The best toys for pet lizards can make all the difference when it comes to the health of your reptile. While you may not think of lizards as being super playful, having toys in their home that support their natural instincts is very important.
You’ll want to include toys that mirror what they would come across in everyday life. Vet, Dr. Rebecca MacMillan says, “The best toys for lizards tend to replicate what they would come across in the wild. This can provide them with mental stimulation and help to mimic their natural environment.”
When you add the right equipment to their tank, you’ll see that lizards are anything but boring. Some lizards can figure out puzzles, and some love climbing while others enjoy hiding and burrowing. By adding these elements to their home you’re taking the right steps to make sure your lizard thrives.
Now let’s check out which toys made the cut for the best toys for pet lizards.
The best toys for pet lizards 2024
Best overall toy for pet lizards
Lizards love to climb and they love to lounge. They’ll enjoy being able to sit higher as they would in the wild in this 100% natural seagrass hammock. The suction cups allow this hammock to be placed anywhere in their tank and provide different levels of exercise.
Reasons to buy: This hammock is made from all-natural materials and it’s an affordable price.
Reasons not to buy: The suction cups can lose their power if moved around too many times.
Best exercise toy for pet lizards
With three standard sizes and an adjustable leather harness, you can find the right fit for your lizard without irritating their skin. With a stainless-steel swivel link and a nylon cord, this leash is very durable and secure enough to give you peace of mind that they can’t easily escape when you are out and about.
Reasons to buy: Durable material and offers a great way for your lizard to get more exercise in.
Reasons not to buy: Although it has multiple sizes, this may not be suitable for lizards.
Best bath time toy for lizards
Made with non-toxic vinyl, these rings are safe to use and easy to take off when going swimming with your reptile. Of course, you shouldn’t take them to an actual pool, but they’ll be good for a well-run bath.
Reasons to buy: Makes bathing your lizard more fun and this pack comes with multiple rings.
Reasons not to buy: Rings cannot be re-inflated.
Best hideaway toy for lizards
The Shale Step Lodge has plenty of space underneath for your lizard to hide from the world, but it also has plenty of basking space and fun climbing opportunities.
Reasons to buy: Offers spaces for your lizard to both hideaway and lounge outside.
Reasons not to buy: It does have some sharp corners.
Best climbing toy for lizards
These eight-foot-long long vines can be wrangled into any shape you want and fixed to your terrarium walls, it uses suction cups, which can be a pain, but their adjustable nature makes them perfect for creating a fun run around a habitat.
Reasons to buy: The ropes and suction cups allow you to make endless obstacle courses for your lizard.
Reasons not to buy: Ropes are not suited for heavier lizards and the suction cups may not stick as well if you’re lizard is in a humid environment.
Best hunting toy for lizards
You won’t be playing fetch in the park, obviously, but plenty of lizards like to hunt. Rolling a ball around can help simulate that experience, and we can tell you that seeing a bearded dragon pounce on a bright orange bouncy is an absolute joy.
Reasons to buy: Durable ball that will offer great exercise for your lizard.
Reasons not to buy: Not all lizards will want to play with this.
Best exploration toy for lizards
This ladder is designed to be placed on to the inside of a terrarium, out of the way of the container's floor space. The idea is that it encourages reptiles to explore – add a few of them and your lizard could scramble around from one to another.
Reasons to buy: Adds more climbing and exploring opportunities to your lizard’s tank.
Reasons not to buy: Suction cups may not hold in more humid tanks
Best food-based toys for lizards
If you want to encourage your pet lizard to exercise, then having them chase after food is a great incentive. This set of six balls has been created for that exact purpose. You simply place a feeder insect inside a ball and the lizard will soon spot it through the numerous holes, enticing it to pursue the bug.
Reasons to buy: This pack comes with seven balls and the rope prevents them from rolling too far away.
Reasons not to buy: The suction cups may not stick well if moved around too much.
Best interactive toy for lizards
This toy is perfect for providing mental stimulation for your lizard. Simply fill the feeder with your lizard's preferred food and let them work out how to get their food. This feeder is also good for lizards who eat too quickly.
Reasons to buy: Great to help lizards slow down while eating.
Reasons not to buy: Can be hard to fill without live insects escaping as it opens and closes in two halves.
How to choose the best lizard toy
Choosing toys for pet lizards is not an easy task, not least because most of them have quite an impressive poker face. Your ultimate goal is to get something that enriches your animal’s life.
"For example, items that they can hide under will help them to display natural behaviors and may make them feel more secure. Extra climbing materials such as artificial vines, hammocks, or platforms can help them to exercise and work different muscles, as well as give them somewhere new to perch," says Dr. MacMillan.
Many lizards prefer to chill out and hide away, and that’s fine, but you can get them some great toys that provide the best environment for that. Hides and hammocks, branches, and vines provide the perfect environment for keeping a healthy lizard while giving them enough space to climb and move around.
More social lizards, like the bearded dragon, might like to be led on a leash or bat a ball around with you (we’ve even seen some riding skateboards!), but it’s all about your animal’s personality, if they’re happy and seem normal they’re probably getting what they need. If they’re overly lethargic then you need to think about introducing some new stimulus.
The best advice we think we can give though, is to use the internet’s community of lizard lovers to find what’s recommended, check the reviews, and make sure the products are safe, or how to safely use them.
What to avoid in lizard toys
Dr. MacMillan to avoid toys that contain feathers or loose pieces as these can get stuck in your lizards mouth. You'll also want to be sure that any climbing pieces you place in the tank are free of sharp edges and corners.
If you found this helpful check out our roundup of the best reptile heating pads.
Alexis has worked with publications such as Daily Mail, World of Cruising and Father's Quarterly. Originally from the United States, she started her career as an editorial intern at Ohio Magazine and has been in love with writing ever since.
Rebecca is a veterinary surgeon who graduated in 2009 from the Royal Veterinary College in London. She has a wealth of experience in first opinion small animal practice, having done a mixture of day-to-day routine work, on-call emergency duties and managerial roles over the years. She enjoys medicine in particular and she is proud to have recently achieved a BSAVA postgraduate certificate in small animal medicine (with commendation). She writes on various feline and canine topics, including behavior, nutrition, and health. Outside of work and writing she enjoys walking her own dog, spending time with her young family and baking!
