Western Fence Lizard Care Guide | Updated Version

[@adamvanzutphen402]

If you have western fence lizards in your yard try just befriending them wild. I have a pair in my yard that just hang out with me, waiting for meal worms. They are very intelligent and it’s a nice relationship to have.

[@CantTellYou]

Also great friends to have for carrying the bacteria that causes Lyme disease ;)

[@averageviewer6279]

​​@@CantTellYou no one is touching them dawg

[@maanman3573]

@@CantTellYouOther way around bud... they have an enzyme that deactivates Lyme disease-causing bacteria. Meaning Lyme disease rates are very low where Fence Lizards are present. So close though!

[@ThePumpkinFly]

I love how well you care for these guys! It's nice seeing a channel that cares about providing accurate information as well. I have 3 western fence lizards myself and have temporarily housed alligator lizards (that found their way into the house) as well so this channel is definitely relevant for me ^_^

[@PlanetOReptiles]

Thank you!

[@666dobjbr]

I've been taking care of western fence lizards/ blue bellies for 15 years and you got some things wrong about sexing them, males will have dark blue bellies with black and gray stripes their heads are larger than females and have a bulge at the base of their tail the females are usually smaller than the males and can sometimes have (Blue bellies) but in a light blue and won't have the bulge as the males do As diets go I would suggest you get small mealworms for the babies because they will need the nutrients and fat and slowly as they get older introduce them to small crickets and then normal-sized crickets as they will need them and so they don't get calcium bound I suggest you get calcium powder, and this goes for both adults and baby fence lizards I would go on... But i don't want to steal your thunder @Planet o Reptiles

[@ebrombaugh]

Great video! I'm in the Phoenix area and we've got lots of these guys running around our yard. I agree that they've got a lot of personality and are fun to watch. They love to hunt in our landscaping when the irrigation turns on and drives the bugs up out of the mulch. Sometimes they even sip water from the drip emitters - I hope the city water isn't bad for them. At night sometimes we see them sleeping on branches in our shrubs or clinging to the stucco high up on our house.

[@Wisekingiii]

I appreciate your knowledge and time spent to inform us that don't know anything about these beautiful lizards.

[@scaleonkhan183]

What LOL

[@joeaverage5347]

Extremely well produced video! I’ve had great luck with Aspen Snake Bedding as a substrate. It’s light in color, so easy to see and spot clean. Allows for easy burrowing, and it’s soft, so I don’t expect that it would be a problem if ingested.

[@codyweeter1156]

You’re doing a great job, I’ve been taking care of eastern fence lizards for years and they make great pets!

[@PlanetOReptiles]

Thank you! That’s awesome man. How many do you have?

[@codyweeter1156]

@@PlanetOReptiles I only have one right now, he's 4 years old and named Blue. If you look me up I have a few videos of him!

[@NurseJhonna]

Need advice on my new one 😅

[@cameocarter9141]

This is fantastic! Love seeing your little Westi so happy 😀 ! Good info!

[@PlanetOReptiles]

Thank you!!😄

[@clj_yde]

Just wanna say thanks because this was very helpful and useful and very specific in what we need, so i appreciate ya making this video, THANKS!

[@PlanetOReptiles]

Yeah no problem!

[@IntegrityLogisticsUS]

I just subscribed to show love & support. I got my own fency recently and he's adorable. I think he is very young. Not bright in color, but I read it brightens during mating season. I'm mostly certain it's a little boy. Ironically, I call him squeaker bc he's so tiny like a squeak though he doesn't make noise. It's amazing how attached he is. I took him from outdoors where he was exposed in 30* F weather out here in Fresno, CA & I totally warmed him up right away with my hands. He hadn't left my hands all night, I fell asleep holding him & we've been inseparable for weeks now. I let him run all over the room/bed to explore & I really want to build him a lovely terrarium. Last I had some milky tree frogs and a really nice habitat for them, I'd like to have a natural habitat for him with running water too. He's too cute and I swear turns his head as though he really listens to what I have to say. I give him meal worms as he doesn't care much for many of the wild bugs around here, but roaches are sooooo gross to me, I feel it would be awful to deny him this. Which roaches are best for these little guys? Do they stink like crickets do?

