If you’re looking to buy a lizard, but are worried they may be lonely, then you may be wondering what types of lizards can live together in a controlled habitat.
Luckily, most types of lizards prefer to live in solitude, and will live much longer, happier lives without any other creature (other than food) inhabiting their terrarium.
However, if you’re looking for specific types of lizards that you can own more than one of and keep in the same enclosure, then you have a few different options to choose from.
Keep in mind, even if these lizards are capable of living together, it doesn’t always mean it’s going to be an easy task. You must prepare carefully and have a full understanding of the lizards’ needs in order to maintain a safe environment for all creatures involved.
Without further ado, here are the three types of lizards that are best suited for living together:
- Bearded dragons
- Anoles
- Geckos
Bearded Dragons
The Bearded Dragon is one of the most popular lizard pets, and for good reason. They’re relatively low maintenance, docile creatures that make great first-time reptile pets.
Not only are they easy to take care of, but bearded dragons are also social creatures that do well in the company of others. In fact, it’s recommended by many experts that you keep two bearded dragons together, as they tend to be happier and healthier when living in pairs.
When keeping multiple bearded dragons together, it’s important to have a large enough enclosure to accommodate everyone. A 4-foot long terrarium (at least 120 gallons) is a good size for two adult bearded dragons. The terrarium should also have plenty of hiding places and different levels so the lizards can climb and explore.
Anoles
Another type of lizard that does well in pairs is the anole. These lizards are small, but they’re feisty little creatures with big personalities.
While they may not be as low maintenance as bearded dragons, anoles are still relatively easy to take care of and make great pets for those with a little reptile experience.
When keeping multiple anoles together, it’s important to have one male and one female. This is because male anoles can be very aggressive towards each other and will often fight to the death if placed in the same enclosure.
If you’re looking to keep more than two anoles together, then you’ll need a very large enclosure. These lizards are active creatures that need plenty of space to move around and explore.
Geckos
Last but not least, geckos are another type of lizard that does well in pairs or small groups. These lizards are small, but they’re very active and love to explore their surroundings.
There are many different types of geckos, but the leopard gecko is one of the most popular pets. These lizards are relatively low maintenance and make great first-time reptile pets.
When keeping multiple geckos together, it’s important to have a large enough enclosure to accommodate everyone. A 20-gallon tank is a good size for two adult geckos. The tank should also have plenty of private places and different levels and decorations for the lizards to climb and explore.
Things to Know When Housing More Than One Of the Same Type of Lizard
If you’ve never attempted housing more than one lizard in the same terrarium then there are a few basic things that you need to know.
- Never mix species in one habitat
- Never keep more than one male in the enclosure
- You will need to clean the enclosure twice as often
- The total cost of feeding you lizards will go up
- Make sure to keep the right temperature
- Scuffles may occur
Never Mix Species In One Habitat
The golden rule of keeping more than one lizard is to NEVER house two different species of lizards in the same habitat. This will likely lead to the lizards fighting for the territory, which can lead to serious injury or even death for one or both of the lizards.
Another reason you never want to mix lizard species in one tank is because they likely require different living conditions in order to thrive and live healthy lives. Therefore, it’s nearly impossible to create the perfect environment for every species in the enclosure.
Never Keep More Than One Male In the Enclosure
Male lizards are territorial and will fight one another for the right to live in the enclosure. Therefore, when you keep more than one lizard at a time, you need to make sure that you only have one male and that the rest are female. This will help minimize the potential for violence in the terrarium.
However, you need to keep an eye out for any aggression the male shows toward the females. This can be common during breeding season, and you may have to temporarily separate them when this occurs.
You Will need to Clean the Enclosure Twice As Often
Double the occupants means double the mess. In order to keep the environment clean and healthy, you will need to be prepared to clean the enclosure twice as often as you normally would. This will help prevent the possibility of an outbreak among your lizards, and will also prevent your enclosure from releasing a foul odor.
The Total Cost of Feeding Your Lizards Will Go Up
Again, keeping more than one lizard means you have more than one mouth to feed. This doesn’t mean that food will now be super expensive, but you have to be prepared for the reality of needing to buy more food at once, or buy food more often.
Make Sure To Keep The Right Temperature
When it comes to heating your terrarium tanks, there are a few things you should know.
First off, the larger the tank, the more heat is required to keep a consistent temperature. Bearded dragons, anoles, and geckos all require a specific temperature range to stay happy and healthy, and the bigger the tank, the harder it is to maintain that temperature.
- Bearded dragons like 75-85°F
- Anoles like 85-90°F, with cooler temperatures near the bottom of the tank
- Leopard geckos like 77-90°F
Because there’s more space in the tank, heat disperses throughout the tank, so you might need more than one heat lamp to keep the tank in the right range. Adding plants and live decor can also help retain heat, simply because there’s less open space.
Choosing a glass tank over a plexiglass tank is ideal if you plan on having more than one reptile. Glass conducts heat better, and will reduce the cost required to maintain that sweet spot.
Scuffles May Occur
Even with a perfect enclosure, environment, and diet, there may be scuffles among the occupants of your terrarium. Some scuffles are more serious than others, but you always need to keep an eye on them to make sure no lizard is being hurt. If you have multiple lizards that begin to battle consistently, then you will likely need to separate them.
Remember, all lizards have different personalities. Just because two lizards didn’t like living together doesn’t mean that two others won’t. Just always be careful; and take proper precautions before deciding to keep more than one of the same type of lizard in an enclosure together.
Should I Buy A Companion for My Lizard?
Now that you know what types of lizards can live together, you may be asking yourself whether or not you should get a second one. The answer to this all depends on you and how much time you are able to dedicate to caring for the creatures.
If you have the time and money to try adding a second lizard to your terrarium, then you can reasonably give it an attempt. If you have a single lizard in a small enclosure designed to live in your children’s bedroom, then we recommended sticking to just one lizard. Without proper monitoring, keeping multiple lizards in one enclosure can be hazardous to their health.
If you do decide to get a second lizard, then make sure you do your research and get all the materials you will need to make your terrarium suitable for multiple lizards.
Conclusion: Only Select Species Under Specific Conditions Can Live Together
If you came to this page wondering what types of lizards can live together in an enclosure, then you now know that the answer is bearded dragons, anoles, and geckos. You also know that in doing so, you will need to expect an increase in maintenance and an immediate need for upgrading your terrarium (unless you are already equipped with what you need to house multiple lizards).
As for other types of lizards, such as chameleons, you should never attempt to house two or more in the same enclosure. Multiple attempts have shown time and time again that it’s not suitable for these types of lizards, and death is typically resulted from these attempts.
Ready to add a second lizard to your terrarium? See what types of lizards are available for sale online through trusted retailers. Select the type of lizard you are looking for below:
