lizards are next on the list!! (Combined thread)

[brandes]

so i am an animal lover and have had alot of diff types of pets, ive always wanted a reptile, and asked for a salimander when i was 6 they said no, my mom didnt want one because shes from a foreign country so.... w]e , nyways, i tryed to persuade her to her a snake for me, and she was like no cause shes scared and she dosnt want it to escape, my dad was fine with it but not my mother, so i have decided to try to get a lizard cause i like them alomost just ask much as snakes, so nyways i have a few questions because i want to do all my research before i present it to my mom so im hoping you people can help me narrow my search down,

sorry but this is going to be a long post with A LOT OF QUESTIONS so if you dont wannt read start here!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

1. im assumeing lizards need more tank space than height(as oppose to 1
birds) so the dimensions for a tank i have space for are propbably 25-30 inches in lenght and 12 inches in width, i am wondering what kinds of lizards would fit in that size tank??

so firstly what lizards can i fit in that size????????????????????

2.im assuming like snakes they are solidary creatures. so one per tank??? and do the females get bigger than the males like snakes?( i prolly want a females,... ive had to many male pets)

3.i want a docile liz that is lazy or in other words slow moving like a ball python, if that is even possible, if not disrecard this question \

4. how often do you have to clean the cage and how often do you have to feed them, and what do you feed them, crickets????.


to sum it up i just want a liz that could live happily and VERY COMFORTABLE in the dimensions i provided. a docile and a liz that moves slowly.

so yeah can anyone narrow my search down to any liZARDS that fit my criteria, i want the biggest lizard i can fit in the tank but ther personality is more important to me than looks, so can anyone reccommend a type for me so i can do further research on them(i dont know where to start)? i guess i common type is better, as i MIGHT be getting this from a pet store(as long as it is captive bred) unless i can find a breeder,

two breeds i am looking at right now are lepard geckos or a green anoles( id prefer a deseret dweller, one that dosnt climb well so it dosnt escape)

nyways i gave a too broard and long post in my eyes so just reccommend somthing and i will research,(one that dosnt escape would be ideal cause that was my moms biggest concern with the snake)

THANKS ALOT, might have more questions after the first 4 are answered


and if you want to make your post short just give me a recommended breed and tell me if ym tank size is correct for it and i will do the rest of the research.
SORRY FOR THE LONG POST, JUST TRYING TO BE INFORMED, btw im not 6 anymore... more like 19

[infernalis]

One easy answer to all your questions.

Leopard gecko.

They stay small, easy to clean up after and fairly docile. easy "non critical" care.

However with a female, you do run the possibility of egg binding.

http://www.thamnophis.us/Macro/Leo.jpg

[Max713]

I would also recommend the leopard gecko.
One would live happily in the space you have available, they have great personalities, and in general are very easy to care for.

[infernalis]

I would also like to point out that "big" lizards are not something that you should ever enter into lightly.

you absolutely need lots of space available, a big budget to work with and in most cases be willing to breed your own food source or go broke trying to keep it fed.

[brandes]

whhat about the a green anoles im leaning more towards that i like the look and they aare they same size as leapord geckos, can anyone tell me about them?? according to google they are just as much care live 4-8 years, just as docile and slow moving as leps, and if they bite i assume with reg handlinng they will not bite( i am willing to put the time)and they are the same size, any other docile slow moving liz i can get that will fiy my cage dimensions?

[Sapphyr]

I've had green anoles before.. Horrible experience. Mine were -not- slow and would always fan their neck flap at me. I think they use it to try and intimidate something they think is threatening and/or for mating. They also bit me frequently.

Leopard geckos are worlds better, in my opinion. They can't climb well at all, very docile when handled regularly, and are generally slow. In the case of Leos, males are generally larger. If you want something bigger, go for a Jumbo Leopard Gecko. I wanted one but my mother got me a regular. He's still the greatest little gecko, though.~

[mld]

I would have to say that the leopard gecko would be wonderful for you. They eat crickets!

Anoles, even though they are cheap to buy they are not a beginner lizard and do require more maintenance, humidity.

I commend you on doing your research first, this is so important.

Decide what you would like, then set up the enclosure and get it up and working and at the proper temperatures prior to purchasing any reptile.

