Housing
First, it will be necessary to determine whether your lizard is arboreal (tree dwelling) or not. An adult Savannah Monitor, for instance, will have little inclination to climb on anything. An Iguana, on the other hand, may spend most of its time off the ground when given the option. The cage should be large enough for the lizard to comfortably move and exercise. Savannah Monitors, in particular, tend towards obesity, so they benefit from a larger cage. The best material for a cage is one that does not harbor bacteria. This could be plastic, glass, etc. Avoid any metal wire (lizard will rub it's nose against it) and unsealed wood, if possible. Seal all wood with polyurethane. Housing should have good ventilation, otherwise the lizard could develop respiratory illnesses. When using a glass aquarium, always use a screen lid on the top. It is a good idea to use a cage of some kind in order to avoid problems. Just make sure that any wire is non-abrasive; reptiles tend to rub their faces against the sides of the cage and hurt themselves. It is best to have a consistent light cycle. Most lizards need to sun themselves, so an incandescent bulb is most appropriate. A reptile, full-spectrum, light may be of some value, but there is some disagreement in this. These bulbs must be with two feet of the animal and replaced every six months. The florescent full-spectrum bulbs are best. The bottom of the cage should be clean. The easiest medium is newspaper. This is cheap, easy to clean, and holds moisture. Avoid any "reptile carpet", fancy decorations, and wood branches if possible. They harbor bacteria. Never use any type of cedar, it is toxic to many animals (and all reptiles).

Temperature
Very important: the temperature should reflect the natural environment of the animal as closely as possible. It is impossible to generalize the temperature requirements of different lizards. Iguanas, for instance, like to bask in temperatures in the area of 95, but should always be able to get away from the light. The overall temperature of the cage should not dip below room temperature (70ish). Also include a heating element (pad or rock), just in case the lizard likes it. Most do. Other lizards, such as desert lizards, can endure low night-time temperatures. Always have a thermometer in the cage to monitor temperature.

Feeding
Food: Diet depends on the type of lizard you have. Anoles eat crickets. Iguanas eat vegetables and fruits. The staple of their diet, though, should be greens (turnip, mustard, collard, or something similar). Iceberg lettuce is not sufficient. If you offer lettuce, use romaine. There are some very good web sites that give nutritional values for all foods recommended, but it gets very complicated. Do not feed very many fruits (no more than 5% or so). Make sure that you get both a Calcium and Vitamin supplement. Most pet stores sell them.

Water: A large water bowl is great for three reasons. First, the poor creature needs to drink. Second, it helps maintain a higher humidity level. Third, many lizards love to defecate inside the water bowl. Make sure that it is fresh and clean. IMPORTANT--place on opposite side of the aquarium as the heat element and light.

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