[@awkward_bomb]

Awesome video homie! You’re guides are getting better and better

[@PlanetOReptiles]

Thank you!!

[@izaiahmartinez8431]

Thanks for the video boss just caught a few on a trip in KY pretty simple care guide I love it! Adding a few of these guys to the collection🤘🏽

[@MaxJacobson1]

You should put affiliate links to the products you recommend in the description so that you get a kickback when someone makes a purchase.

[@PlanetOReptiles]

Great idea!

[@jxs_mine]

thank you for this video! i very recently caught a baby one and needed to see what i needed to care for it

[@scaleonkhan183]

Thanks! Didn't know they could be so chill

[@MicroMotionStudio]

very helpful

[@mejasiu]

Great job on this video! Thanks for the great info!

[@taylorgonzalez1490]

I think I have a baby girl Western Fence Lizard. My son caught it in our backyard. Your video is very helpful!

[@BrainVomitTV]

just watched the update! thanx setting up my little guys home now!

[@donovanwisdom310]

This Was Very Helpful, Thank You.

[@reptilevibes6905]

Yes I have been waiting for this video

[@PlanetOReptiles]

Haha

[@ChrisPiccoMusic]

This is next level!! Awesome job!!🙌🏻

[@PlanetOReptiles]

Thank you!😁

[@barneyburger2641]

This is the video I was looking for. Thanks 👍

[@PlanetOReptiles]

No problem!

[@doug9418]

Your subscriber's are now past 300 congratulations and you keep up the great work please. 🇺🇸God Bless America 🇺🇸

[@thejerseyherper5320]

Great video, it's crazy how quick your channel is growing

[@PlanetOReptiles]

Thank you! Yeah I’m very lucky to have the channel grow this quick!😄

[@thejerseyherper5320]

@@PlanetOReptiles it's not just luck, you have great content

[@PlanetOReptiles]

@@thejerseyherper5320 thanks man

[@benlem9649]

A new video with updated equipment(links provided) would be amazing. 👌🏽 This video was very helpful l.

[@vikkifromjersey]

You’re so helpful. Thanks.

[@cell8992]

My sister found and brought me (what I believe is) a baby western fence lizard at 3 am that she found at work. I own a corn snake and I'm hoping to add this baby western fence lizard, who's named The Fifth, to my side. I'm looking forward to this guide and how to take care of the lil guy.

[@joeaverage5347]

Did your snake eat the lizard? They’re not friendly in the wild.

[@masondeese142]

This video is awesome man I’ve been thinking about catching a fence lizard for a long time and this video is giving me a lot of helpful information and I subscribed

[@NickMajorYouTube]

put a jar with apple and crickets in it (apples keep the crickets alive which is crucial as fence lizards dont eat dead bugs in wild). put ceran wrap on top of the jar with a rubberband and cut a hole in the middle. this is a good baited trap to catch one

[@666dobjbr]

@@NickMajorKZbin And ants

[@PlanetOReptiles]

Glad I could help man! Thanks for the sub!

[@reptilevibes6905]

Keep up the work and love your vids

[@PlanetOReptiles]

Thank you!

[@missbeans]

Thanks for this info! Our cat left an injured one on our porch last week. Tail gone and one of his eyes won't open. Just a little guy too. We figured that with these injuries he wouldn't last long before becoming somebody's lunch. So we took him in and have been rehabbing him with the help of the local lizard supply store guys. We have him in a small plastic critter keeper and are getting ready to move him into a 20 gallon set-up. The kids have been enjoying watching him and feeding him. I'm not much of a reptile gal but he's got me coming around haha. He's so cute when he gulps down a bug.

