What dangers do Desert Horned Lizards face in the Wild?

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Posted by Lyn on June 04, 2002 at 07:54:00:

Besides people catching them to sell to the pet trade, I wondered what other creatures might go after a Desert Horned.
They seem to have such good defenses, with the horns, being prickly in general, being able to turn into a HL pancake, and the ability to disapear from sight under the sand. Do they have any predators that have adapted to these defenses? I hear about the blood squirting, and have seen it on TV, but don't believe the Desert Horns do it (correct me if I'm wrong). I took my Horned Lizards outside this weekend so they could get some sunshine. They have a full spectrum flourescent reptile light, but I wanted them to have some fresh air and sunshine just the same. I put together a temporary enclosure till I can buy/build something better. They really seemed to enjoy the sun, but a neighbor's dog was barking and crows were making a racket in another yard. I was concerned that if dogs/birds were predators to them that this might stress them out. It seemed to affect my Beardies more than the HLs. I was also wondering about snakes. I rearranged my rep room to accomadate a larger cage for the HLs, and the next morning I went down to find my young male Beardie in a full beard display. Took me a minute to figure it out. He could see the Cali King with the new room arrangement. I got down next to the HL cage and looked up from their view, and they could see her too. I covered up the Cali's cage until I could do more rearranging. These are just the things that got me wondering what my boys would be afraid of that I might not even think of. Any insight welcome, I want to keep them as stress free and happy as possible. Thanks!

"Tumbleweed"

Here There Be Serpents

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Re: What dangers do Desert Horned Lizards face in the Wild? Lester G. Milroy III 06/04/02 (1)
- Thank you. Lyn 06/05/02 (0)

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: Besides people catching them to sell to the pet trade, I wondered what other creatures might go after a Desert Horned. : They seem to have such good defenses, with the horns, being prickly in general, being able to turn into a HL pancake, and the ability to disapear from sight under the sand. Do they have any predators that have adapted to these defenses? I hear about the blood squirting, and have seen it on TV, but don't believe the Desert Horns do it (correct me if I'm wrong). I took my Horned Lizards outside this weekend so they could get some sunshine. They have a full spectrum flourescent reptile light, but I wanted them to have some fresh air and sunshine just the same. I put together a temporary enclosure till I can buy/build something better. They really seemed to enjoy the sun, but a neighbor's dog was barking and crows were making a racket in another yard. I was concerned that if dogs/birds were predators to them that this might stress them out. It seemed to affect my Beardies more than the HLs. I was also wondering about snakes. I rearranged my rep room to accomadate a larger cage for the HLs, and the next morning I went down to find my young male Beardie in a full beard display. Took me a minute to figure it out. He could see the Cali King with the new room arrangement. I got down next to the HL cage and looked up from their view, and they could see her too. I covered up the Cali's cage until I could do more rearranging. These are just the things that got me wondering what my boys would be afraid of that I might not even think of. Any insight welcome, I want to keep them as stress free and happy as possible. Thanks! : "Tumbleweed" : <img src=http://gallery.kingsnake.com/data/14TumbleweedFacingLeft053102-med.jpg>

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