A lizard’s diet varies greatly depending on exactly what species they are, but the majority of people who ask this question are referring to pet lizards that can be kept at home in a tank rather than those that are roaming free around the desert.

One of the most popular lizards kept as a pet is a bearded dragon. This lizard will usually enjoy a fairly varied diet, consisting of crickets, earthworms and grasshoppers (and yes he wants them alive and kicking so feeding time may not be for the squeamish) mixed with the occasional leafy green salad (but absolutely no iceberg lettuce.) Some bearded dragons are also quite partial to a nice bit of fruit or even a cooked potato chopped into bite size pieces.

If you go a little bigger and head into iguana territory, you'll find he is really a veggie fan, and will enjoy his healthy greens more than the creepy crawlies, but he does need them occasionally to provide him with the protein he needs to stay healthy.

Any lizard needs a supply of nice, clean drinking water and most will benefit from a pet store vitamin supplement once or twice a week. The best way though to determine what the right diet is for your new scaly friend is to ask at the pet store or pet outlet where you purchase him.

Some lizards develop a taste for the strangest things. Some like pizza, some like macaroni and cheese, some like a nice piece of cheddar. These can be fed to them in very small quantities, as a special treat, but the most important thing about any lizard’s diet is that it is balanced.