8 Things Garden Lizards Like to Eat (Diet & Facts)

Many people want to know what do garden lizards eat. You can find these animals in various world regions, and depending on subspecies, they can vary in appearance. So these are not some exotic animals, but the common green lizards you can find almost anywhere.

Garden Lizards Habits and biology

Garden Lizards Habits and biology

Lizards are one of the most common animals globally, and you can find them in all regions except the South and the North Pole. After insects, they are the most likely species that you can find in your garden.

Most lizards hibernate during the winter and will become active in early spring. They will also mate during this, usually during April. Like other reptiles, garden lizards love the sunlight and being in the open. Most species are very timid, but garden lizards might be more open to interacting with humans. However, don’t expert to tame or befriend one of them.

Although the species loves warmth, they take cover when it is too hot. Experts classify them as viviparous animals. Similar to animals, they will give birth to live young. The female inclubates eggs within its body, and as soon as they hatch, the female will expel the babies from her womb. A common garden lizard gives birth to 4 to 11 babies, and the young are between 4 to 5 centimeters long.

As the animal gets older, its skin will not grow. Most of them will shed the skin, which is a common trait for reptiles. When we’re talking about regular garden lizards, they can cut their tail and regenerate it. However, certain types of lizards store fats in their tail, so the loss of this body part would mean death.

Here are some of their most common habits:

  • Most of these animals are loners but then again, it depends on a subspecies. For example, garden lizards usually live alone, but certain types of desert species live in family groups. The only exception is during mating when they’re looking for a suitable partner.
  • Lizards hibernate during the winter. This is why they must store enough nutrients before the cold weather.
  • Garden lizards, like most subspecies, are very timid by nature. They will much rather escape than face a human or a larger animal.

What do garden lizards eat in the wild?

Garden lizards are very quick. They use their forked tongues to scout the environment. The animal can sense even the smallest movement in the air, allowing them to track prey but also predators. Garden lizards usually have shades of green, making it easier to meld with the environment.

When the reptile finds a suitable victim, they will run to it and catch it or attack it from ambush. Most of them have a very strong grip, and once they catch prey, they will shake it until its incapacitated. Some lizard species might have toxins in their bite, which usually isn’t the case for garden lizards.

Like most other animals, their nutritional requirements will vary depending on the stage of their life. Depending on the exact species, the proportion of food compared to weight can sometimes go from 50% to 80%.

The garden lizard is an omnivore. Its diet consists of various foods, including plants, insects, other animals, and their eggs. Ideally, it should have as diverse a diet as possible. Here are some of the things garden lizards commonly eat:

  • Butterflies
  • Cockroaches and other insects
  • Baby snakes
  • Small lizards
  • Eggs (including their own)
  • Fruits and vegetables
  • Caterpillars
  • Snails

The proportion of their plant to meat intake will vary based on the species. Some of them have higher protein requirements, while others will need more vitamins and minerals. Smaller animals like common garden lizards will eat a lot of insects but might also take some vegetables.

Lizards are especially active during the day. Whether it’s hunting or taking sunlight, you can often see them in the open. By exposing themselves to the sun, their bodies can produce high quantities of vitamin D.

Gardens with lots of flowers are especially attractive to lizards. This is because such an environment tends to have a lot of snails, butterflies, and other species attracted by this plant. On rare occasions, when they’re starving, they might even eat their own eggs.

Sometimes, they will eat other small lizards. But this isn’t necessarily done for sustenance. Instead, they do so to assert dominance. Such behavior is especially common during mating season when there is a lot of competition for suitable females. Lastly, lizards like to eat fruits and vegetables as they provide them vitamins but also water.

