Lizards together

[ScalelessTime]

I have not done this yet and I have not found an answer. I have three species of lizards that I am wanting to put in one of the same tanks (Five-Lined Skink , Blue-Collard Western Fence Lizard, or with a Broad-Headed Skink). The five-lined skink is just a small juvenile and the fence lizard and broad-head skink are adults. What I have thought to myself was, "What if there is dominance issue? Temperature issues? And/or one eating the other?" I have heard that lizards have bad dominance issues like skinks. But I do not know about fence lizards.

So I came to you guys for help on answering my questions. For now they are separate from each other. I have another questions since the juvenile Bearded Dragon I have is a bit the same to the adult Western Fence Lizard, am I able to put them together?

I don't want to make any mistakes on putting them together if it is the wrong idea. That's why I asked you guys.

[deathdealer91]

I wouldn't do it for the simple fact that they might eat each other or that they might kill each other. you can however put some of the same kind together.

[ScalelessTime]

What I am doing right now is keeping them separated and one inside a see through container and keep them in there for about a week or two. Will that work? So far it's been a week (trying to go for three) and I've fed them together and left them alone (still separated) and there has been no dominance or irritation between the two.

[mmarchl23]

I wouldn't house multiples of anything together, not even within the same species.

Separate species require different husbandry, so temps, humidity etc will be off for at least one of them. Also, if they are forced to share habitats they will have to compete for everything. Not so good.

Within a species, say multiple beardies, you're looking at the sharing of space, and competition again, but as you said, dominance issues also.

Both situations will likely cause unhealthy animals or possibly even dead animals.

[smy_749]

You can house the same species together, depending on the species. Some species are social and do much much better housed in groups. Some species cannot be housed together for a number of issues. Housing multiple species can also be done in many cases if the terrarium is large enough and neither species is one that shows aggression. However, in this case, I would not advise it. Especially given the size difference / difference in husbandry requirements. Keep every species seperate. If you want to house multiple species together they need to have the same husbandry requirements, enough options so that they don't have to compete, enough food for all, and should be species that are not aggressive towards others. An example might be housing L. lugubris (mourning geckos) and dart frogs in a naturalistic viv.

[ScalelessTime]

Okay. So even if there is no signs of aggression towards each other there is that chance?

[Cmwells90]

Even without aggression it doesn't mean they're not suffering. They may be stressed because of the new compitition, even if you don't see compitition it doesn't mean it's not there. Also you can't be there to watch them all the time, what if one did eat another, are you willing to risk that? I would say give them their space and they'll be fine, no reason to try to get too complicated.

[ScalelessTime]

Okay. Thank you for the info. My little voice in my head was saying, "are you crazy? Just put the other one in a cage. Keep all your animals separate!" I ignored it though. :P I'll take them out immediately.