Best display herp / reptile?

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So instead of reviving an old thread, I wanted to start a fresh new one for all the people who weren't on this forum in 2009 :P

I think the creator of the original thread had some good points to take into consideration when voting. One important factor to keep in mind is CO$T.

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Originally Posted by ThyTempest

I mean for this to be both personal and practical, so I am going to allow multiple votes. Ie- you think some really cool retic morph would be a cool display, but realize it isnt for everyone, vote for that plus something else you think is really cool but probably a reality for more ppl.

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Originally Posted by ThyTempest

Something that hides a lot or requires insanely hard husbandry skills is probably not the best thing for a conversation starter. Be creative yet practical.

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I changed the options from the original thread a bit. I hope I got everything :P

I always love both dart frogs, gtp, and emerald tree boas.

How much room do you have to work with?
There is a huge difference between what a frog needs and what a large monitor needs, let alone all expenses involved, and skill of the keeper.

in an unrestricted setting - large monitor

In my situation, other = my Russian Ratsnake
I plan on making her large adult cage a nice natural display cage.

I think the Green Tree Pythons make fantastic display animals. They really are not too difficult to care for, they are always visible, they are not generally too expensive to purchase or maintain, and you can make a wonderful rainforest setup for them. Most of all, they come in a wide variety of spectacular colors.

Crested Geckos would be a good choice for someone who is not as fond of snakes. They are very cute, come in a huge variety of colors and patterns, and they are very hardy and easy to maintain. They also are not as expensive as many other species and don't take up much space so 1 or 2 could be good for a smaller display.

I also think dart frogs make a spectacular display. One day I'd like to build a paludarium and create a large rainforest display that contains several pairs of dart frogs. Even though these are tiny critters, they do need a larger space if you're going to keep more than just a single pair of one species. But they are tiny jewels and displays can be really detailed as these guys won't crush or mangle live plants and natural materials.

Cool thread!! :gj:

Emerald tree boas

I think that disposition is also something to consider; large lizards (beardies and frillies as well as monitors and tegus) tend to be fairly destructive and are not likely to keep intricate display cages looking pretty. Large lizard cages / food / lighting / UVB also gets incredibly expensive, and they are relatively high maintenance. So I would say that if you're just looking for a display animal and not necessarily a high-maintenance pet, keep with the smaller lizards. Similarly, while turtles make great pets, they are not very clean and it takes a lot of work to keep a turtle enclosure looking pretty.

With caimans I think that goes without saying. NOT a display animal. (Or for that matter a pet at all, in all but VERY few situations.)

For display purposes, I really like all types of frogs. I think semi-aquatic cages make for the best displays, and I personally think it's more interesting to have to look at the cage for a few minutes to find them.

I would also add to the list:
Gargoyle geckos (my personal favorites and the only lizards I currently keep)
Madagascar day geckos
Chinese water dragons (also high-maintenance / costly, but they are gorgeous)
Basilisks
Uromastyx

Its not for me :P. It's just to get a good discussion going. I know everyone has their own opinions of whats cool and theyll all have cool things to say about their favorite herps!

I want a crocodile skink, but I want to put it in the hallway of my house which is a heavy traffic area... Not the best idea lol. So I'll just keep fantasizing :D

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Originally Posted by h00blah

Its not for me :P. It's just to get a good discussion going. I know everyone has their own opinions of whats cool and theyll all have cool things to say about their favorite herps!

I want a crocodile skink, but I want to put it in the hallway of my house which is a heavy traffic area... Not the best idea lol. So I'll just keep fantasizing :D

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Lol I know, I was just talking in second person to whoever may be browsing for ideas. :) It's a fun thread for sure.

Croc skinks are awesome! That's one I've always thought about too.

Hard to beat the visual impact of a Green Tree Python.

However, for the non-snake crowd, I would suggest Giant Day Geckos

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Originally Posted by The Serpent Merchant

Emerald tree boas

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Is that what you decided on as far as your GTP/ATB/ETB debate?
I apologize for being slightly off topic everyone :)