In this article, we’ll answer the question:
“What do lizards eat?”
First, you’ll find a short summary of what lizards eat in nature, then get a list of a lizard’s favorite foods that make up a typical lizard diet. And finally, answers to common questions about lizard feeding habits and nutrition.
Lizards are a group of squamate reptiles with more than 6,000 species and range in size from small chameleons to large Komodo dragons.
What Do Lizards Eat?
Lizards eat a wide variety of small animals, insects, fish, mice, mollusks, and crabs. However, an omnivorous lizard’s diet extends to vegetables and fruits. A lizard’s diet is determined by the availability of prey and vegetation in its habitat.
Lizard Diet (Favorite Foods)
- Insects
- Fish
- Mollusks
- Mealworms
- Crickets
- Crabs
- Spiders
- Roaches
- Vegetables
- Fruit
How Often Does a Lizard Eat?
A lizard often eats every two to three days because they are active animals. The lizard’s feeding frequency depends on the season; they eat every two days during warm weather and three days during cold weather.
How Much Do Lizards Eat Per Day?
Lizards eat between 2-5 crickets or 2 mealworms each day. The amount of food a lizard eats depends on the species; smaller species such as anoles and fence lizards eat smaller amounts of food than larger species like agamas which can eat up to 20 large crickets each day.
How Long Can Lizards Live Without Food?
Lizards can live up to two weeks or more without food. Larger lizards like agamas can live longer than smaller lizards without food because they can break down their existing fat stores to create energy.
Do Lizards Eat Vegetables?
Lizards do eat vegetables and plant matter if they are part of the omnivorous lizard species like Clark’s spiny lizard. However, certain fruits and vegetables, such as broccoli, cabbage, spinach, and kale, can be toxic to lizards.
Do Lizards Eat Meat?
Lizards do eat meat if they are carnivorous or omnivorous lizard species. However, some lizard species, like green iguanas, only eat fruit and vegetables.
According to National Geographic, a green iguana is an herbivorous lizard that only feeds on leaves, flowers, and fruits.
Do Lizards Eat Fruit?
Lizards do eat fruit, including bananas, strawberries, grapes, and papaya if it is omnivorous or herbivorous. However, certain fruits can be poisonous to lizards because they contain ingredients that hinder calcium absorption.
What Animals Eat Lizards?
Lizards are prey to a number of different species.
You can visit our other guide on what animals eat lizards to find out which predators actively feed on these reptiles.
Lizard Eating Habits and Diet Summary
You now know what do lizards eat in the wild as well as the typical food in a lizard’s diet.
As you discovered in this guide, lizards can be carnivores or omnivores that prey on various species and vegetation for nutrition with a lizard’s favorite food being things like insects, mice, vegetables, and fruit.
I’m the lead editor and writer for Animal Answer Guide. I enjoy sharing expert knowledge on the various characteristics of common species within the five distinct groups of animals: amphibians, birds, fish, mammals, and reptiles.
