Good beginner lizard?

DDW · 04-26-15, 03:57 PM

Hello, I am looking into getting a lizard (since my mother is deathly afraid of snakes. I was hoping for a MBK) and I've been wondering what the best beginner lizard would be. Ive seen the veiled chameleon but I'm concerned with upkeep expenses. If you have any suggestions, please tell me about the animal and it enclosure/feeding requierments. There is a slim chance I will be able to get one at a repticon coming up soon. every thing is appreciated (I would prefer so etching with the least mess possible) Thanks again everyone^.=.^ plus I would love any pics. Any links to good care sheets would be helpful too (I would have to sell it to my parents very well)

prairiepanda · 04-26-15, 06:11 PM

In my opinion, crested or gargoyle geckos are the ultimate beginner lizards. There are a few advantages(or at least I see them as advantages) over other lizards:

no heating needed as they prefer lower temperatures
no UV lighting needed as they are nocturnal
very little space required compared to some other species(such as bearded dragons)
food is convenient because it's just powder that you mix with water(you can supplement with insects if you wish though)
only need to be fed every other day
generally easy to handle
come in a variety of morphs(especially cresteds)

They do need moderately high humidity, but simply misting once a day is sufficient.

I have two gargoyle geckos. Here is Calcifer, my subadult female fired down:

Calcifer half-fired:

And Calcifer mostly fired up:

She can actually turn almost completely black, but the red always stays vivid red.

And here is Howl, my hopefully male baby fired down:

Howl half-fired:

Howl fired up:

Calcifer is a red stripe, and Howl is from a high red line. Calcifer looked pretty much the same her whole life, but Howl will change as he grows. His parents both fire up bright red all over and fire down a pale orangey-pink. Howl is slowly gaining his reds.

It might be worthwhile to look up crested geckos as well. Their care is identical to gargs, but they look quite different.

If you're not into geckos then long-tailed lizards, anoles, or bearded dragons are all great beginner lizards as well. They all require heating and insect feeders. Beardies require more space and also some vegetables, but are generally better to handle than the other two which tend to get stressed easily.

DDW · 04-26-15, 06:19 PM

Thanks! I didn't know much about geckos but they are very nice now that I do. This might be a possibility. If I add up enough numbers, I may be ab,email to get it. Thank you again^.=.^

prairiepanda · 04-26-15, 06:27 PM

I think you can usually get cresteds cheaper than gargoyles, but it depends on the breeder and the morph you're looking at. I forgot to mention that the second and third pictures of Calcifer are a bit old and she is bigger now and still has a bit more growth to do. Gargs can get up to 8 inches long from snout to tail, so they're a decent size to handle but still small enough that they don't need huge enclosures. Other lizards will have higher care costs because of their extra needs, but the cost shouldn't be too bad anyway. Do you have a long-term budget figured out?

DDW · 04-26-15, 06:53 PM

edit, talked to parents and i probably wnot be getting any at repticon just gonna be looking. Plus, by the time I do get one, I'll be in a job to help pay for annual expenses (if not all)

I know initial cost will be a good bit but I love that you don't really need insects. I haven't gotten a long term budgetc but (since I'm still living with my parents and will be for a while) as long as it's not much of an annual cost, it shouldn't be a problem. I have a good bit of money waiting for me and I'm figuring not much more than the cost of feeding a small dog or a cat a month. I was wondering, how long do they usually live? Shouldn't about 40 gal equivalent sized enclosure be enough for an adult (what size do you prefer?) I won't be getting one for a long time I don't think. We have too many Ani as and I don't plan on getting anymore for a bit.

prairiepanda · 04-26-15, 08:29 PM

You're looking at waaay less cost than a cat or dog! My cat is by far the most expensive pet I own, and I don't spoil her too much. For the geckos a $17 bag of food powder lasted me around 8 months when I just had one gecko. Mine eat Pangea, but Repashy is similarly priced and individuals have different taste preferences. Both brands produce multiple flavors. Mine like watermelon or papaya best. I use newspaper as substrate, so that doesn't cost me anything...really the only ongoing cost I have is the food. Monthly costs are a bigger concern for other lizards. Start-up cost can vary depending on how you go about it though.

