Leo for a 9 year old?

[dfitzsim]

Hi,
My Neice is turning 9 soon and she really wants a leo so I was wondering what all of you think about that? Her parents have a few corn snakes so its not a problem for them but they think leo's bite. I've read that they are excellent starter lizards but i'm not sure.

Hopefully I'll pick one up at the reptile show next month in White Plains, NY.

Thanks
Don

[Alicewave]

Leos are awesome! They make great beginner reptiles. I have 5 and I've never been bitten. Not even by the newly hatched ones. They live 15-20 years so her parents should be aware they'll have to take care of it when she goes to college. Other than that, they're clean, stay relatively small, and easy to care for.

[Dragon_Slave]

Hey there,
Leopard Geckos are GREAT starter lizards. Some DO bite, but I mean.. some corn snakes bite too. Anything with a mouth can bite. :-P
My little cousin is 8 and she LOVES my geckos. They have NEVER tried to bite her and are very fun as a pet. If you are interested, I have 3 leopard geckos for sale. They aren't babies, so they aren't as fragile. They are each around a year and a half. The tangerine however is a bit aggressive at times and wouldn't recommend her for a beginner. But I have a normal and a high yellow that I am willing to ship and they are in wonderful health! They are $50+shipping and they both are fat, healthy and nice. I am located in NC by the way. E-mail me if you are interested, I have pics. dragonfreak7189@hotmail.com. Thanks and good luck!

[dfitzsim]

Ok thanks for the information. I figure I'll take her with me to the reptile show and let her pick one out.

I was also thinking about a crested gecko instead. Which do you think is better for her?

Thanks again
don

[Samba]

Cresties are also easy to care for, but are a little more expensive and have slightly different needs. I would recommend the leopard gecko, and at that I'd get an older, mature male. (From personal experience females are much more mouthier than males. Males also tend to be laid back and less defensive while being handled.) Make sure that everything the gecko needs to live and be comfortable is set up before you buy it! Good luck, and I hope she loves it!

[Samba]

P.S. Dragon_Slave... I'd like to see pics of the leos you have for sale... I might be interested in both males and females. Please e-mail me at: SambasReptileRescue@Hotmail.com Thanks!

[MartinW]

One of my leos used to bite but she eventually stopped. She would only bite when I hand-feed her. So far I haven't been hurt at all, but I suppose a bite could frighten a 9 year old. I also agree with Samba. I have two females who get frightened easily and don't like being handled much, but my male seems to love coming out of the cage, and he has never bitten me. I wish I had one when I was 9! I'm sure she'll love it!

Martin

[drewlowe]

Leos make great first reptile pets. I gave 2 of them to my boyfriends little sis. at age 12. She absoultly loves them. And she wants her own corn snakes now. Out of the 3 years i have had mine i have only been bitten a few times. During hand feeding was the only time i was bitten. I promise it doesn't hurt either. Most of mine do like to be handled i stick my hand in the cage and i have 3 or 4 of them trying to get to me at the same time. I've even had one of my leos climb up one of thier trees and jump to my arm. it was funny it was the first time one of them have done that. and now thats how i know she wants to be held.

[SnowSnake]

Personally I don'T recommend reptiles for people younger dans 14 years old. But I know that we have some people here on sSnakeSs that are 12 and 13 years old that are very responsable and fully capable of careing for their reptiles and I respect that because we do have exceptions. But thats my general rule for kids/teens keeping reptiles and taking care of them <u><b>themselves</b></u>.

dfitzsim: Make sure she reads lots of books (leopard gecko manuel) and caresheets. If she doesn't have a computer with internet maybe you could print some for her to see if she really wants one.

[fanmaninacan]

Hey!

go with creasteds there more fun..
and their diets are better..

im out
T.P

[Emily-Fisher]

Hey snowsnake, I am 11 and I am a really devoted herp keeper.. It all depends on who the person is. I know a 4 year old who has a ball python. She takes care of it herself and everything and is extremely gentle with him and is very responsible. However, most kids aren't like that. Since your niece's parents have a few cornsnakes, at least her parents are there to help her out if she needs help and they are there to show her how to hold a herp and such. I would go with it. Again though...it all depends on the person, not the age! I mean, look at me! I work at/for a petstore, build websites for peoples' businesses, own several herps, and am only 11 years old!

[Pixie]

I have to dissagree with SnowSnake about the age a person should keep reptiles at. I really don't think it's about a particular age but about some responsability and love just like any other pet. What is most important is to start off a young herper on an appropriate beginner species and have a more experienced or older person supervise.

I've met quite a few young folk that are quite responsable and mature enough to have a pet and older folk that I wouldn't leave a mouse to! It's very individual :)

Pixie

[Dragon_Slave]

I agree. :D