Good beginner lizard? - Page 3

DDW · 05-12-15, 06:52 PM

So, I was wondering, in your opinion is the nicest lizard to keep. Other expenses aside, what is the nicest to handle and least intimidating of the lizards to you? (Maybe stay down to a 20 gal adult tank size if possible) and what are your favorite lizards to keep? Just curious now and want to keep talking since Im out of school and i don't want to start a new thread lol '

as always, pictures are welcome.

**Minkness** · 05-12-15, 07:10 PM

Crestie or leo. 10 gallon tank for an adult, easy to handle, easy to care for.

DDW · 05-12-15, 07:18 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Minkness

Crestie or leo. 10 gallon tank for an adult, easy to handle, easy to care for.

Yah^.=.^ thx they are cute to me too lol

prairiepanda · 05-13-15, 08:06 AM

To be honest, the nicest and least intimidating lizards I can think of which would be common as pets have already been listed here. Under the 20gal size restraint, gargs, cresteds, and leopard/AFT geckos fit. Since gargs and cresties do jump sometimes that can intimidate some people, though. Taking away the size restraint, bearded dragons and blue tongued skinks are pretty chill.

My favorite lizard, which I have never owned but have known a few individuals, would be a tegu. Not a beginner lizard by any means, and definitely a completely different kind of pet than any of the other lizards listed here. They're a huge commitment for time, space, and money, but incredibly rewarding. Very interactive, friendly, and intelligent. They're often compared to dogs.

Although if I were to think of more common pet lizards which are less of a commitment, another favorite of mine is the Chinese water dragon. Not exactly a friendly lizard, though handleable, but fun to keep anyway. I don't have any right now because humidity is a pain to maintain where I currently live.

DDW · 05-13-15, 08:26 PM

Some great news, my parents said I can get a gecko at Repticon (I don't know the terms and conditions yet though) so I have to add up some numbers^.=.^ I am so excited lol. Any suggestions on how to get the best price (if not already) and what are some big pointers on buying? (I can't believe they are letting me do this!) anyway, your opinions? I feel like I'm forgetting something. Anything else is helpful to (just in case I am missing something)

Btw, what should I expect while handling reps there at repticon?

**Minkness** · 05-13-15, 08:36 PM

Congrats!!!

What kind of gecko? Need to know this to give you options.

DDW · 05-13-15, 08:51 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Minkness

Congrats!!!

What kind of gecko? Need to know this to give you options.

Thanks!

Most likely crested or gargoyle (want a garg more though) those are the ones I've explained the most to the folks

I also welcome pictures of setups everyone ^.=.^

**Minkness** · 05-13-15, 09:41 PM

Keep an eye out for a 'small' zoomed or exoterra enclosure. You can get one for 50$ with nothing, or a whole set up for 75$ (this is only if you buy an adult garg or crestie). A medium or large kritter keeper should be fine for a baby or juvie and run between 10-20$ a stick, some fake plants, and a water dish should be about 20-30$ all together. You can get bugs, calcium, and food for under 10$ each. Do NOT be talked into substrate! It's a waste for gargs or cresties. Just use paper towels or shelving liner for the bottom of the enclosure.

So, depending on the size and age of your new addition, your looking at about 100-150$ for everything, including the animal. At my last repticon they had teeny crestie babies for 25$ a piece. Gargs were roughly 50$ for juvies, but the one near me didn't have many gargs at all though.

DDW · 05-14-15, 12:50 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Minkness

Keep an eye out for a 'small' zoomed or exoterra enclosure. You can get one for 50$ with nothing, or a whole set up for 75$ (this is only if you buy an adult garg or crestie). A medium or large kritter keeper should be fine for a baby or juvie and run between 10-20$ a stick, some fake plants, and a water dish should be about 20-30$ all together. You can get bugs, calcium, and food for under 10$ each. Do NOT be talked into substrate! It's a waste for gargs or cresties. Just use paper towels or shelving liner for the bottom of the enclosure.

So, depending on the size and age of your new addition, your looking at about 100-150$ for everything, including the animal. At my last repticon they had teeny crestie babies for 25$ a piece. Gargs were roughly 50$ for juvies, but the one near me didn't have many gargs at all though.

