What's your favourite "economy" reptile?

[ReptileHQ]

under $20, mine is the Long-tailed grass lizard(Tachydromus sexlineatus), I think these lizards make very interesting captives.

Please only choose ONE!!!

Chris

[Dilshad]

Since you took T. sexlineatus, I'd have to say Brown Anoles (A. sagrei).

The only reason I don't keep them right now is space. My tanks are all reserved. But it's only a matter of time.... ;)

[stormyva]

¿Is there really an economy reptile or animal for that matter?
Look at all the poor animals, hampsters, geckos, gerbils, snakes that are sold by pet stores as economy animals to people who do not realize that there are other costs and a lot of time required to give an animal the proper care. Costs: Caging, heating accessories, vitamin supplements, calcium supplements, cage decoration, substrate, food, UVB lighting. Time: cleaning cages, cleaning water dishes, handling the animals, and feeding the animals.

[Dilshad]

I totally see your point, but I think what we're talking about here are herps that are perhaps seen as a little less "glamourous" because they've been around a while, or have a lower dollar value placed on them.

The fact is, some herps are cheaper than others for whatever reason, but no less cool...and while it's lots of fun to discuss high end stuff, there's a lot to be said for some amazing species, which thankfully, don't cost an arm and a leg.

As for the value people place on animals...that's a sticky subject, and one I probably beat to death on other websites over the last couple of years, so I'm keeping my mouth shut. ;)

[Tim_Cranwill]

Um, yeah... keeping with the topic... Do wc's count? If so, I pick Red Sided Garter Snakes for sure!

If wc's don't count, I can only really say Fire Belly Newts as that is the only herp I've kept that cost less than $20. I did snag a pair of normal corns for $25 each but I guess thay don't make the cut;)

[Clownfishie]

I've never had anything under $20 -- but on the lower end of the scale, I'd say either red eye tree frogs, or everglades ratsnakes...

[Lisa]

None of our snakes are under $20 here in canada, but price isn't a factor when whe purchase our pets.

[Pythonian]

hmm some normal balls can be pretty cheap.. and corn snakes!

Mike

[Quakezombie]

Hey, i had around 20 treefrogs/3 firebelly's/ 5 Green Anoles/2 house gecko's/2 Grandis day gecko's/2 blue tailed skinks all housed in a very well setup 55/gal.

I actually paid 40 for the Grandis pair as juviniles (20 ea. ;)),and 2 of the frogs were Red-eye's which cost 25 ea so they dont count.Many other treefrog species under 20 though.

I must say though the cricket account was always high :D

[nouserpif]

House geckos for $5 each... can't beat that!
Dan Conner

[Jason Wakelin]

For my experiences in the last 20 years (+/-), I'd have to agree the most interesting inexpensive captive herp is Takydromus, or Grass Lizards. I've taken care of them 3 or 4 times now, and each time they were truly a pleasure.

[Aztec Fred]

Blue Racers-Hands down the best economy reptile out there.DIRT cheap, eats easily available prey item(Easily available if your a 12 yr old boy that doesnt need to go to work and can catch lizards all day) and is *spirited*(Which mens hell bite the living be-jeezers outof you if your not carefull)


Actually...for $20 or less, a nice dark black ratsnake would dojust fine



Fred
Aztec Reptiles

[girraffasaurus]

Fire Bellied Toads!

[Jotun]

Emerald Lizards :D very pretty, and pretty cheap

[girraffasaurus]

Jotun...what other names do those go by? By bf saw a lizard in Petsmart that was called Emerald something. He wanted me to look it up, but I can't remember the name. Tell me about these!

[ReptileHQ]

I think you guys are talking about Emerald agamas(Japalura).

Nice lizards...but for best results:

1. Deworm
2. Keep them cool and humid

Chris

[andrea]

going out in the woods on my parents' property and sniffing out some king snakes or corn snakes for free. keep em quarentined and treat em for mites. havent done it yet, cuz they were always just so plentiful that it never crossed my mind, but how less expensive could you get? hehehe

[Lisa]

Originally posted by andrea
going out in the woods on my parents' property and sniffing out some king snakes or corn snakes for free. keep em quarentined and treat em for mites. havent done it yet, cuz they were always just so plentiful that it never crossed my mind, but how less expensive could you get? hehehe

You may find that this is more expensive (you may have to treat for internal parasites) then just getting a CB snake. When you can get a CB corn snake for $15 USD how can you go wrong with that? No need to treat for anything, no need to remove from the wild, and you probably won't have to feed it live.

[andrea]

we have one pet store here that has a california king for 99.99, when you can order online for 20 bucks, but then there is 35 shipping, sigh. the other pet store is not an option. they got in a huge amount of snakes. and turns out they were all wild caught and she let an RI spread through them from snake until they were ALL infected and some were spitting up blood. it was awful. and one had mites. she left em all in the room together.
i wish i could find some place where i could get a king or corn snake for a decent price rather than a hundred bucks for normal fifty fifty cal. king.
the added 35 for shipping doesnt make it too cheap. and i live right here in louisiana, where there are so many kings and corns around. you are right though, i forgot about internals. i do feel a LOT better about getting CB. just wish that i could find a place that would sell it for a decent price. no reason to sell them for hundred bucks.

[Canadaherp]

my favorite economy reptile is a species of takydromus that comes in occasionally here with the normals but its green!

[eyespy]

Treefrogs and gartersnakes! Too many individual species between them to list, and all of them are treasures.

[Youkai]

Long tailed grass lizards are FUN. Breeding them is easy, they hatch quickly, and are fun to watch.

Also, flying geckos. They're very interesting little geckos that never carry a high price tag.

[girraffasaurus]

Oh, I think it was called an Emerald Swift. Sound familiar?

[nouserpif]

Anyone give me a caresheet for long-tailed grass lizards, or a quick summary (temps, incubation temps,humidity.... etc)?
Dan Conner

[Dilshad]

Giraffasaurus, Emerald Swifts (Sceloporus malachiticus or something like that) are iguanids that range from Mexico all the way to Panama, I think...forest type habitat with a bit of humidity...a common pet shop goof-up is treating and housing them like arid habitat species, in a totally barren desert set-up with sand and excessively dry conditions.

[Alicewave]

I think adoptions make the best economy reptiles! They are reptiles (which is cool) they are free (which is also cool) they usually come with some free housing stuff (which is even cooler unless everything reeks of cigarette smoke) and you get to give an animal a better life than it might have had (coolest part of all)!

[BILLP]

I know that I will most likely catch some guff about keeping a mixed take but o'well. One of my favorite tankks is a 60 gallon tank that have screened sides and in it I have 4 anoles, 2 green tree frogs, 1 emerald Swift, 2 house geckos, and 2 long-tailed grass lizards. I have had the tank with those animals in it for 4 years. I have had to replace a few animals now and then. Also I have hatched out 3 house geckos, 12 anoles, 2 long-tailed grass lizards and 2 tree frogs from that tank.

[brig]

I love my cornsnakes, and normal hatchlings are quite cheap here in the UK.

Second to that, I go with Alicewave on the adoption idea!!!Although my recently rescued 'free' boa just cost the equivalent of about 300 canadian dollars in vets bills, poor baby.

Well, you win some, you lose some...

cheers,
Brig.

[girraffasaurus]

Dilshad, thanks for the info. I didn't see how they kept it at the petstore, though the Petsmarts around here don't seem to be as evil as other places!

[OttawaChris]

Chinese water dragons... I love em!