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RE: best pet lizard

snakekeeper74 — Sat, 10 Apr 2010 12:55:08 GMT

Yes they live in Asia and eat snails.

RE: best pet lizard

benandmax — Mon, 05 Apr 2010 17:19:49 GMT

very true.

RE: best pet lizard

Saba — Mon, 05 Apr 2010 07:45:28 GMT

This is a dead topic. It was made over 2 years ago.

RE: best pet lizard

DoomedToasters — Sun, 04 Apr 2010 16:27:04 GMT

Through my experience a leopard gecko would be a great started gecko. For these several reason:
Pros:
They can't climb up the glass walls of the tank so they are less likely to escape, however always try to 'escape proof' your cage anyway.

Readily eats crickets, meal worms, wax worms, etc.

Are hand-able, obviously will do better the more you hold it, but isn't fast enough to just dart off like some of the smaller geckos.

Also, I was amazed at this one, they tend to poop in corners, I have never had a reptile poop in a corner!! (I've had ferrets that would poop in the corners of my room >.<) So easy clean up!!

Cons:
Though they love being kept on sand for a substrate and it looks pretty; it is very bad for them and should be avoid. If kept on sand when too young it is possible that they could eat it while catching bug and a digestional blockage could occur. When older they can get it in their eyes which can cause small scratches and irritations, possibly leaving your gecko blind. So avoid sand!!

Good luck with who ever you choose!!

RE: best pet lizard

pythonman14 — Tue, 09 Feb 2010 21:25:48 GMT

Jaime (2/9/2010)

Bearden dragons are one of the best..they're easy to care for and SUPER FRIENDLY

the friendly part is for the most part true... but it can vary

RE: best pet lizard

Jaime — Tue, 09 Feb 2010 14:20:22 GMT

Bearden dragons are one of the best..they're easy to care for and SUPER FRIENDLY

RE: best pet lizard

benandmax — Mon, 08 Feb 2010 17:12:28 GMT

i would say a leopard gecko or a crested gecko.

RE: best pet lizard

Beastlover — Thu, 04 Feb 2010 14:38:15 GMT

Leopard geckos are the best. No sweat.

RE: best pet lizard

Beastlover — Thu, 04 Feb 2010 14:36:19 GMT

Leopard geckos are the best!!! No comparison,competition,or argument that they rock!http://board.reptilechannel.com/Skins/Reptile/Dialogs/InsertEmotIcon.aspx?ControlID=txtPost#

RE: best pet lizard

monitor lizard — Wed, 03 Feb 2010 14:25:48 GMT

Grant I have to disagree with you for part of your response I think that savannah monitor lizards and argentine tegus are not really beginner reptiles mabye after some experince then I can agree with you and I still kinda agree with you now to but there are more disagrees then agrees with that. In my opinion beginer lizards are crested geckos and leopard geckos. I would normally include ackies,beardies,and blue tongue skinks, but the lighting requirements are not needed for the geckos and the ackie,beardie,blue tongue are larger requiring larger cages. The bite force of these animals are probably stronger.Thats all for now

RE: best pet lizard

lizardlover722 — Wed, 20 Jan 2010 13:37:00 GMT

I would say the best pet reptile would be a Bearded Dragon

RE: best pet lizard

amphibian keeper — Wed, 06 Jan 2010 17:40:43 GMT

it really depends on how much room and money your willing to give toward the lizard. if you do not have much room and you do not want to spend a hole lot of money than i would get a leopard gecko. you should keep it in 20 gallon long and the gecko costs about $20.00 on average. if you are willing to spend more money and give up more room than i would by a bearded dragon they get about 22 inches long, and they like about 55 gallons or more. i would not go with a water dragon because a they need a lot of water, branches, and there humidity. they get about three feet long. iguanas are also a bad idea. their housing and size says it all. whatever you chose buy a care book first and then set up the tank, and then buy the animal and the food.

RE: best pet lizard

A.M herps — Sun, 29 Nov 2009 10:01:44 GMT

Sorry, I didn't mean to just point out those few herps that have been in the hobby for long. There are tons and tons more. Bearded dragons, cresteds, fire skinks, leopard geckos, green anoles, brown anoles, house geckos, toakys, and many others. My main point is, the more used to captivity the reptile is, the easier it is to care for because if the reptile has been in the hobby for long, people have most likely developed devices that closley simulate their natural habitat and have reasearched it much more and that makes them easier to care for.

