Reptile & Amphibian Forums

Hello All!! It's been quite a while since I've posted...
I've recently moved and am finally ready to fill these tanks that are just sitting around.
I have a 48in x 20in x 12in glass aquarium, and I'd like to find something suitable for it. (I *was* going to move my turtle in to it, til I realized it didn't do such a wonderful job at holding water, oops..)
So...any suggestions? As far as lizards go, I've had a bearded dragon and anoles. I'd LOVE another bearded, but I sometimes go away for the weekend, and am nervous about the way beardeds aren't prone to drinking from standing water. I wouldn't mind anoles again, either, except the pet store here only carries very unhealthy-looking ones.
Other things in my mind....I'd prefer something that preferred mealworms and greens as opposed to crickets as it's main food source. I don't mind the occasional bag of crickets but it's a small apartment, and I always manage to lose one or two during feeding time, which causes the cat to careen off the walls and me to be itchy for days!
Oh, yes, I have a cat, but the tank is out of her reach, so she wouldn't be able to get at it *or* stress whatever is living in it out.
I'm also not so keen on leopard geckos (or any geckos I've seen) I don't know why, I think it's the huge fat tails! (I'm sure they're wonderful, but I don't know that I'd be able to own one..but who knows?!)
I'd like something that doesn't mind being handled on occasion (I loved how my bearded would sit on my lap and wander the desk while I typed on the computer)
Lets see...what else. The tank is large, and I'm thinking I'd perhaps like a creature small enough that I could perhaps get a pair of (NOT to mate, just so they'd have some company)
I've also been considering going the frog route, because I'd like to have a neat jungle set-up, since it's the focal point of the living room. But I thought I'd see about lizards first, because most frogs I've researched aren't big on being held much, if -ever.- But who knows....maybe if I can't find the perfect lizard...
Soooo....any suggestions???!
Thanks!
-holly-

Well, I have an Emerald swift and a Guyana collared lizard living in the same tank and they are absolutely the best of buddies. So, I'm with ya on the companionship thing amoung lizards but I also know that usually they should be the same type and not both males. But my suggestion would have to be the Emerald. Doesn't mind being held, will never ever bite and when it gets loose it doesn't dash for crevices. He always stay on top of things. But the Guyana collared (South American collared) is great too. The only bad thing about him is that he will duck into crevices. We also have a frilled dragon and he's awesome as you may have guessed but I'm guessing you're not planning on a big investment like that? Oh, and I'm with ya on the geckos. They're an acquired taste. lol. Good luck!

Mike

if u think ur up to it, why dont u try a mali uromastyx? or another smaller uro species. they like to be held and eat greens and the OCCASIONAL crix.(no more than three a week) you could prolly keep 2 females if you had enuff hides.they dont drink water out of a bowl and u dont need to spray... they get it from there food. in my opinion its pretty hard to make a uro aquarium look fancy but if you use cacti and stuff its possible. have fun.

just to add to that when you go away for a weekend a uromastyx can eat birdseed,finch seed or songbird with no sunflower seeds (becuase of the shells)mine always has a bowl of seed in his tank to munch on