New to the World of Lizards!

[Scott2742]

Hello everyone. I am in the process of researching the ideal "starter" lizard for my 13 year old special needs grandson. He loves reptiles of all sorts and of course wants a large lizard. Grandpa says no! Thus, I would like to get your opinions on the best lizard to get him, and for that matter, how many. I've seen a spirited dialogue between "leos" and "beardies," but should other lizards be considered? Thanks!

[Doggey75]

I have a leopard gecko. He is pretty cool. I haven't had him long though. But, I would recommend them.

[bumblebee1028]

I have four bearded dragons, and they are great pets! They are a bit more expensive to keep than leopard geckos. Beardies eat a lot as babies/juvies (one of mine has eaten over 100 crickets in a day), and they require UVB bulbs, which cost about $25 each and need to be replaced about every six months. They also require a larger enclosure than a leopard gecko - the minimum for an adult beardie is a 40 gallon breeder, while I think an adult leopard gecko can be housed in a 10 or 20 gallon tank. Beardies do get bigger than leopard geckos, and are supposed to be a bit better with handling, though I don't have a leo, so I can't really compare them. Adult beardies are a lot cheaper to feed than baby beardies, as they switch to mostly greens and only about 50 crickets a week, and they are also a bit calmer (and generally sturdier) as adults, so you may want to check into adopting an adult beardie if you decide to go that route.

I wouldn't recommend housing more than one beardie in the same tank (and I believe the same is recommended for leopard geckos), as they are solitary creatures and can be aggressive toward others. So if you want more than one, be prepared to have more than one enclosure.

In addition to bearded dragons and leopard geckos, I believe crested geckos are also considered a "starter" lizard. I can't really help a lot with advice about leopard geckos or crested geckos, but I do know that both leos and cresties are nocturnal (while beardies are diurnal), and they don't get as big as beardies. Out of the three, I would pick a beardie, though I am obviously biased

Hope that helps

[jclaiborne]

I honestly don't think you could go wrong with either lizard, I have kept leos in the past and they were great, I have kept and currently keep a beardie and he is a cool little guy, however if you get them as a baby they are eating machines and can be a little fiesty at times, but calm with age and handling. Another route to look into might be a Blue Tongue Skink. I love mine. Coolest Lizard I have owned.

[OctagonGecko729]

There are many good starter geckos and lizards but for a kid if he is at all "rough" i would recommend a Bearded Dragon. They aren't the most active of animals but that can be nice as well if you just want a laid back pet. They do need bugs though. If your interested in an animal that does not need bugs you could look into Rhacodactylus or Correlophus species, they can be fed solely a meal replacement powder. These geckos are a good bit more delicate to handling with regularity though.

[mvptext1]

I have 2 Leo's, 2 Bearded Dragons, and 1 Crested. I would say of all 3 the Crested is the easiest to keep. No external heat source needed, just regular misting. And the crested will eat some insects, but mostly I feed him the Crested Gecko Diet, which is just a powder you mix with water - very easy.

Next easiest to keep are the Leo's. They don't require as much food as dragons and you feed them mealworms which are easy to keep in the fridge. The Leos will defecate in the same area every time, so I have a mini litter box in their cage which works great, very easy to clean.

The Dragons are the hardest to keep for many reasons, however, they are also the most rewarding. As stated above they need UVB light which requires an investment in bulbs they also need a source as well (unless you use a mercury bulb which does both). When dragons are young they eat a ton of insects, and then transition to veggies. Making them a veggie salad can take up some time. And keep all those insects alive for feeding can be a pain. Basically it is just all around more work. And the dragons need a bigger cage and when they go poo you need to clean that up right away, cause it will smell up the room.

With all that said, the dragons have more personality. One of our dragons is really good with handling and like to hang out. The other one, is skittish, so it can be hit or miss I guess. But the dragons are better for interaction than cresteds or leos.

One of my leos is very calm and seems to tolerate handling quite will, but being smaller and having a tail that will drop with pressure, you just can't handle them the same way you can a dragon.

It the pet is going to be a "display" animal with occasional handling, I'd say go with the Crested or Leo.

If your grandson wants an animal he can hold go with the dragon. However, I will say, if you get a baby dragon, be very careful. As babies they are very delicate. And they can be jumpy too. Some people see others with dragon on their shoulders and they think they can do that with a young dragon. Not recommended. A fall off a shoulder for a young dragon can lead to broken backs and arms. Just handle with more care when they are little.

Good luck - your grandson is lucky to have you supporting his interests.

[MrLang]

I've had a lot of lizards over the years. My vote is for a NILE MONITOR!!! Just kidding...


Get him a bearded dragon for sure.