Starting to think about getting a lizzardish reptile... suggestions?

[Cirith Ungol]

I have no real idea about what to start looking for.

Obviously it shouldn't be too difficult to keep. Eventho I'd be thrilled to own a chameleon I don't think I want that as a starter.

Having no real clue at all I could put some kind of wish list here of things I'd like it to be or have:

As smart as possible
As dinosaur like as possible
As easy to keep as possible
Preferebly a meat eater throughout its life
Preferebly one that doesn't hybernate
With a nice size of roughly 1½ft max (Don't wanna wrestle an aligator really )
Not too fast or skittish or defensive/offensive but instead rather easily handlable
Not too expensive (like $200 or something)
Not WC and not protected (and not a turtle)
Has to have 4 legs

Is there any reptile that comes even remotly close to all those criterea?

 

[ChrisNCT]

Yep..several things........

Savanna Monitor would be a good starter!
You can also think about bearded dragons and the like.

 

[pitbulllady]

Hmmm...small parrot, perhaps? I mean, BIRDS are descendants of dinosaurs, so if you want something "dinosaur-like", a bird would be a close as you can get. Trouble is, none of the parrot family, with the exception of the very rare Kea from New Zealand, are carnivores.

If you want something cold-blooded that fits your criteria, the only carnivores that would pretty much fit most of your requirements are the monitors and tegus, but most of them far exceed 1.5 feet maximum length, and the smaller monitors, like the Ackies, are very expensive, WAY more than $200.00. Monitors ARE quite intelligent, though.

A Bearded Dragon would be MY first choice for a first-time lizard pet, either that or a Uromastyx. However, neither are carnivores, unless you count crickets and superworms as "meat". In fact, adult Beardies and Uros are mostly vegetarians, though my Beardie will eat crickets once or twice a week as an alternative to his greens and veggies.

You'd be right to avoid a chameleon as a first-time lizard pet, as they can be difficult even for long-time reptile keepers. I don't think I would be able to provide for one, and I've kept lizards and snakes since childhood(a LOOONG time ago).

pitbulllady

 

[Schlyne]

From what I can think of the best starter lizards that would fit your criteria would be uro's and bearded dragons. Beardeds are definately insect eaters, but uro's are really vegetarians. You can feed a uro crickets, but very rarely and mostly as a treat once in a while.

Anything else I can think that's closer to your criteria needs a lot more space and isn't really a beginner lizard.

 

[mouse]

bearded dragons start out eating crickets when they are small, and a few veggies. when they get bigger they get more veggies and less crickets. mine right now are ~10 month old and they still get crickets, giant mealworms and some veggies (i even got them eating the juvienile bearded dragon pellets) .
they are really neat, mine will tilt their head and look at the giant mealworms and stalk them, chase crix and take a soak in thir waterdish.
i think iguanas get bigger and are less hassle tho. bearded dragons need UV lighting and heatlamps and the calsium powder for the crix.
i think iguanas don't need all that, but i'm not sure.
and chameleons need even more then beardies, they need the humitity regulated and a different cage.
go with the beardies or maby an iguana. don't know much about the other reptiles, exept i seen a water dragon that looked neat.

dianne

 

[Cirith Ungol]

Thanks a lot for all the input!

I've been looking at pics to see what you all mean and talk about and I realized that one of my friends has a bearded dragon that seems like quite the nice fella. Tho he hybernates and wouldn't be my first "beauty-choice" eventho they DO look very nice with all those spines.

The iguanas get way too large for me I have to say. That wouldn't only be in regard to personal preference than also in regard to what size tank I'd need for it and from what I estimate it would fill half my small flat (that's why I am mainly a tarantula person )

What got me going the most were the monitors! They are real eye candy, especially the savannah variety. But they get quite large don't they? But I really liked what I saw. Do they get all docile and "friendly"?

Hm... so I guess that if I wouldn't wanna pay too much and wouldn't want to have to roll up like a ball on the carpet when I want to sleep because the tank is so big then I'm basically stuck with bearededs.

