{"id":149,"date":"2021-06-19T09:26:00","date_gmt":"2021-06-19T09:26:00","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/reptilefollower.com\/?p=149"},"modified":"2023-11-07T09:07:48","modified_gmt":"2023-11-07T09:07:48","slug":"pygmy-short-horned-lizard-care","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/reptilefollower.com\/pygmy-short-horned-lizard-care\/","title":{"rendered":"What Do Pygmy Short-horned lizards eat? (Insects or Veg?)"},"content":{"rendered":"
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If you are interested or researching pygmy short-horned lizards you may be wondering what they eat, and other facts about them…<\/p>\n

What do pygmy short-horned lizards eat?<\/h2>\n

Pygmy short-horned lizards are classed as insectivores and mainly eat ants and beetles. Ants are mostly sufficient to provide most of their dietary needs. Most pygmy lizards have specialized teeth and a larger stomach capacity to store and digest prey which developed as an adaptation for eating ants.<\/strong><\/p>\n

So, now you know. But, what do pygmy short-horned lizard babies eat? Do they drink water? Why do bob their heads? keep reading for these answers, and much more…<\/p>\n\n

What do baby pygmy short-horned lizards eat?<\/h2>\n

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Baby pygmy short-horned lizards prefer eating ants and they make up 90% of their total diet. However, the younglings prefer to eat beetles while the adults like to mix and match and eat other insects such as beetles, grasshoppers, crickets<\/a>, spiders, flies, honeybees, termites, and even larvae.<\/p>\n

However, ants still constitute about 70% of their total diet. This is also why they appear fat and round.<\/p>\n

Can you keep a horned lizard as a pet?<\/h2>\n

Horned lizards in general are not good in captivity as pets. And, the pygmy short-horned lizard, in particular, requires a license in some states in the United States because of its rarity.<\/p>\n

Therefore, unless you are a professional lizard keeper it’s not the ideal pet lizard for most people. And, there are many other lizards, that are not so rare, that make great pets.<\/p>\n

Are short-horned lizards poisonous?<\/h2>\n
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A Pygmy Short Horned Lizard.<\/p><\/div>\n

The short-horned lizard is not poisonous or venomous. However, many assume it is because of its impressive capability to shoot blood from its eye.<\/p>\n

There are two main venomous lizards they are the Mexican Beaded Lizard<\/a>\u00a0and the Gila Monster lizard<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Do horned lizards drink water?<\/h2>\n

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Horned lizards do drink water. But, they do not drink water from a bowl or free-standing offering. They use the scales on their back to catch water, this then runs towards their mouth as they open and close it.<\/p>\n

It is a clever wat that nature has prepared them to catch water on the move. They are also known to lick dew and make use of precipitation in the air for meeting their water needs.<\/p>\n

How long can a horned lizard live?<\/h2>\n

Horned lizards are expected to live for at least 5 years. However, like most averages, individual lizards could live slightly longer, or considerably less if attacked by their prey, health issues, etc.<\/p>\n

Why do horned lizards bob their heads?<\/h2>\n

There are two main reasons why horned lizards bob their heads:<\/p>\n

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  • Fend off other lizards<\/li>\n
  • Attract females<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n

    Fend off other lizards<\/h3>\n

    The male horned lizard is quite territorial, like a lot of other lizards. So, to mark their territory they will bob their head to make the other males think twice about stepping into their zone.<\/p>\n

    Attract females<\/h3>\n

    One of the main reasons for this territorial nature is to find a mate. Male horned lizards will also use this head bob to attract these females and increase their chances of mating.<\/p>\n

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    What does the pygmy short-horned lizard look like?<\/strong><\/h2>\n

    Pygmy short-horned lizards do have some defining features of their own. Their skin is mainly shiny and they rather look like a miniature dragon. They are\u00a0usually 1-3 inches long, which is shorter than most other lizards.<\/p>\n

    Body<\/h3>\n

    Their bodies are flat, round, squat, and spiky. Most have a crown of long spines covering their head while shorter spines can be found dotting the body along the sides.<\/p>\n

    Spines<\/h3>\n

    The spines jut out horizontally and are found on the back of the head. They are supposed and have short legs. The belly is usually smooth with no spikes. They have a short triangular tail.<\/p>\n

    Color<\/h3>\n

    The color of the pygmy depends on the geographic area and usually ranges from grayish-tan to reddish-brown.<\/p>\n

    The color of most pygmies matches the color of the soil and the pebbles they live in. This helps them to blend in with their surroundings and be invisible to the naked eye.<\/p>\n

    Amidst the brown, tan, beige, white, gray, or black color, dark splotches can be found on their top body. These dark spots are usually in the form of two rows. The belly is cream or white in color.<\/p>\n

    How do pygmy short-horned lizards react when they are threatened?<\/h2>\n

    When these short reptiles are threatened, their colors become more intense in an attempt to intimidate their enemies.<\/p>\n

    Well, if you haven\u2019t seen the pygmy short-horned lizard, we are sure you will mistake it for a horned toad. The species has a rather inflated, fat sort of look which makes them look like a toad.<\/p>\n