[@tracefryer399]

Outdoor cats do kill wildlife, and it's not safe for cats either. An outdoor catio, like a kennel, keeps cats safe if they need it. All of my cats are rescues and don't have that need to go outside. Outdoor cats not in catios will get eaten by coyotes, hit by cars, eat poisoned animals, sometimes mean people hurt them or steal them, etc., bird of prey can also get them.

[@mcknight1622]

Where did you get that basking area with the cave it looks amazing and perfect

[@jerrys.t.9368]

how do you serve water to them? I've heard a bottle cap is not natural and they don't drink from it.

[@thisisaperson660]

Thanks for the video! ive had my 2 (m&f) in their 40gal for 2-3 years and I'm always trying new things to make them happier, but I cant find many guides for caring for them online

[@thisisaperson660]

Just curious, im trying to make a nice tank with plants, isopods and those other tiny white bugs good at cleaning up mess in the tank-- what plants do you think might do well with the lizards? and how often do you feed yours/how much? my female likes to over-eat a bit and leaves less for the male, so I tend to over compensate for it. Then the crickets take over the tank for about a week before they're all dead or eaten, and my isopods and other bugs seem to nearly vanish

[@themestizokid]

I just got me a little baby whos maybe two inches long, what should i feed him and how often?

[@redmangreen5752]

We are still here :-) and thank you. I rescued one from my kittens and have her tucked away in a small plastic container with a bit of water and an insect, for now she's on chipped pine as I will start gearing up for her; any advice accepted, of course, and God bless!

[@tanyagonchar8670]

Do they hibernate when in captivity if you use a heat lamp daily?

[@LordoftheThings327]

We have a number of western fence lizards on my property that come in beautiful colors and big personalities- there's a uniquely dark grey, almost black male that has next to no fear of us and does his pushups on our porch every year. Its baffling that they're not more popular in the hobby, with their bright blue bellies, high diurnal activity level, and the fact they look to me like tiny bearded dragons I've been looking into getting into the reptile hobby after the pandemic, including looking into the proper permitting to legally take, keep, breed and sell any captive bred western fence lizards, so guides like this are super useful to prepare for when I'm finally ready

[@PlanetOReptiles]

Awesome! I totally agree. They’re such neat creatures. That’s amazing! We definitely need more breeders of this species in the hobby because they’re pretty much available nowhere (captive bred) from what i’ve seen. Good luck with your breeding efforts!

[@nsterui]

excellent and eloquent

[@madighanaugust5075]

Awesome thank you so much!

[@madighanaugust5075]

I needed this

[@gracec2714]

hi, i just got a western fence lizard a couple days ago that was running around in my house but he won’t eat anything. he’s only about 2 inches big and i’ve already set up his enclosure with a heat lamp, hide, etc. but he won’t eat anything. i’ve tried small live beetles & small pieces of crickets but he just ignores them. do you know why he might be doing this? thanks!!!

[@Weedgamertv420]

@Planet O Reptiles is a 30 or 40 gallon tank good for the western fence lizard?

[@TheChaz81]

What about in captivity in the winter? They will burrow and go into hibernation? Do they still eat?

[@PoopBin]

That’s for all the info. It’s been hard to find accurate info. My little dude somehow ate a hair. We’re going through him trying to pass that and some sand impaction. I’m going to change his substrate.

[@BLTV86]

Very informative! 😊

[@PlanetOReptiles]

Thank you!

[@abiwinters779]

Do you need a 25 watt bulb or can it be 50

[@victoriascotthome9448]

Also thanks for the awesome video!

[@derekmoard5841]

I have a small enclosure and I am not entirely sure on how long I should leave his light on? Or if I should not turn it off altogether? I have no idea. @planetOReptiles

[@Mark-vu8st]

Hey i found to baby lizards that are like yours what do i feed them when they are babys

[@ShawnSeverinsen]

Any advice on how to incubate their eggs?

[@skykidpastel6419]

Can these lizards be housed together or do they need to be solitary?

