Good beginner lizard?

[Minkness]

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).