Short Steppe Runner Care Video

One of the most popular new animals in the exotic pet world is the steppe runner. They haven’t been in the States very long, so collectors are anxious to own them and to learn more about how to take care of them. This is just a short video, but it will give you a good idea of how to furnish and light the housing for this reptile. Additionally, you can get a good look at this little fellow near the end of the video.

As you can see, clean sand makes a good substrate. There are two reptile caves in the tank, too. Lizards can go in these to hide or rest at night. There is a cactus to make the reptile feel at home, and there is a pool for drinking water and soaking.

The 100 watt basking lamp is housed in a large dome and is situated right over one of the basking rocks. The rocks are important because the lizard likes to lounge on them. She mentions that there are three levels of heat running from around 100 degrees on one end down to about 80 on the other. This is a perfect setup for the steppe lizard as it will move around to adjust its body temperature.

This is a very nice and attractive setup. It is not expensive to put a setup like this together, and it really adds to the pleasure of viewing the animal. The backdrop adds a lot, too, and those are inexpensive as well.

As you can see, this is a simple setup that shows how easy it is to care for a steppe lizard. A rig like this would work well for other lizards, too, and also for small snakes.

Hope you enjoyed the video.

Why a Steppe Runner is a Great New Exotic Pet

Are you in step with Steppe Runners? They are the new sensation with exotic pet collectors. They have a lot going for them: They are cute, small, easy to care for, and they take well to people.

You can see them in their natural habitat, which includes the grasslands and deserts of Mongolia, southeastern Europe and parts of Russia; however, it would be much easier to have one in your own home. And as you will see here, that is an easy proposition that requires only minutes per day.

One of several reasons for their popularity is because the like to be handled by their owners. They will sit right in the palm of the hand and relax while enjoying the company of another life form. It sometimes takes a little work to build up their trust, but they soon come around and learn to enjoy people.

The steppe lizard is not just friendly, but easy to care for, too. When it’s not busy eating out of your hand, it will sun itself on nice flat rocks and take in the rays. It doesn't demand a high-tech housing, and it requires very few furnishings. All it takes is a pet cave, some rocks and a branch or two situated on some sand.

People who want to get into collecting exotic pets would do well to try a steppe lizard. They are by far one of the easier exotics to care for. They only eat insects, and they have very few other requirements other than warmth and cover. Additionally, they are small, so they don’t take up much space.

You can order steppe runners online, or you can get them from a pet store in your area. Not all stores carry them, yet, so you may have to ask around. It will be worth the effort if you are interested in this kind of thing.

The Bearded Dragon is not as Ferocious as the Name Sounds

The bearded dragon has a very fitting name. This favorite among collectors lives up to its name by sporting a beard. The beard is actually a hunk of skin that hangs under its mouth. The skin has spines, and when the animal feels threatened, it can cause the beard to puff up to make it appear larger and scarier.

If you go to Australia, you may just see one of them in the desert or in the wooded areas. They enjoy the brush, and they like to lay on branches and rocks to take in some sun. It is common to see them near populated areas, as well. This affords them the opportunity for more shelter and bits of discarded food.

Though they are harmless, bearded dragons look quite dangerous to their enemies. The sides of their heads are lined with spiked scales, and those spikes run down the sides or their bodies. Though they are not actually sharp, a predator may think they are, and they also serve as protection for the lizard’s skin. The lizard is flat, and therefore it lies close to the ground, but its belly is rounded on the sides making it look plumper than it really is.

If you were watching a bearded dragon as it met up with its fellow beardies, you might think it to be quite friendly. It will often wave its hand to let the others know that it wants to be friendly and not aggressive. While it would be interesting to see, they do not shake hands, just wave them.

They may also change colors when they are cold. The darker color retains more heat. If that doesn’t do the trick, they will dig down and camp under rocks and dirt to get out of the cold. They sometimes even hibernate, which in their case is more properly called brumation – a form a dormancy. When the dragon does this, it slows its metabolism down so that it expends less energy, and it can live with minimal amount of food.

Pogona is the official name of the genus, and the agamid lizard, or dragon lizard, is of that genus. The Pogona vitticeps is the official name of the bearded dragon, and it is the one most often kept by pet owners. Collectors also call them beardies.

Those kept by collectors can grow to almost two-feet long and weigh over a pound; however, in the wild, they will grow to be a foot to a foot and a half long. That is because of the availability of food and the life span difference. Food can be scarce for them in the wild, but in captivity they are fed a variety of insects, fruits and vegetables.

If you are considering an exotic pet that you and your children will enjoy, a beardie would be a good choice. They are good with children, and they are mild mannered and easy to care for. Many owners find themselves just spending hours watching and musing over their bearded dragon.