Facts about garden lizards

Lizards are proficient hunters and an integral part of various cultures. Here are some fun facts about the species:

  1. Garden lizards are classified as least concerned in terms of their conservation status. Their population numbers are healthy, and you can find them in almost every corner of the world. Due to the fact they are so widespread, and there are so many in them, they play an important role in the food chain.
  2. You can deduce from the name that you can find garden lizards in gardens and other human-occupied spaces. They are very adaptable, but they are far from tame.
  3. The animal’s lifespan can vary drastically depending on its living conditions. Some of them will live for a year, while some reach the age of 10.
  4. When courting females, male lizards will inflate their throats. The animal also changes the color of its head from green to bright red. They are very vicious towards competition, and it isn’t uncommon for garden lizards to eat each other. In an attempt to dissuade other males from approaching, the animal will do pushups.
  5. During mating, a female will copulate with up to 10 males. That way, they ensure healthy offspring and optimal genes. The species can start reproducing when they reach one year.
  6. When babies are born, they are left to fend for themselves. Like with many reptilian species, their parents do not feed them. Furthermore, a newborn garden lizard can catch its first prey within minutes after being born.
  7. Temperature is a major factor determining the sex of the animal. If offspring are born when it is cold, they are more likely to be females. Alternatively, warm weather is more likely to produce males.
  8. A garden lizard is usually between 4 to 8 inches long. The majority of that is the tail. On average, a male garden lizard will be bigger than its female counterpart. During mating seasons, both sexes will experience changes to their body: males will become bigger, and females will get thinner. In extreme situations, during the breeding season, some lizards can grow as big as 10 inches.
  9. Besides being very fast, a garden lizard can climb and swim. However, their preferential environment is flat ground.
  10. Unlike desert lizard species that can go long without water, garden lizards are highly dependent on it. The same goes for all other species from humid and swamp environments.
  11. Originally, the garden lizards came from Asia. Over time, humans transported them to other continents, and today, this species inhabits all corners of the world. However, they mostly thrive in a continental climate, in areas with enough green vegetables.
  12. As mentioned, as soon as the garden lizard is born, it can start hunting and living alone. They have hard beaks at the top of their mouth, which they use to break out from eggshells. These beaks will remain for a week or so, after which they will fall off.
  13. The garden lizard’s eggs can be yellow and green. The color of the eggs does not necessarily correlate to the color of their parents. These eggs are almost perfect spheres and are half an inch in diameter.
  14. One thing that separates garden lizards from many reptilians is that they have eyelids and can also move them.
  15. Although the species requires open space and lots of sunlight, it also needs natural covers. They are especially important in areas with lots of predators. Luckily, given that garden lizards live in human-inhabited areas, they don’t have to worry about anything except for birds. During winter, the reptile will find a suitable burrow to hibernate in.
  16. As mentioned, the species can change colors. They are olive green but can become red when courting females. The main factor determining color is temperature; hotter weather will make them turn red and remain green when it is cold. The color is also governed by pituitary gland hormones.

Summary

Garden lizards are one of the most common reptile species. They were indigenous to Asia, but in time, they spread to other corners of the world. Although very timid and unlikely to interact with humans, they benefit greatly from living in a human environment.

The animal is an omnivore and eats insects, other reptiles, eggs, vegetables, and fruits. They especially like warm weather as it provides them with vitamin D. One of their main characteristics is cutting its tail and regrowing it.

4 thoughts on “8 Things Garden Lizards Like to Eat (Diet & Facts)”

  1. I have a garden lizard in my room for more than a month, i like it, but I would love to take outside, because I don’t want she or he to die, i have no idea what is eating, but it alive so it must be eating something and I don’t know were is drinking water , I’m afraid she or he is going to die, every time i see her i feel good

    Reply
  2. I found a baby garden lizard in my home several days ago that came in through an open back door. It looks weak so I scooped it up and made a home for it in a large plastic jar with lots of grass & flowers 🌸 & a sunning steam to sun bath on. It’s not eating and I think not drinking water. It’s winter now with cold 32 degree mornings. It barely opens its eyes. Is it hibernating? I think it may be sick. Should I release it back outside? I don’t think it will survive in the cold. I don’t know what to do if it won’t eat. Help!!! 🛐

    Reply
    • You can try some live mill worms, if lizard is still alive and with you.I’ve seen some drink from droplets of water but usually they get fluid from insects etc they eat. If able to capture live gnats, some mosquitoes, small moths etc. you may try those. I’m aware some people may think this is ridiculous to worry over a lizard but they do make for some neat company and have personalities, some at least. I’ve had several over the years and one in particular loved to pose for up close photo shoots. Good luck

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