I can't compare lizards and snakes. They are so different and great in opposite ways; snakes because of their beauty and alienness, and lizards because of their spunk and personality.

My favorite snake is the ball python.

My favorite lizard is the bearded dragon.

I wouldn't reccommend either of these to beginner keepers.

My opinions about beginner herps:
Though I have never owned a gecko, I have read lots about them, and crested and leopard geckos seem like great beginner reptiles. Also, corn snakes, king snakes, and milk snakes. My first reptile was a ball python; I love her to the ends of the earth. She is beautiful and docile, but is very picky. Her fasting so much was very stressful for me as a first-time herp keeper. And yes, she was CBB for many generations.

A popular "beginner" herp is the bearded dragon. I strongly disagree with this. I cannot express to you how much I love beardies, but I wish I'd gotten a gecko first. Beardies are usually docile, but not always. They are pretty big lizards, compared to geckos and anoles, and can seriously hurt a human. A struggling beardie is also VERY difficult to handle. They need very large enclosures with light (and a photoperiod), UVA/B, heat, and nighttime heat. They need to eat A LOT and need lots of supplementation.

All in all, beardies are a lot of work and someone who doesn't know the ins and outs of beardie care is going to end up with a dead lizard. So, for all beginner keepers, I do not reccommend a beardie unless you do 4mo of research and are very VERY responsible.
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CrazyForHerps
0.1 Ball Python, Culebra (Cu)
1.0 Bearded Dragon, Barbudo (Budo)
1.0 Tabby cat, Iraland (Ira)
Various feeder rats

[ Hide Replies ]

• The best reptile - jasonw, Sat Feb 14 16:42:21 2009
• RE: The best reptile - bskinner88, Sun Feb 15 02:39:58 2009
• RE: The best reptile - jasonw, Sun Feb 15 20:08:08 2009
• RE: The best reptile - darionsgal_29, Tue Mar 31 11:18:44 2009
• RE: The best reptile - CrazyForHerps, Tue Mar 3 21:05:51 2009
• RE: The best reptile - vichris, Fri Mar 13 05:24:05 2009