40 gal is actually pretty huge, although excess space would not cause any stress so if you want a nice big display tank then that would be perfectly fine. You could house two or three female cresteds together in an enclosure that size. Female cresteds usually do well communally, but male cresteds or gargoyles of either gender tend to be rather aggressive towards others. For one gecko, something the size of a 12"x12"x18" exo terra is a great size. You can get real nice acrylic ones that size for around $50, or save money by modifying a plastic bin to use. Height is important because they are arboreal, and you should provide plenty of plastic plants to hide in and things to climb. You shouldn't need to get an actual hide if there's enough plants in there. Fake plants from craft stores can be cheaper than pet store ones, but you need to make sure the dyes don't rub off when wet. You can get bendable branches from pet shops which are pretty cool, but sticks from outside are free you just need to sterilize them. A lot of people even just use those cardboard egg crates and toilet paper tubes, which provide hiding and climbing surfaces and are either free or really cheap(they dry pretty quickly so it's okay to be misting them every day). Those need to be changed often though because you can't clean the poop off. All in all, you're looking at $50 to $200 for setup costs depending on how fancy you make it. The gecko itself will probably be at least $40 for a crested or $60 for a garg. The price can be much higher if you're after a fancy morph, though. Usually unsexed babies are cheapest.

By the way, these guys are nocturnal and will only be active at night, but you can handle them during the day no problem.

**Minkness** · 04-26-15, 08:40 PM

Honestly, depending on what ypi want to do as far as care, the total anual cost could be very low. A pound of pangea gecko food could easily last you a year if the unused portion is kept refrigerated (or frozen). That's about $40 including shipping. Sert ups can be as small as 10 gallons, but I personally wouldn't do more than 20 for a single gecko. They don't need more and can actually go off of food if in too big of a space (or just not eat regularly). I don't feed mine crickets, but 3 crickets once a week of an appropriate size should be more than fine. I have found that adults grow out of eating bugs at about a year to a year and a half. That doesn't mean that they won't, this is just my experience. Once established, a planted viv is one of the best ways to go! A $5 brick of eco earth, 1-3 small, live plants, and bam! Perfect humidity! I use the disposable deli cups for food and zoomed water dishes. Over all total anual care could easily be under $100. Innital start up can be pretty easy as well. If you get a baby, a $15 kritter keeper, paper towls, food ($40), bugs (less than $3 a month depending), a spray bottle, and some fake plants (i grabbed most of mine from dollar tree and if I don't feel pike soaking them clean, I just throw them away).

The cost of the gecko is where it will be pricey. Cresties bottom out at about $40 and gargs are about $60. You may find some cheaper on Craigslist at your own risk. I did see some $20 cresties at my last repticon however. So you may get lucky when you're ready.

(Posted at the same time as panda. Woopz! Lol)

DDW · 04-27-15, 05:15 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by prairiepanda

You're looking at waaay less cost than a cat or dog! My cat is by far the most expensive pet I own, and I don't spoil her too much. For the geckos a $17 bag of food powder lasted me around 8 months when I just had one gecko. Mine eat Pangea, but Repashy is similarly priced and individuals have different taste preferences. Both brands produce multiple flavors. Mine like watermelon or papaya best. I use newspaper as substrate, so that doesn't cost me anything...really the only ongoing cost I have is the food. Monthly costs are a bigger concern for other lizards. Start-up cost can vary depending on how you go about it though.

40 gal is actually pretty huge, although excess space would not cause any stress so if you want a nice big display tank then that would be perfectly fine. You could house two or three female cresteds together in an enclosure that size. Female cresteds usually do well communally, but male cresteds or gargoyles of either gender tend to be rather aggressive towards others. For one gecko, something the size of a 12"x12"x18" exo terra is a great size. You can get real nice acrylic ones that size for around $50, or save money by modifying a plastic bin to use. Height is important because they are arboreal, and you should provide plenty of plastic plants to hide in and things to climb. You shouldn't need to get an actual hide if there's enough plants in there. Fake plants from craft stores can be cheaper than pet store ones, but you need to make sure the dyes don't rub off when wet. You can get bendable branches from pet shops which are pretty cool, but sticks from outside are free you just need to sterilize them. A lot of people even just use those cardboard egg crates and toilet paper tubes, which provide hiding and climbing surfaces and are either free or really cheap(they dry pretty quickly so it's okay to be misting them every day). Those need to be changed often though because you can't clean the poop off. All in all, you're looking at $50 to $200 for setup costs depending on how fancy you make it. The gecko itself will probably be at least $40 for a crested or $60 for a garg. The price can be much higher if you're after a fancy morph, though. Usually unsexed babies are cheapest.

