The right lizard for me...?

[SnowFoxx]

My baby Sav just died:(....

So, I'm lizard shopping again. I'm a snake girl, so I couls use a little help picking something out. I'm looking for a lizard that gets fairly large (at least the size of an adult bearded dragon) that is handlable, and pretty calm. I know lizards go through craziness as juvis, and I can handle that as long as s/he grows out of it.

My ideal lizard would enjoy being handled, eating vegies or large crix or mealworms (small crix are impossible to find around here).

Turn-offs for me include being bitten and clawed, whipped with tails, prima donna behavior and requirments, and frequent visits to the vet.

My turn-ons are playing with my pets (within reason), setting up complicated caging environments for active species, watching my pets explore and play around their cages on their own, and knowing my pets are eating well and getting fat (again, within reason).

I like the look of monitors, but there is no way I'm getting another Sav...I hate when my pets die, and this is only the second reptile I have lost *ever* and I don't intend to repeat the experience. Any ideas, anyone? I'm doing my research as well, but I'd like some opinions. Thanks!

- Victoria :w

[marisa]

Are you passing over Beardies? I LOVE them, but I know some people don't really like them. They are so sweet natured, so full of personality. Spike used to chase our cats when they walked by his tank. And when out, he would glady walk over to where we keep the crickets and stand there impatiently waiting for a treat. :)

For a bit more money you can get some OUTSTANDING colored Beardies that are nothing like the normal brown/tan. Beardies love crickets, mealies and veggies. When older they can eat more and more veggies.

Marisa

[NewLineReptile]

I also am a snake person but i had a Uromastyx given to me and they are such a cool lizard here is my two Uromastyx the black one is a Mali and the Orange one is a Nigerian
http://www.ssnakess.com/photopost/data/502/1639germie.jpg

http://www.ssnakess.com/photopost/data/502/1639uro.jpg

good luck with getting your new lizard

[ThEmAdHaTtEr]

I agree with the Uromastyx. They eat veggies as well, and that saves money. Coool to handle and easy to care for.

[Tim and Julie B]

I like beardies but I was going to choose a Uro. There are a lot of cool lizards out there. Any species of Agamid fits that discription. I had a blue throuted that was a sweetie. See what is around in your local market and then have a poll!

[SnowFoxx]

I'm not passing over beardies, just looking to get a few options to research.:) My top priority here is a lizard with personality, that I can handle and interact with. I worry a bit about beardeds because they eat crickets as babies, and the pet shop around here is very unreliable about keeping crickets in stock. They always have mealworms and other worms of various kinds, but sometimes will go a week without crix. I also have neither the time nor the inclination to keep a cricket colony.

So, personality, handlability, and a hearty apetite for readily available food. Do beardeds fit that description? I have always thought they were cute...

I have also heard blue-tongued skinks are fun and easy-going (but pricey). Anyone keep these?

- Victoria :w

[LISA127]

I keep a blue tongued skink. In my opinion, they are the best pet lizard! Mine walks around on the floor w/my cats and well-behaved dog. He is a little intimidated by the dog, but he has no problem at all w/the cats. He is an omnivore, eats frozen mixed vegies, some fruits, crickets (large), nightcrawlers, low fat chicken cat food (canned), and superworms. Also plain cooked chicken. He has lots of personality! He greets me in the morning when i say hi. Blue tongues are not the most active lizards in the world, tho. They move kinda slow, just basking and hanging out. I have had my bt for 3 1/2 years and have never had any kind of health problem. They are very hardy! I highly recommend them as pets. Mine even trys to crawl up my arm for some out of the cage time. They don't mind being handled at all as long as you are gentle and respectful.

Get a blue tongued skink!

PS As for your feeling about crickets, a bt certainly does not need to have crickets. Actually, I feed them very rarely. I use mostly nightcrawlers, chicken cat food, and cooked chicken.

[V.hb]

Snowfox, you may want to try Ackies.
you had your sav, which is really nice however wild caught. Ackies are all CB now. They really are fascinating animals, and rarely run into problems and of course, they are varanids like your sav.

Grow to about the size of an adult beardie, maybe a bit bigger.

[hudson]

If your looking for something that doesn't need crickets go for a blue tongue, mine hasn't had crickers in over a year and she's doing great. They will eat anything you give them or anything you find in your fridge from pasta and mashed potatoes to insects and cat food, they are not picky eaters.
They have loads of personality and are extremely handlable.

[Colonel SB]

MY vote goes to a Dumerlis monitor they are awsome. I had the pleasure of careing for one for 8 months(wile my bud was away on busniess). They tend to be pricey but they are well worth it.

[Silklady]

I have a uro and a beardie and they are both great!! I also have a yellow throated plated lizard who is very kind. Everyone thought he was a skink (duh). But that may be a good pet. He doesn't bite, claw, or smack you with his tail. He eats as beardie, and enjoys the odd silkworm here and there. I have a pic of him on my site. He likes to burrow and climb, and is very active. but when he is out, he just like to hang out on your shoulder. I have no idea of where to get one. This one was adopted from Reptilia. But a worth while herp to have.

[Linds]

Ackies, Uros, Beardies *cringe*, Water Dragons, or Blue Tongues are all suitable options. Easy to handle and shouldn't die on you. Sometimes the WC monitors come in with too many problems... most of the above are typically CB (I don't know about the states, but in Canada the bulk of them are still WC).

