Reptile & Amphibian Forums

So Ladies and Gents -

I've had my experiences with reptiles over the past 10 years and I'm looking for something new. When I was in High School I started with a veiled chameleon who was a great pet and part of the family. Sadly I lost him to impaction when I had a friend pet sit when I was away on vacation.

When College came around I ended up taking care of a 10 year old ball python who was the dorm pet years before I got there. I also started a few paludariums and terrariums which housed dart frogs and newts.

Now that I'm out of College I'd like to get back into reptiles but want to make sure I'm getting something that's a little less maintenance but fun at the same time. I guess I'm looking for something that falls within these guidelines:

- Easy(ish) to maintain
- Does not need a large enclosure
- Does not smell
- Does not require misting throughout the day
- Simple heat requirements

The main reasons for those guidelines are that I have a job that's a general 9-5 but sometimes requires me to be in between 8-6 . I just want to be sure I'm not getting into something where the animal is neglected. Plus, in my apartment I don't have space for a large elaborate enclosure. As for heating and humidity it varies about 10 degrees with my HVAC unit and can get pretty dry. My main humidity issues are towards paludariums for frogs and other amphibians as I don't want to setup something elaborate.

Thoughts?

Really, less work than a Ball Python! See a Taxadermest. VM

No no no, should have specified a little more. I have no problems with Ball Pythons. Just want something a little different. A ball python was a fun experience but a 4.5 foot 10 year old female did take up a decent amount of space. That would be my only concern. I know I could get away with the shoe box method, but I like to give snakes the opportunity to straighten out if need be. Plus a large shoe box isn't that appealing.

Any other ideas?

What about a Western hognose? I keep mine in a 20 gal.and thats plenty of room for a hoggie.A light on top for heat(90 degree hot spot) and the rest is room temp. I find them pretty low maintenance and perfect size.My adult male eats hopper to small adult mice about every 10 days.Mine wont eat more often then that but some may.
Of course cornsnakes are always a good choice.I have 8 and love every one.
As far as smell, well all animals poop, all poop stinks.Its up to you to keep the cage clean but hoggies are good in a drier atmosphere so the poop tends to be drier and easy to spot clean.
Just make sure you get one that is eating well on unscented pink mice and you'll be good to go.

a leopard gecko might be good for you based on what I read of the whole thread. Very low maintenance. and you can keep an adult in a 10 gallon tank. They even come in some cool colors these days.