The Great Lizard Debate

I've come to a crossroads with the decision as to what my next purchase will be. I've come down to a lizard, but can't decide on a bearded dragon or a crested gecko.

I like the idea of having a larger lizard that I can leash and have out on sunny warm days, but then I like the idea of having the prepared commerical diet food for cresties since I am not a big bug person. I mean I'll handle them if i have to but I won't go out of my way to catch, touch, pick one up.

So you guys, what's the pros and cons of each lizard. Which do you prefer?

if you're not big on bugs i'd go with a crested gecko. beardies needs lots of crickets and other insects--and i do mean LOTS!

the size of a beardie is nice but that means they will need a larger enclosure when they reach adult size and they require a lot more food. beardies also require supplemental heat and lighting.

cresteds don't require insects although they do appreciate a few every now and then and they don't need any supplemental heat or lighting. they can be jumpy, but if you handle them regularly from the time they are small they can become quite calm.

how could you say no to thins guy???

http://i160.photobucket.com/albums/t...8/IMG_1909.jpg

i love cresties, not to high maintenance, and fun to handle. i have read that breaded dragons eat alot of food, and you have to feed them a bunch of different things.

ultimately it comes down to YOU.

Oh that is too cute!

I had a dream last night that I was setting up a tank for a new crestie. Maybe my subconsious is trying to tell me something. LOL.

Now a few quick questions about cresties. Are those fresh air habitats ok for them, or how about those ExoTerra glass cages?

i'd go with a glass one, like the exo terra one with the double doors, cause cresties need humidity to be 50-60%, and an open air kind of cage wouldn't hold humidity very good. if you get a hatchling or a young one, they might be better in a smaller tub like set up so they don't have trouble finding food.

i plan on getting something like the exo terra one when my guy (or girl) gets alittle bigger.

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Originally Posted by Kagez28

they might be better in a smaller tub like set up so they don't have trouble finding food.

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What do you mean a tub setup? I thought they liked vertical spaces...how would I acomplish that with a tub? Do you have any pictures?

hatchlings and juvies do better in smaller spaces like kritter keepers so that they can more easily find their food--these can be set up with papertowel substrate, fake vinery and plants. subadults and adults are better suited to vertical spaces and an exo-terra cage would be great. i use the crested gecko cage from reptile depot for subadults and adults: http://reptiledepot.com/reptprices.html (second one down on the page).

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Originally Posted by mlededee

i use the crested gecko cage from reptile depot for subadults and adults.

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How many adults can you keep in the cage you gave the link for?

I just got a bearded dragon this past Saturday. I will tell you, they eat alot, it gets expensive. They also need UVB lightning which needs to be replaced every 6 months. If cost is no issue for you I'd deff. go with a beardie, nothing beat's having them fall asleep on your chest *which mine did last night* or even the evil death stare you get while looking it them it's hilarious.

Now I will tell you my brother has two crested gecko's, they're alot of fun also but at about 15-20 minutes of handling they get a bit squirmy, not saying all might but his will. If cost is an issue by all means get a crestie, if not i'd say bearded dragon, both are excellent lizards though. :)

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Reptilian

How many adults can you keep in the cage you gave the link for?

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I'd prolly stick with a 1.2 combo or even 0.3, but 3 is the most i'd go. Emily can help you more with that though.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Reptilian

How many adults can you keep in the cage you gave the link for?

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3-4 adults. with four adults i add extra hide spaces so that everyone can have there own little territory without any issues. of course, sometimes all 4 will still smush themselves into the paper towel roll on the bottom of the cage. :P

here is some pictures of the tub i use...

http://i160.photobucket.com/albums/t...8/IMG_1915.jpg

http://i160.photobucket.com/albums/t...8/IMG_1917.jpg

http://i160.photobucket.com/albums/t...8/IMG_1901.jpg

here is what i originally had him in but it was too big for him...

http://i160.photobucket.com/albums/t...8/IMG_1880.jpg

http://i160.photobucket.com/albums/t...8/IMG_1879.jpg

Cool Kevin, thanks for the ideas. So now are you going to put Grendel in the vertical tank when he/she gets bigger or were you going to go the ExoTerra route?

well that kind of depends....

if i start breeding rats before he gets big enough then i'll have to get him a exo terra like tank. it's custom made by a local guy up here in michigan. he makes all sorts of glass tanks. i wish i could find his website...

