Need some help deciding what I want

[beechdaddy]

Hi i am currently trying to get back into owning reptiles. I had a bearded dragon a few years back and i miss having something that i can interact with, I got bored with my fish... so here are some criteria that i would like to have met.

I have a 75 gallon (48" x 18" x 18") that i would like to be able to use as housing.

I would like to be able to handle the lizard that i wind up buying, and i would also enjoy something a little bit bigger. I also want something that is interesting to watch.

however i am open to almost any idea.

[StudentoReptile]

I'm always a fan of blue-tongued skinks: decent-sized, much more easier to maintain than beardies, can be potty-trained.

Other suggestions: Uromastyx, or desert iguana (or 2).

[sharthun]

Hey and welcome!

[beechdaddy]

Ok so ive continued my search and i was wondering about these red ackies? anyone know anything about their space requirements?

[boosh96]

Ok so ive continued my search and i was wondering about these red ackies? anyone know anything about their space requirements?

Ackies need a 4 x 2 x 2' cage as a bare minimum. If I'm not mistaken, some folks think that the bare minimum should be even bigger than that. On top of that, they would need a well-sealed cage built for them to accommodate their needs for heat and humidity.

[RyanReptile]

Might be worth looking into bearded dragons.

[beechdaddy]

ok after some more looking into this some more, would it be possible to house a black and white tegu for 6 months to a year before moving it into an 8'x4'x4' enclosure? they are pretty sweet.

[StudentoReptile]

Not 6 months.

[boosh96]

Personally, I'd recommend a bearded dragon for you. They're awesome lizards and the tank you have would provide plenty of room to roam. Good luck with whatever you decide to get!

[DiscoPat]

I wouldn't go with a tegu unless you have the cage built for it when you first buy it, and make sure wherever you plan on keeping it is a stable area. (It is VERY hard to move an 8 by 4 foot box.)
I personally think Ackies should have at least a 5x3x4 or so, plus they are very high maintenance compared to most lizards (Humidity, temp monitoring, huge appetite, lots of soil.)

I think a Blue Tongued Skink sounds like the best bet for you. They get quite large and are very easy to handle. It will not be harder than a bearded dragon. A bearded dragon is extremely easy compared to a tegu or ackie.

[Mikoh4792]

If you can provide something bigger than the 75 gallon later on when they grow up, how about water dragons? Or frilled dragons?