Most lizards should be fed, once a day, items that are as close to their natural diet as possible. Sometimes it is helpful to feed diurnal lizards around noon, as by this time they will generally be warm and active. When this is not possible, try feeding your lizard in the morning rather than in the evening. Nocturnal (active during the night) lizards may not eat while you watch them, and should usually be fed at night when they are more active. Some lizards will not want to eat before breeding, and others may eat less in winter months.

For many carnivorous lizards, choose prey that is small enough to be easily swallowed. This may not apply to some lizards and to some hatchlings, which can require even smaller prey.

Many lizards eat insects including mealworms and crickets. Some people prefer to feed their lizards super worms, which are basically large mealworms. People who do feed super worms usually prefer them because they have larger meat to exoskeleton ratio than do mealworms. Animals who eat a large number of regular mealworms may occasionally experience intestinal impaction due to the higher percentage of indigestible exoskeleton material in the mealworm. When feeding crickets to lizards that are sick or unable to hunt or stalk prey normally, some people will pinch the joints of the insects' hind legs. This will prevent them from easily escaping the lizard. Many people prefer to feed gut loaded insects, or insects which have eaten a meal just before being fed to the lizard. In order to gut load insects, it is advisable to feed them high-calcium cricket food or dry dog food: items that will have high nutritional value for your lizard. Other insects, like wingless fruit flies, caterpillars, grubs, and non-infesting roaches are also available commercially to feed lizards. If your lizard eats larger prey, like mice, they should be pre-killed to avoid injury to your lizard. Not only will live prey fight in its own defense, but it may later chew on a sleeping or sick lizard. Frozen pre-killed prey is usually readily available, and many people find it quite convenient. It may be stored in quantity and helps eliminate the need for you to raise your own prey animals or make frequent trips to the pet store. The frozen prey should be defrosted fully before feeding and, if possible, warmed up to the temperature it would be were if it were alive. Try not to handle your lizard any more than necessary immediately after feeding it, as this can cause it to regurgitate.

Fruits and vegetables are important to the health of some herbivorous lizards. Iguanas are one example of a herbivorous lizard. Some prefer dark leafy greens, while others may eat soft or sweet fruits. If your lizard does eat fruits you should not use them as a major dietary component, but feed them in smaller amounts. Generally, greens low in oxalic acid and high in calcium are a good choice. Collard greens, dandelion greens, turnip greens, and parsley are all good choices. Cabbage and plants in the cabbage family should be fed sparingly. Oxalic acid occurs naturally in a large number of plants. Oxalic acid may combine with calcium, iron, sodium, magnesium, or potassium to form less soluble salts known as oxalates which can not be utilized by the body. Regular consumption of large amounts of foods high in oxalic acid may result in nutrient deficiencies, especially calcium. Examples of food high in oxalic acid that should be fed sparingly are spinach, rhubarb, banana, and mustard greens. Herbivorous lizards need large amounts of calcium rich foods and may be given a phosphorus-free calcium supplement powder. Many calcium supplements contain phosphorus, but it is now known that enough phosphorus can usually be obtained from normal dietary items. You should use caution with vitamin or mineral supplements, since excess minerals or nutrients may cause health problems. Commercial foods like iguana chow are available, but it is advisable to feed these only occasionally or as treats.

Vitamin D3 is important to most diurnal lizards and will be produced by the animal upon exposure to unfiltered daylight or full spectrum light (with UVB) and is not usually necessary as dietary supplements. Vitamin A and some other vitamins can reach toxic levels when given as supplements and it may be easiest to simply to feed a balanced diet and avoid vitamin supplements.

Care should be taken to prevent lizards from becoming obese. Many lizards, such as monitors, will eat large volumes of food if it is available and gain weight rapidly. Obese lizards are much more likely to develop health problems.

Part Two - Housing	Part Four - Pro-Active Care
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