Texas Horned Lizard
 

Bought this girl in July, WC from FL. She's pretty strict about her harvester ants. She will eat some crickets if she's really hungry, but much prefers ants. Currently in a 40gal, she wouldn't be happy in anything smaller. Feeding her with a feeder bowl the ants can't get out of, since she eats so many.
Email sltarle7@gmail.com
$100 plus shipping.
Update: accepting best offers. Need to move again for a new job.

Bump. Price update.

Absolutely stunning animal. Surprised she hasn't been snatched up yet.

What do you do for the ants? Do you culture them?

You can get 1000 ants on antsalive.com for $10 plus shipping. I have given mostly crickets this winter, as the ants are hard to get this time of year. As long as they're small enough, she can get by on them for awhile. They do still sell the ants, but there's weeks in between shipments currently.

In the wild they also eat moths and small beetles. I have found she'll chase down moths, but not the mealworm beetles. Perhaps she'd like a smaller beetle?

"Prey Composition and Associated Digestive Efficiency of the Texas Horned Lizard, Phrynosoma cornutum from Prairie Habitat. THIBODEAU, M*; WATSON, CM; Midwestern State University; Midwestern State University marcthib72@gmail.com

This study investigates prey composition of Texas Horned Lizards in prairie habitat using fecal dissections (n=29) and compares it to published findings from desert scrub. Also, this research compares the digestive efficiency of Texas Horned Lizards consuming harvester ants (Pogonomyrmex) and beetles (Coleoptera), the two groups of prey items most prevalent in fecal samples. Total prey items found in feces are highly variable but prey composition is relatively consistent. This is presumably owing to variation in size of the horned lizard and prey availability. Ground beetles (Carabidae) were found in over 93% of all samples even though many other arthropods are encountered as frequently in the field, indicating that they may be selected for along with harvester ants, which made up the majority of every sample. Novel prey items, including Halictidae bees, Hister beetles, weevils, Caligrapha beetles, and vegetation were also noted in quantities that represent opportunistic or incidental consumption. Horned lizards are more efficient at digesting beetles than ants, which may indicate that they are required as a dietary supplement at least in times of high caloric requirements. Alternatively, they may represent periodic “treats” as an opportunistic additive to the diet. Future research will seek to resolve this speculation."

Thank you for that thorough response. Much appreciated!!

Just curious. Wild caught in florida? Are they established there. (lots of non-native species are and these are not native to florida)

You can try small dubia as well. Hatchling desert horned (platyrhinos) will take them

Yes, Florida. They're established in several states outside their range now. Florida, SC, even a small population in the sand dunes of NC.
She won't eat dubia.
I've now seen her eat a couple mealworm beetles (if dusted and freshly emerged, so the chitin hadn't hardened yet) and a some bean beetles. Still much prefers ants, but she's getting much better about small crickets. I also bought flour beetles to try. We'll see.

I am interested. I have a colony of them.