Choosing a healthy lizard is very important, you don't want to choose one that is sick.

Just remember you can never know too much, so asking questions is good.

[infernalis]

Anoles are fun, I have done it before... But like already said, they are quick, flighty and difficult to keep.

also nearly all Anoles sold are wild caught from down south, many are already infected with parasites.

[molson101]

So I have been trying for 4 years to try and get a snake but I am finally giving up. I really love them but my dad is scared of them (I know sad right) and my mom is fine with it now. But my dad wont let me get one so I have decided to get a lizard.

I have some questions so if you dont want to read might want to stop reading now.

1. What are some good ideas of begginer lizards that can be handled quite a bit?

2. What size of tanks do you need for these lizards?

3. Are these lizards relatively easy to take care of?

4. Are these lizards cheap or expensive and how much do they cost?

5. How much humidity do they need?

6. How much heat do they need?(Heat Pad or Heat Lamp or Both?)

7. Can you feed them Salad because I dont want to be going out for crickets all the time?

[infernalis]

Same exact discussion, so I merged them together.

[brandes]

what does gut loaded crickets mean? and can you freeze crickets like pinkies?


and do the lep geckos smell? or is it the same deal with snakes

[brandes]

So I have been trying for 4 years to try and get a snake but I am finally giving up. I really love them but my dad is scared of them (I know sad right) and my mom is fine with it now. But my dad wont let me get one so I have decided to get a lizard.

I have some questions so if you dont want to read might want to stop reading now.

1. What are some good ideas of begginer lizards that can be handled quite a bit?

2. What size of tanks do you need for these lizards?

3. Are these lizards relatively easy to take care of?

4. Are these lizards cheap or expensive and how much do they cost?

5. How much humidity do they need?

6. How much heat do they need?(Heat Pad or Heat Lamp or Both?)

7. Can you feed them Salad because I dont want to be going out for crickets all the time?


1. geckos 2. 20 gallonish 3. yes relativly, daily care is required
4. cheap, dont know how much 5. dont know yet, 6. dont kmnow 7, dont know, yu can find aall the answers for the last 3 answers and more here

Great Geckos for Beginners (http://exoticpets.about.com/od/geckos/tp/geckosbeginners.htm)

but just like the people here when i look into it geckos and good for begginners and dont need alot of expensive equipment, other lizards need like a 40-50 gallon tank

dont quote me on this stuff as i am a beggginner like you


heres one of my questions

are lizards solitary animals? or will they be unhappy living alone

[Lankyrob]

You can buy gutload for crickets, it increases the goodness in them before feeding them to your lizard. You cant freeze them, they need to be fed live.

In terms of heat the lizards that we have both have Mercury Vapour Bulbs, they provide massive heat but also the UV light that is necessary so that you only need a single bulb in the enclosure. If you used a heatpad or normal heat bulb you would also need to provide UVA and or UVB light.

[brandes]

so would i have to make a trip to the pet store every other day, or if i buy alot how would i have to care for these crickets?

[Lankyrob]

Best bet would be a dubia roach colony, do a search on this site there is lots of info about them. If not then the crickets need their own enclosure, food, water etc to keep them healthy and fit to be fed to your lizards.

Or you can go to the store every other day........

[infernalis]

If you do the crickets, most all pet stores have all the supplies you need.

I used to keep my crickets in a small 5 gallon fish tank with a screen top. It didn't take up a lot of room.

I used these gel blocks that provided food and moisture. The group could sustain for a week or two, long enough that I fed off 100 crickets and picked up more.

Thing is with roaches, an adult roach is equal to several crickets as food, so you will feed a lot less bugs less often. big meaty roaches are filling.

Once you have a roach colony up and going, it's nearly free to have around.

even cheap crickets add up, they stink, they chirp.......

[brandes]

sigh, i find it pretty funny how snakes would be the most ideal pet for alot of people, sad that alot of people are scared of them, lizards are cool too, the feeding thing is the only thing that concerns, right now i am looking at a leopard gecko or a fat tailed gecko

[brandes]

ye the whole ideal with the word roach, would make my mom freak, this whole ideal is starting to look better when i move out, i will still try though

[Jendee]

I had leopard geckos and they died lol I had 4 of them all bought from petco(which might have been my problem) They all stopped eating and died it was a sad experience for me. Ive had reptiles since a kid and never had problems before :( I just failed at geckos!!