Are any of these animals smart enough that they recognize you emediatly and become very tame towards their owner (and hopefully other people)? In what way are the monitors intelligent?

I've been thinking about a bird (and yes I am aware of the direct link to the dinosaurs and am actually very intreaged and interested in that). But I see some problems with birds - if it was one that would only like me and hate all other people, if it was a bird that screeched very loudly, if it couldn't stop makeing sounds during the day. I need it half quiet during the day since I have now and in all eternity much "homework" to do (am a soon to be teacher). Another thing is that I don't know how my cat would react to it if I had it out and flying about. Tho I think that (knowing my cat since earliest baby stage and for 10 years) I could possibly "tell/show" it that the bird is MINE and a friend and not a toy or food. The next step would be to try and tell the bird the same thing . But stranger things have happened and I guess after a maximum of one week they'd be great pals I bet! Or maybe they don't. ;P

I still don't know... but that is proberbly the state in which I should be now anyhow, since I've only scratched the surface of this topic and would need to learn a great deal more before actually venturing forth.

But thanks again for the answers and if any of you can offer more insight, also in regard to my new questions I'd highly appreciate that!

Cirith

 

[Crotalus]

Agama stellio, perhaps
or
Lacerta viridis
or
Crothaphytus collaris

Allthough the first two needs hibernation.. cant have it all!

/Lelle

 

[danread]

Collard lizards, or ackies.

 

[LPacker79]

Iguanas are definitely not what you're looking for.

A). They're herbivores
B). Size
C). They can cause a LOT of damage to people and their surroundings. Their claws are not human friendly, and males are especially bad during breeding season.

What about a Crested gecko? They're easy to care for, and relatively small.

 

[Cirith Ungol]

I just checked Crested geckos.. nonono.. they look faaar too cute for me!!

Well... perhaps but I don't know. I still have to delv deeper into the background of keeping a reptile like that anyhow. I have two corn snakes and keeping them is fair and simple. Somehow I have the feeling that keeping a lizard or even gecko can be a bit more challenging. But keep the suggestions comming! I'll check out everything.

Cirith

 

[Raqua]

My suggestion is Pogona vitticeps (I'm not sure about english common names, but I feel like it might be that Beard dragon other people wrote here).
It is pretty intelligent and tame. But it eats A LOT !!!

Best choice for me would be some Varan or Tegu, but they don't meet your criteria ...

 

[danread]

http://www.proexotics.com/FAQ_answers_What_makes_Ackies_so_great.html

 

[Cirith Ungol]

Thanks for the link! Now I've read the faq and I wonder... what is it they do that is so much fun to watch? Since nothing close of an explanation was given in the faq I started to desperatly think of what it could be they are doing? Do they dress up for masquerade parties? Do they... dig little holes and reinact WW1? You see I really have no clue..

 

[Lasiodora]

Thanks for the link! Now I've read the faq and I wonder... what is it they do that is so much fun to watch? Since nothing close of an explanation was given in the faq I started to desperatly think of what it could be they are doing? Do they dress up for masquerade parties? Do they... dig little holes and reinact WW1? You see I really have no clue..

What they do is actively forage and show many displays of social behavior. They don't just sit under a spot light all day. They are also very aware of their keepers (Very alert). Mine always check to see what I am up to when I'm in the room. They also are constanly digging. Its fun to watch them find a mealworm that burrowed in the substrate a few weeks earlier. They are also one of the few Varanid species that can be kept in a group. They are awesome. All the traits of of a komodo dragon in a small package Occassionally they do showtunes
Mike

 

[Cirith Ungol]

Hey that really sounds great! (Especially the showtunes bit! )

Tell me more! (Or please point me at some good website which fills me in with everything)

Tank size for 1, tank size for 3?
Temperature? Temperature drop during the night?
UV light?
Do they like to climb?
What substrate and how deep?
What do they eat (Mealworm was mentioned), do they eat veggies when they get older?
Do they hybernate?
Can they be handled and do they become tame?
I guess they need the standard tank furniture like waterdish, hollow log or hide?
Can they climb glass?
Are they escape artists?
How large do they get full grown?
Do males and females have different size and/or colouration and behaviour?
How long can they go without food in case I want to go on a longer trip?

