I agree that beardies are one of the best lizard species to keep as a pet. They still require large cages compared to a snake, but not QUITE as elaborate as a uro setup IMO. Less heat is needed, but they need UVB or good supplementation without it. Another good lizard choice is a leopard gecko. An adult can live in a 10 gallon tank with an under tank heater on one side, and generally feed well on crickets and mealworms. Both easily obtainable from local pet shops now. Some may even eat canned crickets off tongs, or prepared leopard gecko foods, and meal worms kept in a shallow dish. They are docile for the most part, less expensive in general, and WAY easier to keep than Uros or beardies IMO. Plus, being nocturnal, no UVB is necessary, just light calcium supplementation a couple of times a week by dusting their food or gutloading the insects with nutritious food before eating.

The fact of the matter is ALL herps require more attention to temps and/or caging then other small pets like hamsters and such which can pretty much be kept at room temps with no special heating, and can be fed dry foods from a box. BUT, those features in herps also make them exciting for folks to keep as opposed to a more mundane pet.

Probably one of the best herp pets is a corn snake. Docile, manageable size, can be kept in easily obtained and inexpensive caging, and heat requirements are generally easy to maintain. They can even do OK at room temps if around mid-70s, although a warm end around 80 is best. No special lighting is needed, so no expensive UVB bulbs. They feed on mice, which can EASILY be purchased frozen at most big pet chain stores now, and most all available at these stores or at shows are captive bred and feeding very good on frozen thawed mice already.

Whatever you decide, good luck. Just make sure your neat pet doesn't turn into your worst nightmare as far as care is concerned.

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