[@afinchbird]

Are LED Grow Lights for Indoor Plants okay for fence lizards?

[@natiivejay07]

So mine has blue on the belly but it’s not a dark blue like others have compared a male to

[@seanrafferty6752]

What if a want a bio active set-up?

[@californiasapphirechildadv1192]

So I found a baby western fence lizard in my yard today. One of its eyes has what appears to be a wound of some kind. It’s on its right eye. The entire eye is covered with maybe a scab. I was just trying to get some advice on how to help this little guy. Should I just let it go & deal with it in the wild ? Is there even anything that I can do for it?

[@slegendary7719]

Awesome video

[@TURTLEVR420]

Wouldn’t the the heat bulb melt the box?

[@Vee_the_ventriloqist]

Um... so I found a baby Fence and it imprinted on me what do I do?

[@sodium223]

This was really informative and helpful, but I have one question. Does it matter if the water you give them hard water or soft water?

[@PlanetOReptiles]

It doesn’t matter, no. Their immune systems and stomachs are strong enough to handle both. Great question!

[@srirachatrash6421]

can u make a video on them about predators and what other lizards they will eat? (sorry if i sound like an idiot i just got one and ik nothing about them)

[@B0SS-Productions]

I have a question, if you wouldn’t mind to answer. So if the Fence Lizard is caught wild but you have to give it calcium, how would it get calcium in the wild? Is it already in the bugs they eat and if so why give it calcium? And if they don’t get calcium in the wild then why give it calcium in the first place. I know it helps bones

[@NurseJhonna]

I have three that were found dehydrated and dying in a tire outside. I rehabilitated them. I’m going to let two go, my daughter wants to keep one. They are all males. Wondering if they carry disease or mites. We have a beardie that I need to protect!

[@C4RDUDE]

What to do if my blue belly lizards won't eat?

[@RollerCoasteraddict]

I NEED HELP ... I currently have a ZooMed Dual Lamp on one side the Heat & the other the UVB, When do I put them on & which one? Do I keep the Heat on only at night & the UVB during the day? or do I keep both on during the daytime and nothing at night? ... So confusing ... Also how long do I keep them on? an answer ASAP would be great.

[@Love4MVP10]

Heat during the day

[@couurrttnneeyy]

on Easter I found a female on the groaned she's pretty beat up. she has a shallow puncture in her front right armpit, all of her toes on her back left foot are broken, and missing her front right pinky toe. I think both of her back legs are broken because she wont move them she slightly moves around with her front legs. she's good about getting fluids but she wont eat ive shown her crickets and meal worms I'm not sure how to entice her to eat. any helpful comments are needed

[@Oz__MTG]

I now own a Texas spiny lizard (fence lizard) She is acting a bit strange after the first day of arrival. I did not get her directly from the wild, I am her second owner. She has suddenly halted her eating, and she’s avoiding any and all interactions and hiding. I’m trying everything in my power to help keep her alive and healthy, but I can tell something is not right with her. Temperatures are maintained and so is the heat required, whipped up a formula specifically for reptiles of her kind and sort of set it near on onto her mouth. I’m hoping it helps with her appetite. If this doesn’t work at this point I’m not sure what else to do.

[@emid5493]

I’ve recently got got one on my property in central oregon and I put it in a old hamster cage bc I don’t have a real cage year but I’ve put 3 inches of dirt and rocks in there and seems pretty fine rn

[@NotAGangsta]

Do you know a website that ships these im from the east

[@frankramos5115]

thanks for the video

[@PlanetOReptiles]

Thanks for watching!

