For the love of lizards
By Lethbridge Herald on August 14, 2025.
Joe Manio
Lethbridge Herald
Local Journalism Initiative Reporter
Lizards are often considered “mini-dinosaurs” which may contribute to their appeal as pets. Reptile enthusiasts are often drawn to their unique and prehistoric look, which can evoke a sense of wonder and connection to a long-lost primeval world. The word “dinosaur” translates from Greek as “terrible lizard” but pet lizard owners will tell you they’re far from terrible.
“Lizards aren’t as scary as they seem,” says Petland Lethbridge’s resident lizard whisperer CoLby Wedderburn. “Just like cats and dogs, they have their own personalities and owning one is the closest thing to having a pet dinosaur.”
National Lizard Day (also known as World Lizard Day) is celebrated every August 14. It’s a day to appreciate the diversity and unique qualities of lizards, with celebrations often taking place at local levels like schools, parks, and among reptile enthusiasts.
Just like pets of the furry or feathered variety, lizards come in various shapes, sizes and temperaments.
“They don’t bark…and she doesn’t take up a lot of space,” says Ryan Gelderman of Coaldale, about his three-year-old bearded dragon named Izzy. “Great for a smaller home and a busy lifestyle. She has her own silent way of letting us know what she wants…veggies and worms mostly. Other than her ‘permanent judgey-face,’ Izzy is a joy to have around.”
Bearded dragons are known for their friendly and calm temperament, making them easy to handle; and their relatively low-maintenance makes them well-suited as a starter pet (with scales).
Other popular pet lizards include leopard geckos, and crested geckos, blue-tongued skinks, and chameleons (like the Panther chameleon).
“Consider what size (lizard) you’d like to keep,” says Wedderburn to prospective lizard parents. “If it’s something that would prefer bugs or veggies…that’s a big thing. A lot of people don’t like keeping crickets in their house. And also there’s the size of the cage that it takes.
A lizard’s enclosure is important to keeping it happy and healthy, and should take into account its maximum size (when full grown) and species-specific needs.
“I would recommend for something along the lines of, like a crested gecko per say, an 18” by 18” by 24” vertical enclosure, little bit of cocoa fiber, high humidity and a decent bit of foliage, if possible plastic…a heat lamp, but not too much (heat) because they are a semi tropical species. So only about 80 to 85 Fahrenheit,” he says.”
Larger lizard species popular with reptile enthusiasts include green iguanas, savannah monitors and Argentine black and white tegus..
Native to South America, Argentine black and white tegus have seen a surge in popularity as exotic pets, and Petland has its own resident tegu ambassador named JoJo.
“Argentine tegus are one of the most intriguing species on the planet,” says Wedderburn, who has two tegus at home himself. “Capable of reaching and exceeding sizes of six feet and weighing 40 pounds and with the bite force of a pit bull…they demand a lot of respect.”
“But they can also be the most friendly and loving animals on the planet. They’re super intelligent, can learn plenty of tricks, and can be just like a dog…just without the hair,” he says.
JoJo regularly does the PR circuit, most recently as part of an exotic animals meet-and-greet at the Coaldale Summer Festival.
“JoJo is a pretty lazy little guy…pretty carefree. He’s been handled by us since he was just a tiny little baby. He gets a lot of attention from schools, elderly homes and public outings, and he’s a great ambassador for a species.”
As exotic animals, lizards require specialized veterinarians who have specific knowledge and training to properly diagnose and treat the unique health needs of lizards. Currently in Lethbridge, the only exotic pet vet is Dr. Justin Greep at the WestVets Animal Hospital on the west side.
As with any pet, prospective lizard owners should do their research and fully understand the traits (like maximum size), temperament and species-specific needs of any lizard before adding them to the family.
“It’s important to remember they are still reptiles and they still have a lot of nature instincts,” says Lyssa Koenig with Archie’s Exotic Pet Rescue. “They still come from the wild, and some have the potential to be dangerous; so it’s really important to educate yourself in their body language and behaviour traits.”
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