RE: best pet lizard

A.M herps — Sat, 28 Nov 2009 12:45:56 GMT

well, I think all reptiles and amphibians are the best they can be in the wild, but if you are to get a lizard, I would suggest getting one that's been in the hobby for a long time. Those that have been in the hobby for long are actually used to being in captivity. So, leopard geckos, possibly crested geckos, and bearded dragons. But in my opinion, leopard geckos shouldn't be kept in just 10 gallon aquariums.

I like reptiles and I'm not trying to discourage keeping reptiles, but, I just think if you're going to keep one, try to stay with the ones that require less needs and are actually used to captivity, not some kind of rare day gecko or chameleon or any wild herp. That way, it'll be happiest it can in captivity. If you've ever watched, caught , and observed herps in the wild, I'm almost sure you'll know what i'm talking about.

RE: best pet lizard

Uncle Vinny — Fri, 04 Sep 2009 13:52:04 GMT

Chuckawalas get a good size, and I concur about the Egyptian mastigures. Although as far as a good pet lizard, I'm partial to the Uromastyx genus. I've had other lizards, and they were cool (anoles, rock agamas, etc.), but the Uros are amazing! They have such personality, don't get an extremely large size (save the U. aegypticus), and are primarily vegitarian. The colors of most are amazing, especially the Ornate, Moroccan, Saharan, and the Benti's. Check out Deer Fern Farms...they have great pics! Some people are turned off by the supposed difficult requirements to maintain them, however, if you keep them on a natural substrate and allow for some microclimate, they're a breeze. Oh, and they aren't inclined to bite like some other lizards, they're quick, and you might get a tail lashing at worst. That's a shocker! Check out my U. geyrii, Dante. He's a High Yellow Saharan.

RE: best pet lizard

Steve 95 — Fri, 04 Sep 2009 06:25:51 GMT

don't bring up dead topics plz this topic was made over a year ago.

RE: best pet lizard

teguseathoppers — Thu, 03 Sep 2009 19:29:43 GMT

you should try getting a tegu i have one and it owns

i have a

bearded dragon

argentinine black and white tegu

RE: best pet lizard

Sorrak — Thu, 17 Jul 2008 05:27:36 GMT

Starting lizards?Hmmmm....well my first lizard was the Brown Anole and you can catch those if you live in Florida.Any anole is pretty good starter not counting the Knight Anole which will destroy your fingers and make your hand smell bad sense they will open there mouth and poop every time you pick them up sense that is their natural reaction.But,green and brown anoles are great pets and are not very demanding and need to have the cage seem arboreal too.Leopard Geckos and Bearded Dragons are good lizards too though I don't know much about them sense I don't own any.Water dragons are good starters too.Hope this helps.

RE: best pet lizard

matt94rocks — Fri, 11 Jul 2008 20:48:57 GMT

Crested Gecko I just got mine and he is so cool he is hands down my favorite lizard already.

RE: best pet lizard

lilcherna — Thu, 10 Jul 2008 23:48:12 GMT

agreed^ but that can apply to fish, their growth will be stunted but they will be unhealthy and wont live to their full lifespan. but its a terrible idea and i dont want to start any arguements, i was just saying.

okay, so back on topic... leos are great first lizards (they were mine) they have a great temperment if you handle them properly and they arent very demanding. i also agree with the beardies and i would get one too but i dont have any space or money for a big tank that they would need. and i would be soo intimidated but such a big lizard lol.

RE: best pet lizard

Katschamne — Wed, 09 Jul 2008 22:28:37 GMT

They can grow big, but will stay small if you decide to keep them in a small sized cage.

What? If you get any animal you get the set-up to house the animal properly. Would you put a great dane in a chihuahuas cage and say hey this is all you can grow? Sorry, pet peeve, at work I tell people no all the time for this. NO a 5" turtle can't live in a 10 gal tank!

I say hands down a bearded dragon. For animal that makes no sound he speaks volumes at time. He lets you know what he wants to eat and when.