[@ecor150]

They're so cute

[@GojiraBoy9000]

now that one is better than the other video 😉

[@raymonddavis4962]

Definitely subscribed question I just caught a baby bout an inch and a half he was doing great I've been feeding him fruit flies but recently he's became sluggish idk if it's cause he's under heating I'm going to get lights on him now 😢😢

[@babyturtleshoe8451]

So what if your lizard is really small do you really need that big of a tank? I have little space in my room and was hoping for a five gallon but if I need a 20 for proper care I’ll get one

[@II-nv4kt]

Definitely a 20 gallon tank

[@LBCB94025]

Theyre wild in my yard(here in the west SFbay area*), but i found one in a box in my neighbors yard*!? Lol Its a lil guy, probably born this last spring* It likes my warm hands i guess? Cuz he just chills or runs up my arm but doesn't really try to jump away..? I hope enough safe handling will make it conditioned to Be handled in the future!!?? &I pulled several winter moth caterpillars off my ganja plants! So hopefully itll eat it.. But if it doesn't eat in a few days ill just let it go free in my yard .. There are at least 3-4 mature adults and several young one this same size! Any tips would be greatly appreciated!! Should I try to feed it worms?? What about ants?? Thanx!

[@tarynburton5608]

Please help! I have a western fence lizard, but I feel like he/she isn’t growing and I’ve had it for about a year now! I can’t figure out why, he/she shed its skin about a couple weeks ago still no growth🥺 I have a uvb/heat lamp and a 20 gal tank, and I feed them well, I can’t figure out what the issue could be

[@PlanetOReptiles]

Hmmm that is strange. What are you feeding them?

[@ultimatepandahater]

Can you make a how to make your western fence lizard more docile and relaxed?

[@kierakoala8609]

the key to make them more docile and relaxed, it to just hold them and let them run around on you. over time they will become more and more relaxed with you. so i would just recommend to spend time with your lizard. i do not study these creatures but this is just an educated guess.

[@tanaandgigiandbecky]

I just found a female here in Louisiana I got her tank all set up but she isn’t moving around it much she ate one meal worm and held the other one in her mouth for about 5 min before I took it out. It’s cooler here right now could that be why she isn’t very active or eating much?

[@II-nv4kt]

They probably need some type of heat to be warm bc I think if they don’t have any heat they won’t be as active as they should be

[@HoosierHerpvertebrate]

It's kinda hard to tell on camera, but is that window screen a plastic one, or aluminum? Great video though!

[@PlanetOReptiles]

I’m not quite sure what type of window screen it is. Thank you!

[@user-zq3ms4js5u]

love thisl;

[@sherkwandawakanda5615]

I NEED HELP IDK IF MY BLUE BELLY LIZARD IS PREGNANT

[@slicedchicken9805]

can i put mine outside? its a female baby and i dont have a uv light or heating lamp

[@Isabella-fp7hx]

that’s what i’m thinking

[@DodomacS]

do western fence lizards have the same traits as blue belly lizards? and do blue belly lizard's bite hurt? Edit: Will western fence lizards be able to live in a v-70 tub?

[@NotAGangsta]

They the same thing

[@twiggzanimation6296]

I have been wanting a lizard for about five years, and my mom finally decided to let me keep one. I wanted a leopard gecko, but I ended up with 2 fence lizards! I love them both dearly, and I want the best for them. They are both females and they get along great together. One of my lizards is a baby, and it's really hard to find small or baby crickets. Any tips?💖🦎

[@NickMajorYouTube]

crickets or roaches. You can offer mealworms, wax worms and earthworms for occasional treats. Feed your lizard, three to four times per week, as many insects as he will eat within five minutes. the baby might be able to eat just worms if you cant get small enough roaches or crickets

[@II-nv4kt]

I also have a baby wfl I feed it extra small crickets or pinheaded crickets and some dubia roaches and some mealworms and some ants but make sure the ants are safe to eat and not exposed to chemicals you can also try feeding it flightless fruit flies

[@MsTreefox]

I've been wanting a western fence lizard so bad, where did you get yours?

