New Animal Time :)

brooklynboy521 · 07-03-12, 09:05 PM

Hey guys, the time has come for me to get a new animal soon. I am looking for a lizard species that will tolerate handling (not excessive amounts) and is not too hard to care for. I have an empty 4x2x4 (LxWxH) enclosure that is free. I have experience with just about anything from Leopard geckos to blue tree monitors. I am open to ANY suggestions.

alessia55 · 07-03-12, 09:53 PM

If you have experience with leopard geckos and blue tree monitors, you should know more or less what you'd like... Do you want something small? medium? large? on a veggie diet? insects? mice? terrestrial? arboreal? From the kinds of lizards you've worked with, which have you enjoyed the most?

BarelyBreathing · 07-03-12, 10:36 PM

Some suggestions for your enclosure size- a small group of leopard geckos, a bearded dragon, a blue tongue skink, a chameleon (but they don't handle well), a mountain horned dragon, a leachianus gecko, a halmahera gecko....

GarterPython · 07-03-12, 11:05 PM

No chameleon. They need a screen cage. The only chameleon that can be kept in a glass aquarium is a Pygmy Chameleon and don't give out false information about handling chameleons, please! I know the main thing people say when you talk about chameleons is that they don't handle well (that is not true) if you get it as a baby and handle it it will grow up getting handled and will not get stressed out. Also I love Blue Tougne Skinks!

LISA127 · 07-04-12, 05:28 AM

The blue tongued skink. There is no better lizard if you're looking for a medium to larger lizard. I've had mine for 12.5 years now. He's never had a health problem to speak of....not even a minor one. And I have to say he is the easiest reptile I've ever cared for. Easy to feed too.

Jay · 07-04-12, 05:55 AM

Handaling = stress.

brooklynboy521 · 07-04-12, 07:03 AM

Hey the reason I wasn't more specific is because I have no clue. The only geckos I would consider are leachieanus or a crested colony. I want something that can live it's entire life or a good part of it in there. I would like it to be semi arboreal to arboreal because I do not want to waste the space on a terrestrial lizard. I was thinking about an ackies or Kimberly rock monitor. Money is not really an issue. Out of all the animals I have worked with my favorite is prehensile tail skinks, leachieanus (my friend has both) and water dragons.

LISA127 · 07-04-12, 07:30 AM

If money is not an issue, why not go with prehensile tail skinks then? I had one many many years ago, when they were not expensive yet. Great lizards. Or you could go with a small colony of pink tongued skinks.

StudentoReptile · 07-04-12, 07:33 AM

Uromastyx or blue-tongued skinks

UwabamiReptiles · 07-04-12, 07:59 AM

I was originally thinking uro. What about a water dragon or sailfin dragon? Maybe not the best for handling but most reptiles that are arboreal don't like a whole bunch of handling.

LISA127 · 07-04-12, 08:00 AM

I still say if you're looking for something that can tolerate handling better than others, the blue tongued skink is the way to go.

brooklynboy521 · 07-04-12, 08:02 AM

Also forgot to mention I have a wide variety of food around me so I don't really care what it eats. I love to have a tame tokay but that's not going to happen lol.

brooklynboy521 · 07-04-12, 08:04 AM

I am fine with limited handling. I still own blue trees that hate being handled so I am used to it. I was considering a sailfin or water Dragon but would most likely have to build a bigger enclosure for the adults correct? And it isnt a glass tank btw it is melamine.

brooklynboy521 · 07-04-12, 08:06 AM

And blue tongue skinks seem so unporportional to me. There is something about them that has kept me from them.

**Pareeeee** · 07-04-12, 08:09 AM

I would definitely not put Crested Geckos together in the same tank. I would put dividers in to keep them separate (this is what my friend has done, because she learned the hard way. The one attacked the other, its tail got infected and finally fell off. The infection permanently stunted his growth)

All that being said, Cresties are GREAT lizards. They are quite tolerant. I conditioned my little guy to being handled while he was young, got him used to me *gently* touching his feet & head as well. Now he doesn't seem to care what I do. He's as tame as can be. Crested Geckos are one of the cheapest and easiest lizards to own. They don't need heat lamps (they actually get stressed if the temperature is anywhere over 85, and cannot tolerate it for long. They can die if the temp stays over 90F). Just mist down their cages at night, and only need to be fed CGD (Crested Gecko Diet) which makes it so easy. You don't have to fuss with dusting crickets, etc...this stuff has everything they need. I buy Repashy's online. It's the best IMO. Just keep the bag in the fridge and it lasts a LONG time. This I cannot stress enough: please do not attempt to feed anything other than CGD. Crested Geckos have specific dietary requirements which are difficult to duplicate without risking the health of your lizard. Do not listen to pet stores, since they will tell you to feed crickets and baby food. Baby food is not good for them and can be harmful.

The second lizard I would recommend is famous for being a beginner lizard: the Bearded Dragon. Beardies all have unique little personalitie and can be quite comical. Mine would glare at me if I did anything she didn't like. It was hilarious. Bearded dragons are omnivores, and do well on a mixture of crickets, raw collard greens, squash & carrots. Mine liked to eat the Beared Dragon dry food which made things easier as well. Being a diurnal lizard native to the Australian desert, they require dry conditions, high temps and correct UV lighting. VERY important: dust all crickets in Calcium+Vit. D powder. These lizards require it and if they do not receive proper diet and supplements, will suffer from Metabolic bone disease.

This is what can happen if proper diet, lighting and supplements are not provided:
MBD

...this picture makes me

Here are some caresheets:

Bearded Dragon: Caresheet 1, Carsheet 2

Crested Gecko: Caresheet 1 (PDF) Caresheet 2

Hope I was helpful!