By the way, these guys are nocturnal and will only be active at night, but you can handle them during the day no problem.

Thank you a lot! This is some great info!WOW With theses numbers, I could pay for this stuff myself and just have to worry about keeping it away from the other animals. Such a small enclosure is great, we have goldfish that take up a 50 gal aquarium.
also, do they escape easily? (Hince the animals listed in my signature. The dogs and cats are all indoor. Yah, big house) the gargs remind me of gators lol very pretty. Maybe I can buy an enclosure prior to repticon and bring one home^.=.^ are the coloration any different with gender? (Yours are beautiful) temperment?

DDW · 04-27-15, 05:17 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Minkness

Honestly, depending on what ypi want to do as far as care, the total anual cost could be very low. A pound of pangea gecko food could easily last you a year if the unused portion is kept refrigerated (or frozen). That's about $40 including shipping. Sert ups can be as small as 10 gallons, but I personally wouldn't do more than 20 for a single gecko. They don't need more and can actually go off of food if in too big of a space (or just not eat regularly). I don't feed mine crickets, but 3 crickets once a week of an appropriate size should be more than fine. I have found that adults grow out of eating bugs at about a year to a year and a half. That doesn't mean that they won't, this is just my experience. Once established, a planted viv is one of the best ways to go! A $5 brick of eco earth, 1-3 small, live plants, and bam! Perfect humidity! I use the disposable deli cups for food and zoomed water dishes. Over all total anual care could easily be under $100. Innital start up can be pretty easy as well. If you get a baby, a $15 kritter keeper, paper towls, food ($40), bugs (less than $3 a month depending), a spray bottle, and some fake plants (i grabbed most of mine from dollar tree and if I don't feel pike soaking them clean, I just throw them away).

The cost of the gecko is where it will be pricey. Cresties bottom out at about $40 and gargs are about $60. You may find some cheaper on Craigslist at your own risk. I did see some $20 cresties at my last repticon however. So you may get lucky when you're ready.

(Posted at the same time as panda. Woopz! Lol)

Thanks for those numbers^.=.^ I prefer no bugs which is why I'm interested in these

**Minkness** · 04-27-15, 06:23 AM

Males and females have no real difference in colors or markings. Usually the best way to tell is that when they are sub-adults the males have buldges under their tails. Bugs are needed for young ones though for either gargs or cresties. But again, not a ton and only for about a year or so. I'm not sure, but I believe it is because they are a huge protein source to aid in proper growth. It's also a great way to make sure the gecko is getting calcium when young.

Enclosures are cheapest actually at repricon. The same enclosure I got was 7l $75 at my local store and $50 at repticon. Though they did have one at repticon that is a full set up with all kinds of stuff included such as water dush, calcium supliment, water enhancer (which I don't use), climbung stick, fake plants, and some other stuff, and it was only $75 at the con but $120 at the local store. Also, if you get a baby, you really don't need a full sized enclosure. A medium or large kritter keeper is fine for a good while as they are slow growers compared to other reptiles. I have a 7 month old female crestie still in a medium sized kritter keeper that only cost me $5. Also, getting the VIP tickets and being one of the 1st to get in will help out too. I got free calcium (which I don't use since I have my own) and a bunch if other free promotional stuff as well that also included general care sheets and info packets about different kinds of reptiles. Totally worth it, especially for a beginner.

As for them getting loose...it happens. I had one in a front opening enclosure that has a lock on it but I used to be lazy and not lock it, figuring my crestie couldn't open the door....he learned that if he jumped at the door hard enough, it would open, and he'd get out. Same guy also figured that if he jumped suicide style from my hands and hit the floor running, that he could get under or behind something I couldn't move. One got out and I somehow still don't know how and I found it two days later just chilling in an extra kritter keeper I used to keep old fake plants in. It happens, but be watchful, mindful, and careful, and you should be good. For the record, I have 2 cats and a dog and with as many times as my little Hudini has gotten out (i seem to have only 1 offender out of the many, many I have kept over the years lol) there has been no fatalities.

Hope this helps.

DDW · 04-27-15, 08:08 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Minkness

Males and females have no real difference in colors or markings. Usually the best way to tell is that when they are sub-adults the males have buldges under their tails. Bugs are needed for young ones though for either gargs or cresties. But again, not a ton and only for about a year or so. I'm not sure, but I believe it is because they are a huge protein source to aid in proper growth. It's also a great way to make sure the gecko is getting calcium when young.