[@twiggzanimation6296]

@@MsTreefox wild

[@skykidpastel6419]

My babies are very very tiny so I’ve been having better results with feeding ants. (They are smaller than my finger tips

[@mrpugbot]

My lizard won't eat how do I ensure she does eat I feed her dead and alive insects as well as dried but she doesn't eat much

[@PlanetOReptiles]

Try ripping off the head of the cricket and tapping it on the lizards mouth. Hold it there till she licks it. She should realize that it is tasty food and bite the cricket. I hope she starts eating again!

[@kushpaladin]

i have a pretty big population of fence lizards in my back yard. they lay their eggs in my rock wall that has lots of crevices for them to hide and breed. just walked out my door 5 minutes ago and saw 2 of them basking in the sun. i might try to catch a few when i have a place to put them

[@brooklynfight_nyc]

Wish I was able to see

[@missallie839]

ahh soo cool! i have a western fence lizard named echo!

[@Love4MVP10]

Are meal worms good food for western fence lizards?

[@PlanetOReptiles]

They’ll probably do the job! Crickets are better in my opinion because that’s part of what they eat in the wild.

[@blastveltre5351]

thank you so much i just got one and ive had him/her for 2 days how do i know there gender

[@aimlesstwig5984]

It said in the video, but if it has blue on its stomach/throat it’s a male, if it’s just white, or all the same color it’s a female.

[@jamesescalante566]

I recently got some western fence lizards and I ask how do you deal with salmonella

[@PlanetOReptiles]

I'd say you should go to your doctor for a checkup haha. No but actually, for the lizards I would suggest giving them a quick bath and then taking them to the vet for a checkup.

[@bulldoggangyt4436]

You should make a video on catching these fence lizards

[@NathansWildLife]

Can you make a updated one

[@xrsjohnm]

I found a baby western fence lizard in my backyard being attacked by a house cat What should I do with it I put it in a reptile terrarium it doesn't have cuts but was taking a beating and looked almost dead the cat was guarding and threatening me when I came near it?

[@xrsjohnm]

It seems to be a little more perky but not sure if it survives I misted it a little and it created a little black thin long turd, I'm in California and don't want to put it back in the yard because the stupid cats always killing off every single one

[@xrsjohnm]

How often should babies be fed I haven't fed it yet I found it at 10 this morning looking dead with ants crawling on it, Ill get tiny ants from the backyard to feed it tomorrow and some morning sun.

[@subscribetoits_qez9778]

Great video! I just caught a baby wfl

[@bluehairkim1]

What do you feed the babies?

[@wesnercelestin9418]

Small insects so probably worms

[@codymcclain9911]

I just got one and she is very skiddish. I rescued her from a glue trap at the shop and it took a while to clewn the glue off.

[@user-se4ju1fr4c]

Why isn’t mine moving and has his eyes closed

[@jgang577]

Can you use bark

[@PlanetOReptiles]

I wouldn't recommend using only reptibark, but a mixture of dirt, sand, and reptibark would work great!

[@nathanberry1244]

I like this video because I found a baby lizard in our shoebox when bringing it in from the rain

[@aidanwalls7410]

Sick bruh

[@PlanetOReptiles]

Thanks bro

[@adamjack2]

awesome vid ps your awesome

[@cynthiakoehne7004]

Please come to Del ray oaks CA. I live with thousands of what I call the California Iguana AKA the western fence lizard, they are EVERWHERE, there are so many a big male chased me up a trail to make sure I was out of his territory, there are so many of them Iost count of them, they remind me of the cockroaches in TX. I love them a lot, and even thought of taking a few babies from their homes and put them in an empty 20 GAL tank I used to use for fish and have them as pets, but after a few weeks with them I realized they were extremely intelligent, and belonged where they belonged, + yesterday one young lizard had the ability to change his shade from the parking lot to the shade under a chair in one second, going to the light color to almost black after he/she ate a couple black ants, this happened in less than 10 seconds, and did not care how many humans were standing above it, we were all in shock at this animal, and we all took out our cameras albeit too late to catch this, so I'll just leave them alone for the time, and prey for any Tarantulas listening, stay away from Del Ray oaks, the western Iguana's are here! i