Living in the desert Southwest, we often see lizards when we are outdoors. We have seen lizards sunning on the rocks in our front yard, zipping across our driveway, and crawling up the brick wall that surrounds our backyard. Our dog has even caught a couple in our garage. I know because he brought me the tail of one not that long ago.

My husband keeps mentioning that he thinks it would be fun to have a lizard as a pet. Why he wants one, I don’t know. But, since I got my finches, if he wants a lizard, I guess he can have one. Every time he sees one outside, he mentions that he’d like one. I told him if he can catch one, he can have it. So far, they have been faster than he is.

There are many types and sizes of lizards. If we get one, it will be one of the smaller types, such as anole lizards, geckos, or chameleons.  The larger types include bearded dragons and iguanas.  

If you’ve never had a lizard as a pet, it’s best to start out with one that is easy to maintain.  Some types of geckos are good starter lizards.  A common lizard sold in pet stores is the green anole, which is very small and won’t take up much space.

If you have a pet mouse, or other small rodent, have you ever considered teaching it tricks? Dogs are not the only animals that can learn how to do tricks. With a little bit of patience and a lot of treats, you can teach your mouse, rat or hamster to do tricks as well.

If you are interested in teaching your mouse tricks, you need to be patient and consistent. You will need to work with your mouse daily, for about 30 minutes. Mice are small animals, and they have a small attention span. Longer than 30 minutes, your mouse is going to quit paying attention.

I always wanted a guinea pig when I was younger. They seemed much more cuddly than the mouse-like gerbils and hamsters that my brothers had. I never got one though. I’m not really sure why. I still look at them every time we’re at the pet store. Maybe one day I’ll come home with one. My cats and dog would love that, I’m sure.

There are three common types of guinea pigs: American, Abyssinian and Peruvian. The American guinea pig has short hair and a smooth coat. The Abyssinian guinea pig also has short hair, but the hair swirls in what is known as rosettes. The Peruvian guinea pig, or long-haired guinea pig, is my favorite. All three types come in a variety of colors and color combinations.

Adult guinea pigs are approximately 10 inches long and weigh 2 to 3 pounds. They have no visible tail. Guinea pigs generally live 5 to 7 years, so having a guinea pig, like any pet, is a commitment.

I enjoy bird watching, but I’m not a person who generally wants a bird as a pet. We had parakeets, or at least my older brother did, when I was growing up. They are nasty, dirty creatures. So, getting a bird of my own was never one of my desires. Lately though, I’ve been heading toward the bird cages at the pet store every time we go; just like Whitley with the ferrets (see my previous post). I keep mooning over the zebra finches. Maybe it’s because they remind me of my mother, as my dad got her a couple of zebra finches when she was around the age I am now.