Enclosures are cheapest actually at repricon. The same enclosure I got was 7l $75 at my local store and $50 at repticon. Though they did have one at repticon that is a full set up with all kinds of stuff included such as water dush, calcium supliment, water enhancer (which I don't use), climbung stick, fake plants, and some other stuff, and it was only $75 at the con but $120 at the local store. Also, if you get a baby, you really don't need a full sized enclosure. A medium or large kritter keeper is fine for a good while as they are slow growers compared to other reptiles. I have a 7 month old female crestie still in a medium sized kritter keeper that only cost me $5. Also, getting the VIP tickets and being one of the 1st to get in will help out too. I got free calcium (which I don't use since I have my own) and a bunch if other free promotional stuff as well that also included general care sheets and info packets about different kinds of reptiles. Totally worth it, especially for a beginner.

As for them getting loose...it happens. I had one in a front opening enclosure that has a lock on it but I used to be lazy and not lock it, figuring my crestie couldn't open the door....he learned that if he jumped at the door hard enough, it would open, and he'd get out. Same guy also figured that if he jumped suicide style from my hands and hit the floor running, that he could get under or behind something I couldn't move. One got out and I somehow still don't know how and I found it two days later just chilling in an extra kritter keeper I used to keep old fake plants in. It happens, but be watchful, mindful, and careful, and you should be good. For the record, I have 2 cats and a dog and with as many times as my little Hudini has gotten out (i seem to have only 1 offender out of the many, many I have kept over the years lol) there has been no fatalities.

Hope this helps.

Isn't it better to have an enclosure ready? (I live a bit ways off away from where replica and I will not be able to set up until I get back home) if I buy one there, I'd have to have it out of an enclosure for a good bit before I even get home

Those prices do sound good though.

Ballchris · 04-27-15, 10:50 AM

it is a good idea to always have your enclosure set up already, that way things can be acclimated temps can settle in and so on. another reason it a good idea is when the animal comes home it going to be stressed and you will have to leave it alone for a week or two i have heard other people leave them alone longer.

DDW · 04-27-15, 12:13 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ballchris

it is a good idea to always have your enclosure set up already, that way things can be acclimated temps can settle in and so on. another reason it a good idea is when the animal comes home it going to be stressed and you will have to leave it alone for a week or two i have heard other people leave them alone longer.

I thought so but I have to choose between a good priced enclosure or a good priced animal. :/ unless I wait an entire year (or take the risk of ordering from a site and getting it delivered) to get good prices(If I did it that way, I probably won't be able too anyway v-v)

RAD House · 04-27-15, 12:25 PM

If you are not able to set up the tank before hand then maybe you could at least make a plan of everything that you need and how you will set it up. With the right plan you should be able to set the critter up fairly quickly when you get home. Just keep the lizard in the container you purchased him in. Sellers keep them in these type of containers all day at a expo so I don't think a few extra hours would hurt it. Just make sure you don't place him an area that is in the extremes of cold or hot. For example in direct sunlight, or next to an air conditioner.

**Minkness** · 04-27-15, 12:38 PM

With many reptiles it is best to have a set up ready. With gargs and cresties however, they don't really need a special temp. Room temp is fine, so they can be in something not quite 'ideal' for a bit. So, if you see a nice crestie/garg baby for say... $80 and that's the one you HAVE to have. Cool, grab it. The kritter keeper cost will be between $5-15 depending on size, and the other stuff you need will also be there. So, if you need to wait somewhere for a week, or you have a 6 hour drive home, whatever it is, the animal will be just fine. That's what makes them an awesome beginner animal. Once you put them in something (even just a kritter keeper) leave them alone other than food/water/misting for about 2 weeks, or until you see them coming out to explore on their own. I have gotten some that are out and about and eating like a pig in 2-3 days but also have had some that took over a month to settle in.

So, if you get everything you need and set it up as soon as you can, the crestie/garg will be fine. This is not something I would suggest for other reptiles that require a heat source or very limited stress. Cresties, gargs, and even leos are VERY hardy. I see it all the time where people don't even have an uth for their leos, but use those awful overhead lights, and they live for years....not healthy or happy, but they live. A few days for one of these animals is not going to kill them or even be too much stress due to their low care needs. Even beardies require ALOT of work (to me anyway lol).