RE: best pet lizard

skielah — Fri, 27 Jun 2008 12:22:05 GMT

Honestly any lizard I think would be an awesome pet as long as you're willing to put forth the effort to learn everything you can about them and to give them all the care they need and deserve. The Biggest killer of these pets is ignorance. Just be careful. I've spent my life learning about all kinds of reptiles now i run a rescue cause I couldn't decide just one so education can be dangerous.....to your pocket book

RE: best pet lizard

Grant — Fri, 27 Jun 2008 09:48:21 GMT

Some good lizards to get would be:

Crested Gecko, Madagascar Giant Day Gecko, Collared Lizard, Smooth or Rough Knob Tail Gecko, Blue Tongue Skink, Tokay Gecko, Black & White Tegu, Savannah Monitor, Bearded Dragon, Jeweled Lacerta, Long Tailed Grass Lizard, Armadillo Lizard, Green or Brown Anole.

All those adapt well to captivity and are generally hardy and friendly (except for the Tokay Gecko). You could look into all those and find one you like.

RE: best pet lizard

BeardedDragonLover — Tue, 24 Jun 2008 08:23:09 GMT

cajungirl844 (6/23/2008)

My opinion is the Bearded Dragon!!! Hands down!

I completely agree! They aren't as high matinance as other herps. Also, they may be a little bit expensive to start out with, but afterwards all you really have to pay for is the food, which isnt very costly depending on what you feed it. They can grow big, but will stay small if you decide to keep them in a small sized cage. They will also be tolerant of handling if you start handling them when they are young. They are just great herps!

RE: best pet lizard

cajungirl844 — Mon, 23 Jun 2008 15:35:32 GMT

My opinion is the Bearded Dragon!!! Hands down!

RE: best pet lizard

87rx7chick — Wed, 07 May 2008 19:46:06 GMT

i love my waterdragon. but it was expencive getting a good living space set up for it

RE: best pet lizard

UROFAN — Mon, 05 May 2008 21:20:29 GMT

I know that the Egyptian uromastyx can get Really big but not all uromastyxs are big.

RE: best pet lizard

Crested Man — Mon, 05 May 2008 19:41:25 GMT

The Crested Gecko is so the best pet lizard.

RE: best pet lizard

Reptile Maniac — Mon, 05 May 2008 17:51:14 GMT

ocellated skinks make great pets. they are pretty cheap, don't need a lot of room, and are mabye the easiest lizard to breed. all you need is a 10 gallon tank for up to 3 or 4 lizards, warmer temps (80-85 Degrees), about an inch or 2 of fine sand to borrow in, UVB bulbs, and breeding comes natural. they give live birth to a liter of about 3-4 2-inch babies that need the same care as the adults. not to mention they (adults and babies) take handling very well. in fact i was going to buy a few to try to breed.

RE: best pet lizard

PsychoKittyNet — Wed, 16 Apr 2008 08:53:47 GMT

Chinese Water Dragons can get big, as well as sailfin dragons.

RE: best pet lizard

Herpmanjoe — Mon, 14 Apr 2008 23:42:01 GMT

maybe Hydrosaurus pustulatus some reaching about 45”

RE: best pet lizard

MDC_Ophiuchus — Tue, 08 Apr 2008 15:34:39 GMT

lizman02 (4/8/2008)

have you herd of the caiman lizard.

I have. Awesome lizards, but I wouldn't put them in the "large" category. They get about the body size of a water dragon. Plus, they're all wildcaught, have a very specialized diet, very very expensive, and I've heard (don't quote me on this) that they're pretty aggressive.

Xenite, I don't think there's any other genus of lizards that are considered "large". The largest representatives of skinks, geckos, agamids, and anguids I would stay in the medium range.

RE: best pet lizard

lizman02 — Tue, 08 Apr 2008 15:27:49 GMT

have you herd of the caiman lizard.

RE: best pet lizard

xenite — Tue, 08 Apr 2008 15:20:04 GMT

Speaking of large lizards, does anyone know of any lizards besides the whole Varanus genus, iguanas, and tegus that are considered large?

RE: best pet lizard

MDC_Ophiuchus — Tue, 08 Apr 2008 14:44:51 GMT

None at all...at least in the sense that one understands that any animal is capable of biting if it feels the need to.

That said, pretty much any large lizard demands a commitment to log some serious interaction hours for it to be considered "tame". This goes for any iguana or any monitor species....which I think covers all the "large" lizards.

best pet lizard

lizman02 — Tue, 08 Apr 2008 14:24:46 GMT

what do you think would be a good lizard to get?