizards you have. Some lizards, like iguanas and water dragons, eat fruits and vegies.
It's fine for kids to hold lizards. Make sure they wash their hands, and don't pull at shedding skin. Don't grab the tail or it'll probably come off.
Don't release pets into the wild as someone else suggested. Florida is killing iguanas by the hundred because of irresponsible pet release. Never let an unknown animal, or a non-native animal loose into the wild.
Your lizards will probably need special care for long lives, so make sure to identify them and look up their needs, and you'll have your new pets for a long time. (iguanas can live twenty years).
2007-03-23 15:17:51 · answer #3 · answered by Theresa A 6 · 3⤊ 0⤋
okay, i see that you have many good answers and i have very little more to add, but i would just like to stress one point VERY highly.
the needs of your new pets depend on their species. your lizard may actually NOT require much heat. it may require that you mist it daily. it may require certain vitamin supplements. all veggie diet vs. insect & veggie diet.
chameleons, for example, don't drink water from a dish and must be in the form of water drops dripping from leaves. some of these things that seem like such minor details can end up being very important to the health of your pet. i have seen SOOoooooo many cases of metabolic bone disease in lizards. correct nutrition and correct environment are fundamental!!
i suggest you either take the lizards to a vet that is specifically listed as an exotic animal vet in order to get a little direction on this, OR (and more cheaply) take a couple of digital photographs of the lizards and post them on a webpage dedicated to lizards and figure out what species they are. (i'm a member of www.cornsnakes.com & www.redtailboas.com, but i am sure there is a lizard specific webpage too.) then you can do your own research online to make sure you are caring for your new pets properly.
2007-03-24 02:20:56 · answer #4 · answered by blackglass337 2 · 1⤊ 0⤋
children under the age of 7 should not hold any animal that hatches from an egg, due to the risk of contracting salmonella. some types of lizards are not that friendly by nature, and should be kept in a tank for viewing only, and not touched unless they must be removed for tank cleaning or repair or vet visits. contact your local veterinarian and make an appointment to take the lizards in and check them out. the vet can tell you the proper care & handling, based on the type of lizard.
2007-03-23 15:11:53 · answer #5 · answered by SmartAleck 5 · 1⤊ 0⤋
from experience you might need to ask the neighbor how the lizards are with being handled. some lizards you cant hold them long because they will bite. i have 2 leopard geckos and the male cant be held. maybe you should try putting some type of gloves on to pick them up so that if they do bite you will have some kind of protection so that it doesnt get to your hands. i would just ask the people who gave them to you, how they act while being held. good luck
2007-03-23 15:11:28 · answer #6 · answered by amie d 2 · 1⤊ 0⤋
well it just all depends on the lizard and who gave it to your kids you should probably take the lizard's to like pets mart or a vet so they can make sure there not sick. or to tell you what kind it is. when it is shedding its OK the lizard is fine but just be careful because sometimes if they cant get there skin off in time it cuts off there circulation and if you wait to long to peal it off like if you wait a month they will die because there heart pumps to fast. the same thing happened to my gecko
2007-03-23 15:15:55 · answer #7 · answered by wawacrazy 1 · 2⤊ 0⤋
Lizards are fine to hold, as long as you're watching them and they wash their hands with soap and water before and after they handle the lizards. I would advise against holding them while they are shedding, lizards get grumpy when they shed.
2007-03-23 15:11:35 · answer #8 · answered by Lie to me 3 · 2⤊ 0⤋
do a search for lizards in your area or just pics of lizards until you fin d one that looks like it. Ask your neighbor what type of lizards they are? Also I wouldn't handle the one that is shedding.
2007-03-23 20:42:59 · answer #9 · answered by Brandi W 3 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Change and dollar bills hold a lot more germs
than lizards. Kids should wash their hands
frequently. The only time a lizard might be
poisonous is when it's a water lizard. They
usually have smooth skin rather than the
common scally stuff. I doubt the lizards
will take to people picking them up. I'd
suggest letting them go free and appealing
to your children in terms of caging up
creatures....not so nice for the critter ;-)
2007-03-23 15:11:50 · answer #10 · answered by S T 5 · 0⤊ 3⤋