Janeway Posted July 6, 2016 Share Posted July 6, 2016 We have this lizard in our yard. His name is Fred, or Frieda, not sure which, and he has been there a while. He plays well with the bunnies. ANYWAY, he usually stays away from us. He is not a gecko. His head is at least an inch in diameter and his length is maybe 6 inches. He is brownish in color with maybe some gray brownish. OK SO..I usually just avoid him. He seems like a nice fella, but I am not a lizard lover. This morning, over coffee, in the backyard, he approached me. I sort of looked horrified. I felt that while we do share the yard, we each stay in our own space. I had no idea what to say. He kept walking closer and closer while I said, "ok now, nice to see you, please go away now." I said it nicely, but he just walked closer. I finally jumped up and ran from the backyard. I called for the boys to go back for the baby. LOL As I sit here, I wonder if I was a bit harsh to the lizard. I sent 12 yr old out with some strawberries for a peace offering. In the meantime, I know nothing about lizards. I know they are supposed to be good for the environment and keep spiders and bugs away. Outside of that, please tell me how to properly socialize with a lizard, what to offer him, and if I should maybe not run away next time. But I was afraid he would touch me or something. I know nothing about him or his kind. LOL..please advise me! 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
trulycrabby Posted July 6, 2016 Share Posted July 6, 2016 Most lizards eat bugs and greens. Our bearded dragon adores mango but won't eat strawberries. 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted July 6, 2016 Share Posted July 6, 2016 Yep. Bugs. And cats and dogs and and chickens eat lizards. It's the circle of life all on your own back porch. :) Our porch is the local lizard singles bar. They're everywhere. I don't think any of ours is as brave as yours though. Kids and animals trying to catch them all the time makes them skittish. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kroe1 Posted July 6, 2016 Share Posted July 6, 2016 Roaches....specifically, the great big palmetto bugs here in Florida. Lizards are good. 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
snickerplum Posted July 7, 2016 Share Posted July 7, 2016 Our freeloading blue-tailed skinks eat bugs. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Melissa in Australia Posted July 7, 2016 Share Posted July 7, 2016 😃 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted July 7, 2016 Share Posted July 7, 2016 Roaches....specifically, the great big palmetto bugs here in Florida. Lizards are good. I wonder if calling them palmetto bugs instead of tree roaches would make me less terrified of them?!! :( Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
prairiewindmomma Posted July 7, 2016 Share Posted July 7, 2016 Our green anoles (which are sometimes grey/brown) love insects and spiders. Ours seem to go for crickets and grasshoppers for special treats. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dmmetler Posted July 7, 2016 Share Posted July 7, 2016 North American lizards are insectivores with maybe a few additional invertebrates here and there. (there are some omnivorous lizards, and iguanas are vegetarian, but they're not native here, although Iguanas are pretty well established in South FL) The kind of insect differs-some are ant specialists, some eat mostly larvae and soft bodied insects/worms, but in general, yeah, they eat bugs. Most lizards learn pretty quickly that you're not going to eat them and don't tend to run and hide unless they feel threatened, but it depends on the species how skittish they are. Fence Lizards and anoles basically have no fear after about 15 minutes or so-if you have them near your house, they can get so comfortable with you that you have to watch to keep from stepping on them! Others are much more nervous, and stay that way. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Seasider Posted July 7, 2016 Share Posted July 7, 2016 Roaches....specifically, the great big palmetto bugs here in Florida. Lizards are good. And, spiders! I appreciate spiders but not too many of them. Garden lizards munch spiders before they get into the house. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Katy Posted July 7, 2016 Share Posted July 7, 2016 If you're in Florida, there's a good chance your lizard is actually a chameleon. If you move him from one place to another and watch, in a few minutes he'll change colors. I played with them all the time as a kid. No need to run. But do wash your hands after touching them. They can carry salmonella. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ausmumof3 Posted July 7, 2016 Share Posted July 7, 2016 Our sleepies are mostly vegetarians with occasional insects and even carrion. One thing I learned about them is they can't eat unless they have a certain body temperature. If they eat when they are too cold or if they eat and then suddenly get too cold the food won't digest properly but ferments in the gut and can make them sick. The hazards of being cold blooded I guess. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mamiof5 Posted July 7, 2016 Share Posted July 7, 2016 Lol! No advice, but just laughing so hard. How's Fred today? Hopefully he'll fend for himself and won't be as friendly 😉 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Seasider Posted July 7, 2016 Share Posted July 7, 2016 If you're in Florida, there's a good chance your lizard is actually a chameleon. If you move him from one place to another and watch, in a few minutes he'll change colors. I played with them all the time as a kid. No need to run. But do wash your hands after touching them. They can carry salmonella. IME, the animals we call "lizards" are actually green anoles. They can color change ranges from grey to brown to green, but not like the beautiful chameleons who change with a full color spectrum. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Katy Posted July 7, 2016 Share Posted July 7, 2016 (edited) IME, the animals we call "lizards" are actually green anoles. They can color change ranges from grey to brown to green, but not like the beautiful chameleons who change with a full color spectrum. Interesting. This page confirms that "American Chameleons" are actually Green Anoles. And that I'm not the only one that grew up calling them chameleons. http://www.wildherps.com/species/A.carolinensis.html Edited July 7, 2016 by Katy Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SparklyUnicorn Posted July 7, 2016 Share Posted July 7, 2016 What's a backyard lizard? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Monica_in_Switzerland Posted July 7, 2016 Share Posted July 7, 2016 The blue-belly lizards we used to play with in CA eat bugs. Your post made ma laugh. :-D 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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