Most popular lizard right now?

stevecampbell · 03-06-05, 11:09 AM

hi me and a buddy really want to start selling more reptiles other than just beardies and we were wondering what your take is on the most popular lizard right now? you know something in demand. i know alot of geckos are popular right now but they dont really interest me (leos or cresteds anyweh) Well just wondering what you all thought

Thanks for looking
steve campbell

TLH_Wär§cöötmän · 03-06-05, 11:49 AM

I think African Fattails are next in line I think, but they are like leos, so I guess thats no good to you. I think Chamelions are quite popular too.

dave68 · 03-06-05, 11:56 AM

I'd have to say the one catching the most attention these days would be cresties. With their easy care and great looks combined with awesome individual personalities, they just keep winning over new fans!!

Dave

stevecampbell · 03-06-05, 01:34 PM

LOL so geckos seem to be the thing right now eh? well i may have to pick up some cresties what about TOKAYS i like the look of those?

nguyen_inc · 03-06-05, 01:46 PM

I agree with Dave. I have/had tokays, cresteds and leos before and I would have to say that the cresteds are the best in my eyes.

nguyen_inc · 03-06-05, 01:48 PM

tokays are just too agressive for some people to handle.

TLH_Wär§cöötmän · 03-06-05, 04:07 PM

Yea Tokays are fairly aggressive, so Leos, AFTs or cresties are better choices. Don't get me wrong tho, I think my Tokays are cool, just have to be more careful around em LOL

HeatherRose · 03-06-05, 04:24 PM

Tokays are little spawns of evil

They're more of a display lizard, and bite especially hard. They do look pretty cool though.

I think cresties are increasing in popularity quite rapidly. They've got lots of variety, and are way easy to keep. And they're CUTE!

lostwithin · 03-06-05, 04:28 PM

Quote:

Yea Tokays are fairly aggressive,

You must be describing the nicer ones lol. tokays are mean nasty animals with one heck of a bite. But they are stunning to look at if you keep them behind glass.

As for the original question Geckos ie.leos, AFT, or cresteds are the way to go if you want easy to breed and easy to move lizards.

Devon

little_dragon_ · 03-07-05, 04:32 PM

I'm know they are a little rare but helmeted geckos make awesome pets. They are very energetic, loud, great feeders, tunnel diggers and can be kept in small colonies. If they ever ctach on they will be really popular. They are only three to four inches long, hearty, and eat like a pacman. A 5 gallon is plenty of room for 1 or 2, better yet a 10 gallon would be a palace!

clint545 · 03-07-05, 04:35 PM

Dave you forgot one thing bout the Helmeteds - They're cute too!! lol, they're the gf's favorites

DragnDrop · 03-07-05, 04:42 PM

I've just got to ask.... why would you want to go from one species that's almost flooding the market, and branch into another one or two species that are or will soon be in the same position? As much as I love cresties, leos and what ever else, if I were to start another species, I'd get one that's a rising star, make sure there's a market for them, the hobby isn't already knee deep in them, soon up to our collective eyes. It's still a while before something like cresties will be flooding hte market and go unsold, but why start up a massive breeding project for something that's got a very short time left to be profitable?

little_dragon_ · 03-07-05, 05:07 PM

They are my gf's favourite to!
She has more guts then me when it comes time to pick up the little bulldogl. It doesn't seem to scream and charge at her like it does with me!

That's a good point about the market!
I love my cresteds that' why I breed them. So I can keep many of them and develope intense morphs

It's not about making profit. Most if not all goes back into keeping my geckos nice and healthy. Make sure you really have a passion for the reptile you have chosen to raise or your project will suffer greatly.

stevecampbell · 03-07-05, 05:51 PM

I know that is why i asked for the lizard that is most in demand!

spidergecko · 03-08-05, 08:52 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by DragnDrop
I've just got to ask.... why would you want to go from one species that's almost flooding the market, and branch into another one or two species that are or will soon be in the same position? As much as I love cresties, leos and what ever else, if I were to start another species, I'd get one that's a rising star, make sure there's a market for them, the hobby isn't already knee deep in them, soon up to our collective eyes. It's still a while before something like cresties will be flooding hte market and go unsold, but why start up a massive breeding project for something that's got a very short time left to be profitable?

I wholeheartedly, completely, unanimously agree. Leos, AFTs, and cresties are a dime a dozen (no offence to any keepers of these).

Breeding something in demand will only bring you decreasing profit really fast (aside from flooding the market). If I were to make lizard suggestions to you, I would say Strophurus and other Diplodactyline geckos. These are increasingly popular in the US and Europe but in Canada they are virtually non-existent. They run in price from about $300 USD all the way up to the thousands. They are Australian which means they are illegal to export and this drives up the price and demand of CB specimens.

You can try (just like everyone else is doing) to breed Uroplatus spp. There aren't many with much luck breeding them but with the new restrictions on exportation in Madagascar, these geckos will be worth a lot more in the near future.

My advice: unless you intend to sell your lizards to pet stores, avoid the common "pet store" lizards.