[lukelightwalker]

What about bearded dragons. The faithful dog of the lizard world. You could raise 1 dragon from a baby in a 33 gallon which can fit your space requirements. In a few years you might want to get him a larger habitat. They are friendly, attach to humans like a domesticated pet (dog), love to be handled, inquisitive, when handled properly rarely bite or posture, not that expensive to keep, with proper care are long lived and are more of a medium size lizard so the best of both worlds ( small or large )

[Lankyrob]

Dont call them roaches, call them Dubia. They dont smell, cant climb plastic, dont fly and unless you live somewhere real warm if they ever did escape they wont breed. They are easier to look after than most reptiles!! And i find them pretty cute too.

[NennaMeerkat]

Crickets are fairly easy to take care of and as far as the noise and smell goes, I always stored mine in a garage. It provides ample heat and if it gets really really hot where you are you can simply stick your container in the shade outside during the hottest part of the day.

Crickets will eat just about anything and everything. I always chose to feed mine the hearts of romaine lettuce and potatoes. Cheap food that would be healthy for the cricket and thus healthy for my lizards (I was keeping close to 30 anoles and other native wild caught lizards for college). Found that most pet stores were giving their crickets cardboard to eat which meant my lizards would have been eating cardboard (you are what you eat kind of thing). I went to bait shops on the days they got their crickets in and would buy 100-200 at a time. Would take them home and cut up egg cartons for them to live in/on. Just a huge plastic tub with a lid that I cut small holes into was all I needed. Only thing to keep in mind is that crickets can "drown" if their environment is to humid.

Once my lizards ate all the live crickets I would hose out the tub, throw away the really old egg carton and replace with new. Generally you can do the same with roaches as well.

[mld]

I would have to say if you are going to purchase a leopard gecko, buy it from a breeder. A lot of petstore do not house them properly, they feed them insects that are too big.

I you can get to a reptile expo, you can buy a healthy leopard gecko that isn't too young, a reputable breeder won't sell a sick gecko, or a gecko that is having eating issues. You can also buy a juvenile one, which would be my choice.

Here is a good recipe for feeding crickets/roaches.
Breeding Crickets - Acheta domesticus (http://www.herpcenter.com/breeding-feeder-insects/breeding-crickets-2.html)

[mld]

So I have been trying for 4 years to try and get a snake but I am finally giving up. I really love them but my dad is scared of them (I know sad right) and my mom is fine with it now. But my dad wont let me get one so I have decided to get a lizard.

I have some questions so if you dont want to read might want to stop reading now.

1. What are some good ideas of begginer lizards that can be handled quite a bit?

2. What size of tanks do you need for these lizards?

3. Are these lizards relatively easy to take care of?

4. Are these lizards cheap or expensive and how much do they cost?

5. How much humidity do they need?

6. How much heat do they need?(Heat Pad or Heat Lamp or Both?)

7. Can you feed them Salad because I dont want to be going out for crickets all the time?

Each will have its different needs, What size of a tank would you be able to have.

I'll answer this one first because most lizard eat crickets. If you don't want to feed live feeder insects then maybe you should think about a crested gecko. They eat Crested Gecko Diet! Iguanas don't eat any protein but they are not an easy lizard to own and require a lot of work, plus there are just too many of them out there that are without proper homes.

[NennaMeerkat]

Have to agree buying from a breeder is 10 times better than a chain big pet store. If something is wrong with the lizard, snake, whatever you have the breeder to call and get advice from. Someone with sometimes years and years of experience vs. someone who has maybe taken a 2 hour lecture on snakes in general. In my own case, when my baby hognose stopped eating the breeder didn't hesitate giving me tons of advice, and in the end was happy to trade me a new snake taking back the one that wasn't eating.

Breeders are uber helpful and most of the time want nothing more than the best for their creatures that they sell. Any responsible breeder that is.

[NennaMeerkat]

And as for a lizard...Bearded Dragon. When they get older they eat mostly fresh veggies instead of live insects (though they still require them) and don't get overly large. They are really docile and fun lizards overall. A decent beginner snake since they don't need perfect humidity and such to live a happy life. Leopards are also good, but having a 3-4 year old dragon that is what I have experience with, and it has been a good one as well.