Looooots of quessies, I know... but I wanna know EVERYTHING once I get interested


Cirith

 

[danread]

try this link http://www.proexotics.com/care_ackie.html

 

[Cirith Ungol]

Thanks Dan!

 

[danread]

Here is a few more copied out of my favorites. I did a lot of research into these at one time as i was seriously thinking of getting some. A lack of space means i can't for a while, but as soon as i have a bit more space, i'll definitely get a few ackies.

http://www.kingsnake.com/acanthurus/care/index.html
http://www.kingsnake.com/varanus/acanthurus.html
http://www.pythonpete.com/info/ackieinf.htm
http://www.proexotics.com/monitor_breeding.html
http://www.kingsnake.com/monitorfaq/
http://www.varanuscreations.com/index2.htm

Even nicer is the Kimberly rock monitor, Varanus glauerti. But i wouldn't consider getting one of these unless you are feeling seriously rich. They are by far and away my favorite lizard though.

 

[Lasiodora]

Tank size for 1, tank size for 3?
10-20g is a good size for 1-5 babies. I kept two adults in a 48"Lx24"Hx24"w enclosure I built. You can go larger. They will definitely use the extra space.

Temperature? Temperature drop during the night?
They require a basking spot of at least 110f. Temps on the cool side can be in the 80's and can go down to upper 70's at night. They don't require a temp drop at night though.

Do they like to climb?
They do like to climb but they are not arboreal. Providing thick branches is optional.

What substrate and how deep?
Anything that they can burrow in can be used. Stay away from peat though as it is far too dusty to use safely with them. Decomposed granite is great because it holds burrows well. It makes the enclosure heavy though and it may be hard to find. I myself use a combination of coco husk soil, organic soil, and sand. I mix it until I get the consistincy I like. The substrate should be 5"-10" deep. It needs to be kept moist to ensure humidity is high and they can shed properly. Retained sheds especially around the toes can result in fingernail loss or even the toes themselves.

What do they eat (Mealworm was mentioned), do they eat veggies when they get older?
No veggies. They are primarily insectivores. You can supplement their diet of insects with the occassional pinky and cooked ground turkey.

Do they hybernate?
No

Can they be handled and do they become tame?
Yes

I guess they need the standard tank furniture like waterdish, hollow log or hide?
I use cork bark curls, homemade basking platforms made of plywood, and thick branches. A large water bowl is provided.

Can they climb glass?
No

Are they escape artists?
Only if they aren't housed properly.

How large do they get full grown?
~3' including tail

Do males and females have different size and/or colouration and behaviour?

They are pretty tough to sex. They are not different color wise and differences in body characteristics can very subtle. Behaviour can be misleading too. I had a pair that I thought were male and female. I based this on the fact that they always were trying to copulate. A friend of mine who has bred them over the years told me that ackies can mock copulate (no insertion). It is a behaviour used to display dominance. Two females can mock copulate and so can two males. They will also head bob. All things that would lead you to believe you had a breeding pair. The only way to end up with a breeding pair for sure is to start with a group of at least 3-5 animals. This will ensure that you will have at least one male and one female.

How long can they go without food in case I want to go on a longer trip?
It all depends on how long you will be gone. If they are of good weight and you feed them heavily, I would say 2-3 weeks for adults and 1 for babies (they are ravenous when young).

Hope this helped,
Mike

 

[Cirith Ungol]

Thanks a lot! If anywhere then I'm now seriously tilting towards THEM. They are the closest so far to what I had in mind and if they also are very active, the better! Sounds really fun! (Now what a change from what info I started out with! ) Two problems remain which can't be washed away with a sea of info... the housing - for such active critters I'd absolutely want more space than nessessary... and the price! They ARE expensive (3 would be what I'd get)! I know that even if I had the tank there would be NO way I could pay for them in the next years. But I'll save all the info I got via this thread and maybe I can have them at a later point.

Thanks again!
Cirith