If I get a Baby or juvie, do you think I should go ahead and get the small tall exo terra? Plus the critter keeper? To save money In the long run? I'm going to be checking out the "local" pet store for their prices on pretty much everything. the store here had a baby garg for $60 and I mean not even as big as your thumb when it got to the store. So I think the store here is pretty cheap compared to some places I guess. But I don't think there is a whole lot of demand for reps over here, some, but not much. (I'll ask more later, I shouldn't be up in the middle of the night lol) thanks

DDW · 05-14-15, 03:33 AM

I have decided I like the black and white or high contrast gargs the most. ^.=.^

prairiepanda · 05-14-15, 11:45 AM

$60 is a fair price for a garg, but you might find a better deal at the expo. Plus you'll have more to choose from. Some breeders have package deals that include an enclosure, so you might save money that way. Don't forget to pick up some food(Pangea or Repashy) at the expo as well(ask what brand and flavor the breeder has been using, as some individuals are picky) because pet stores usually don't have the good stuff.

It's good to make note of what your LPS has for enclosures and stuff too in case you need to get things on the way home if the expo doesn't have everything, but that's unlikely. You should be able to find everything you need at the expo at a better price.

My personal preference for an enclosure would be one of the acrylic ones, but the Exo terra ones are nice too. If you're getting a baby, though, it would be easier to start with a kritter keeper and upgrade later on.

Here's a shopping list for ya:
> Food/water dishes (the breeders usually have mini solo cups that work well for this)
> some fake plants (look for things for climbing as well as hiding)
> appropriately sized enclosure
> gecko food (Pangea or Repashy; ask the breeder)
> a gecko!!!
If you want you can also pick up a spray bottle for misting there. Otherwise you can get one at a dollar store. You can use newspaper or paper towel as substrate.

DDW · 05-14-15, 12:20 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by prairiepanda

$60 is a fair price for a garg, but you might find a better deal at the expo. Plus you'll have more to choose from. Some breeders have package deals that include an enclosure, so you might save money that way. Don't forget to pick up some food(Pangea or Repashy) at the expo as well(ask what brand and flavor the breeder has been using, as some individuals are picky) because pet stores usually don't have the good stuff.

It's good to make note of what your LPS has for enclosures and stuff too in case you need to get things on the way home if the expo doesn't have everything, but that's unlikely. You should be able to find everything you need at the expo at a better price.

My personal preference for an enclosure would be one of the acrylic ones, but the Exo terra ones are nice too. If you're getting a baby, though, it would be easier to start with a kritter keeper and upgrade later on.

Here's a shopping list for ya:
> Food/water dishes (the breeders usually have mini solo cups that work well for this)
> some fake plants (look for things for climbing as well as hiding)
> appropriately sized enclosure
> gecko food (Pangea or Repashy; ask the breeder)
> a gecko!!!
If you want you can also pick up a spray bottle for misting there. Otherwise you can get one at a dollar store. You can use newspaper or paper towel as substrate.

This is awesome! Thank you so much! My mom is insisting that we put it in the full size enclosure even but she does have a good point that we have to be careful to not let the other animals get to it. (cats and dogs, especially the dogs who we have caught killing and eatin wild skinks, that wasn't a good sight...)a little critter keeper wouldn't phase two of the dogs at al and the cats can just knock it off whatever I put it on.

Do you happen to know what a normal price is for high contrast or black and white morphs are?

**Minkness** · 05-14-15, 12:49 PM

You must have some crazy dogs and cats....I have 2 cats and a dog and have never had an issue with them around my reptiles. If you put a baby in a full sized enclosure, it will stress out and probably not eat. So if that's the case, and you feel you need a full size enclosure, look for full size geckos.

DDW · 05-14-15, 01:37 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Minkness

You must have some crazy dogs and cats....I have 2 cats and a dog and have never had an issue with them around my reptiles. If you put a baby in a full sized enclosure, it will stress out and probably not eat. So if that's the case, and you feel you need a full size enclosure, look for full size geckos.

I can make a solution for this, I will just stick the critter keeper inside the full enclosure until it's bigger. Animals can't get to it and it won't stress out. Lol

prairiepanda · 05-15-15, 08:44 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DDW

I can make a solution for this, I will just stick the critter keeper inside the full enclosure until it's bigger. Animals can't get to it and it won't stress out. Lol

Yep, that's a perfect solution. It would help with keeping humidity in the kritter keeper too as they tend to dry out quickly. Since your animals are such a problem I would go with an Exo Terra enclosure because the heavy glass will be harder to knock over than a lightweight acrylic enclosure. You may have to cover half of the screen(or more) on the Exo terra with a towel or tinfoil once you upgrade the little guy to it because those Exo Terras have great ventilation and also don't hold humidity too well. Keep an eye on your food dish to decide whether you need more or less humidity. Moldy food means too much humidity, which is solved by opening more ventilation, and dried out food means not enough humidity, which is solved by reducing ventilation(but don't cover all of it!) and/or misting more frequently. Food should be good in there for 2 nights.