[emilie]

Please correct me if I'm wrong so I know!
Would it be easier to buy a Crested Gecko because they do not need to be fed crickets as often? I am interested in getting one and yes they take a little more time but you can feed them baby food and vitamins and crickets will not be needed then everyday. Maybe twice a week?

[Freebody]

you can feed cresties, repashi 2 part crested gecko food 100% of the time if you like, i do just because my leachies dont like insects lol or at least they dont yet, maybe one day...

[emilybier]

Definitely definitely definitely leos for the both of you. The only reasons I would recommend the leo over the bearded dragon is because dragons require a much more varied and expensive diet and they get much larger, require much more room, and much more activity. Not to say that they aren't wonderful, because they have the most personality of any reptile I've ever met :)

You can get a leo for $25 from a MOM AND POP pet store. No Petco, no Petsmart, none of that, for the same reasons you don't get snakes from there.
If you buy from a Mom and Pop, check for fat tail, bright eyes, toes clear of shed, mites, and the obvious.
I can also recommend several breeders that are well proven for great quality animals.

Leos only need hides (dry/warm, dry/cool, moist) and a water dish over paper towels. If you are VERY careful, you can use playsand. For a beginner, please use paper towels. You only need to replace towels when you see feces. Leos pick a corner so you can leave paper towels loose. Disinfect the whole tank at least once a month.
Heat lamps, no heating rocks, you know the drill.

Other than that, pretty standard.

Crested geckos require either baby food with Repashy CGD every day, or that with crickets every other day. They also require misting twice a day and arboreal cage setups which means much more cage cleaning.

Leos are much easier because they do not usually require misting every day, and can be fed mealworms in a dish every other day. An adult leopard gecko should be housed alone (or two females, NEVER two males, mixed gender, or mixed sizes) in a 20 gal long.

I'm wondering why no one has suggested mealworms as feeders for leopard geckos? Mine all lived quite happily on them. They stay easily contained in a feed dish and cant get anywhere very fast.

Roaches are a great feeder but breeding roaches was always more work to me than going to the pet store for a bag of 100 mealies. However, if you are willing to put in the effort it can be much better.

[emilybier]

*Edit*
Use a UTH (under tank heater) for leos. They originate in middle-eastern clay deserts. They lay on the clay to absorb heat. Some people keep them happy on lamps, some people prefer UTHs. I used a low wattage lamp for light cycles and a UTH under their dry hide.

[infernalis]

Only reason I use roaches, I already breed them for Monitor food, so it's super convenient.

Besides, watching Leo chase a big roach, then chow it down is cool.

[emilybier]

They are so awesome when they put their "hunter face" on :D
How big are the roaches? Some leos nom down pretty well on bigger prey, but its not completely safe to feed them anything bigger than the space between their eyes.

[molson101]

sick thag is awesome

[infernalis]

They are so awesome when they put their "hunter face" on :D
How big are the roaches? Some leos nom down pretty well on bigger prey, but its not completely safe to feed them anything bigger than the space between their eyes.


I use the jumbo roaches for my Savannah monitor, so Leo gets juvi roaches.

http://www.reptard.info/images/leo1.jpg

[emilybier]

Haha awesome pic. He looks very happy :D

[Aaron_S]

I just want to mention to all Canadian residents who think roaches are a good idea is that they are considered pests so they are not legal to own. Everyone should ensure that their local by-laws aren't broken.

[molson101]

Im getting a leopard gecko in april. Im going to Quebec and when I come back I finally get my lizard. Im getting two so should I get a Male and a Female or just two Females.

[emilybier]

I would say getting two males and housing separately would be the easiest thing to start out. Females lay seasonally and they can become egg-bound. However, females tend to keep weight better. Either way you shouldn't house together unless they are two females of the same size and you have to quarantine for about 6 weeks when you get them anyway. They don't always house well together either.

[molson101]

K thanks alot for the help.

[emilie]

I just want to mention to all Canadian residents who think roaches are a good idea is that they are considered pests so they are not legal to own. Everyone should ensure that their local by-laws aren't broken.
Really? huh.