Originally posted by ThEmAdHaTtEr
I agree with the Uromastyx. They eat veggies as well, and that saves money.

Would have to disagree with veggies being a money-saver...lol... for most veggies, they won't be able to eat all the food (they all require variety in their diet) before it expires (unless you have a good number of them)... and the larger veggie eaters (tortoises, etc) will eat more $$ daily than most other reptiles. In short I would have to say they don't save money, but rank super high for convenience... no insects to be hassled with ;)

[scott hough]

Personally, I enjoy Beardies and Ackies. Both are highly entertaining :).

Have fun finding a new pet!

[ectotherm]

Depending upon what your experience with lizards is - and how much you are willing to spend both on the animal, it's housing, and maintenance should all be a factor. Snakes tend to be more forgiving in almost all aspects of care as opposed to lizards. Many species have strong strong UV requirements - and need much larger enclosures than their serpentine counterparts. If I had to make a recommendation based on your requirements, I'd go with a blue tongue skink.

[blondee32725]

Waterdragons, Rule, Mine Have been the Most Handleable ever, And they have great Personalities, I have noticed all mine are very differnet in personality! I think they R soo cool , Mine are the best lizards I own!

[Dragon_Slave]

BEARDIES! BEARDIES! BEARDIES! Lol.
If you don't have small crickets available to you, why not get a dragon that isn't a baby? Unless you absolutely want something you can raise. Also, Uro's make good pets... but beardies are the best! They have so much personality and are so fun to be around. Chester, my dragon, is 17 inches long at 7 months and is the sweetest animal I own. He's my buddy. :D

[JIMI]

If you like large, impressive sized lizards... beautiful ones to boot... and you also like creating large complicated setups for active animals... I would stroooooooongly suggest a Mangrove monitor. They are long slim bodied, grow very long, with an incredible tail... beautiful dark background with yellow spots all over its body. they are very active, and can be pretty arboreal.

I'd love one but I dont have the permanent space to house it in. someday though. i'll be one of these 45 year old guys on the forums who owns a house so has converted a section of it into natural mini-habitats lol.

yea. mangrove. right on ;-)

[JIMI]

I know everyone else is suggesting beardies... but there's just somethin about an 8 foot lizard that kicks beardie's lil asses

love those lil guys tho... if i had one it'd be my lil buddy.. sit and chill. drinkin our gin n juice

[Pookie]

I would def. suggest a Uromastyx. I've had mine for over a year now and he has such a personality! And if you get a soft leash for them they're great to take outdoors when it's really warm! They eat mostly veggies but like crickets too! Mine's very friendly, never bitten but his claws can get sharp, but i don't mind! Good luck!

[Bartman]

Yea as everyone has already said i would definetly suggest the uromastyx. i have two mali uromastyx and i would get another 10 but they take a fairly large tank for each one. they are extremely active and since you cant get your hands on cricks so easily the uro's only eat veggies so you solve that problem. As Pookie said they do have sharp claws but from time to time i trim the claws just to the point where they pointy part is out but they still have grip on everything so they dont flip off rocks :) but i would have to say get a uromastyx. i was gonna tell you to get a tegu but i just got one and there not that calm and handelable as i learned the hard way...they take to much work to try and calm down...mines been driving me nuts already!! so get a uromastyx there the best!!!!!!!

good luck finding your animal...

[fanmaninacan]

Hey!
I would go with a tegu.......SAVES r good..but i see u dun want 1
I think beardies r too small.....
Uros a good*great..but small....
Its alwayzz great to have a visitor in ur house..n u bring out a 3 feet+ REPTILE OUT!!>..it look like a killler.....!!n scare ther living S*** out of ur guest...!!...But ur secret is that ist as tame as a dog!!!=)------GO WITH A TEGU!!..

[Tiliqua]

I have to throw my vote in for a blue tongued skink!

Hands down, they have been the best lizards I have ever owned!
While older imported adults are pretty lazy, both of the juvies that I produced and kept are wonderfully active. Such personality!

Click on the link to my website, if you are interested.

[LISA127]

Tiliqua,
I must agree w/you! I love my blue tongued. He is actually my favorite reptile I have ever owned!
As far as lazy versus active, my blue tongued skink is very, very active from about February thru September. Once October hits, he only moves about occasionally. This lasts until the end of January.
We enjoy him immensely during his active period, however. They are such friendly and curious lizards. And I have never owned a reptile as hardy and healthy as my blue tongued skink.
Lisa

[Dark_Angel_x322]

My vote goes for the waterdragon. I don't have much experience with herps since I am just starting out but I love my baby to death. He is goofy, loves to climb, will get to be about 3 feet total and has some pretty good requirements and complicated setups. They only sometimes eat veggies tho... most turn their noses up at it. Being a water dragon also mean you get to put a mini "pond" in your house and get to watch them swim! They are very friendly and from what i have read rarely ever bite. I think Joker was my one of my best investments! When his new home is built I am hoping to get him a friend. :)

Oh and be careful if you choose to get a WD! If you don't get a good healthy one you may end up with a few more vet visits than you hoped for... I would recommend getting one from a good breeder because the petstores know little about them it seems and I had to find all my info in the Net.

Heres (http://www.icomm.ca/dragon/) a website that has a lot of good info if you are interested.

Good luck with your search!

[SnowFoxx]

I ended up buying a BTS. Thanks for the help, guys!

- Victoria :w