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Kagez28

well that kind of depends....

if i start breeding rats before he gets big enough then i'll have to get him a exo terra like tank. it's custom made by a local guy up here in michigan. he makes all sorts of glass tanks. i wish i could find his website...

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Kevin, your not talking about Marty Made are you? If you are he has no website, he only sells to vendors or bigger stores. :)

that might be him, does he sell at the taylor show all the way on the left side of the room?

he has some very nice looking tanks in all sorts of sizes and set ups, and at pretty good prices.

Yup, his cage's are great very reasonably priced.

Why not a blue tongue skink? They get fairly large but not really big. They're a nice sized handful. They don't move terribly fast, don't need UV lighting, don't need to eat bugs. I feed mine fruits, vegetables, frozen rodents, canned cat food. They're pretty good at eating a wide variety of stuff.

Mark

i want a blue tongued skink. and mark, you just made them sound even more appealing. :P

Blue tongue... It will be mine, oh yes, it will be mine. :D

(Actually, it WILL... in about another year or so after saving up the money.)

Come on, you know you want a beardie!

http://i27.photobucket.com/albums/c1...inclair003.jpg

Look at that face!
Admittedly beardies are bug intensive... really really bug intensive.

And he can come everywhere with me during the summer... parks, movies, coffee shops, happy hour. He's a buddy. Cresties are cool, but they aren't buddies.

i have one crested and two beardeds right now while i love my crested and think hes way cool im very glad i got him. ive always been facinated with them and wanted one of my own. hes neat, easy to keep, low maint but doesnt really interact with me.. he just hangs out in his leaves tollerates brief holding and thats it our bearded dragons now, they are way cool. totally interact and look at you. they do eat alot but if you can kick that they are super cool!

good luck!

Some kinda monitor or even a Green Iguana...

iguanas are absolutely not a good choice for a first time lizard keeper. they are mass produced only to end up abandoned and in shelters when they get too large or aggressive and are extremely hard to place at that point. they require huge enclosures as adults and can go from docile to extremely moody and aggressive in a flash--that's not something i want to have to deal with from an animal that can pack quite a nasty bite (for example: http://img145.imageshack.us/my.php?image=mvc385ffl7.jpg) if he decides today's not the day he wants me reaching in his cage for whatever reason.

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Originally Posted by mlededee

iguanas are absolutely not a good choice for a first time lizard keeper.

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OUPS, I guess I didnt read the whole post! (my bad)
I agree, Iguana... bad idea for your first lizard, as well as a monitor... bad idea!

omg, look at that bite!!!!

I don't have any experience with cresties, but if cost and bugs are a factor, a BD may not be for you.

Just a run down on associated costs for my Bebe...
worms- about $50 every 1-2 months [and she was eating even more as a baby]
greens - $3 a week for endive, plus what ever else I feed her
lights- my UV light (MVB) was close to $45, and will need replacing year. Other types/brands need to be replaced every 6 months

On the upside, I love her and the cost is totally worth it. :D

I voted other, just for the fact that beardies take a lot of care.

I would say, a Blue Tongue Skink, comeon look at these guys!

The little one!
http://i3.photobucket.com/albums/y81...man/cacti2.jpg
http://i3.photobucket.com/albums/y81...an/upload1.jpg

The Big guy!
http://i3.photobucket.com/albums/y81...an/Orloff4.jpg
http://i3.photobucket.com/albums/y81...an/Orloff2.jpg

Crested Geckos are alot easier.:)

I'd vote a blue-tongue if you're looking for a hefty-sized lizard, but don't want to deal with bugs. You just can't beat them.

Cresties are cool, too. But I've had both, and I have to say the BT skinks were more to my liking.

Water Dragon all the way.

get a Uromastyx. :taz: I just fell in love with a pair and will prolly get them by weeks end

Tegus man they are just too awsome
https://ball-pythons.net/gallery/files/9/4/1/8/ywhf.jpg
https://ball-pythons.net/gallery/fil...yojek_fssm.jpg

I used to have a pair of Water Dragons a few years back. The best lizard next to Godzilla - wish I had a big enough enclosure for him.