Reptile & Amphibian Forums

Hi,

I'm thinking of getting a new lizard this year, but I'm not sure what exactly I should buy. I have a bit of experience with reptiles, and I'm looking for something different. I currently own 7 leopard geckos and a frog-eyed gecko and have cared for butterfly agamas, tiger ameivas, crocodile geckos and legless lizards.

Basically, I want something that can comfortably live in either a 10-15 gallon tank, or a 55 gallon tank. Not something extremely expensive, or extremely hard to care for, since my time is a bit limited by work.

Attitude doesn't matter much, and since I don't have alot of time to handle the lizard daily, I don't mind having a critter than doesn't like to be handled alot.

Monitors are out of the question, since my husband wouldn't like that very much

Any suggestion would be greatly appreciated ^_^

well heres a few sugestions for the 10 tho 15 gallons
1 or 2 bibrons geckos
a desert spiny lizard
a red sided skink
1 or 2 sandfish
a armadillo lizard
a trio of pictus geckos(beware they lay like crazy so if you dont want a bunch of eggs get only 1 to 3 females)
a longtailed grass lizard
for the 55 gallon cage here are some choices
one of the many whiptails
a bearded dragon
up to 3 curly tails
up to 2 broad headed skinks
an ameiva

also remember any of the ones that could fit in the bigger cage as it is best to provide as much room as possible for maximum benifit to you and your reptiles.once youve decided what you want if you need any help just ask.also how do you keep your frog eyed geckos.these are some geckos that ive been interested in and their is a reptiel show coming up so im getting as muchinfo as i can.hope this helps
nick

thank you for the suggestions

I keep my frog-eyed gecko in a 20 gal. long tank, on fine sand substrate (I can't remember how many inches, I think 3-6 inches is recommended, since they love to dig), an under tank heater, basking light and a couple of hiding spots. I also mist the hotter side of the tank every couple of days, and provide him with a half buried moist hiding box for when he's shedding.

I feed him a couple of big crickets every other days, but he seems to prefer silkies and sometimes butterworms. He will also eat a pinky occasionally, covered with vit and calcium powder every other feeding. He will sometime refuse food for a couple of days, but he's a great eater.

I never handled him, since he seemed to stress easily from the first day I got him, but after he became accustomed to my presence, he "greets" me when I enter the room, most likely watching to see if I'm bringing him food

Interesting thing, I read that they can make a rattling sound when startled by rubbing their scales together, but I don't know if it's true or not, since I've never heard/seen my little guy do it.

Overall they're interesting geckos ^_^ Hope this helps!

thanks for the info.I might look into getting some of these.they sound interesting and dont seem to expensive compared to some of the othergeckos in the trade right now(leos and cresteds).thanks again.tell me what you end up getting.
nick

Funny enough, my frog-eyed cost me more than my leos. I'm in Quebec, Canada, and I got my frog eyed gecko for 100$, and I haven't payed over 80$ for my leopard geckos.

It always depends on what morph of leopard geckos you get, though. Also, if you're in the US, I expect prices to vary

Leos are tough little guys, and make very interesting pets. Easy to take care of, too. I love them

Also, if you have any information on sandfishes (I can't seem to find any :/) please tell me, I'm interested in these guys ^_^

I have plenty of info on sandfish(i have a bunch of books and almost every issue of reptiles magazine plus others)heres some care information.
trade names:sandfish,sand swimmer,sand skink
scientific name:scincus scincus
length:around 6 inches
terrarium size:1-3 specimens can be kept in a twenty gallon long aqaurium
terrarium type:you need to basicly keep it on just sand.the sand needs to be 3 inches and deeper.the lowest evels of the sand need to be kept moist by first,before putting the sand in,putting a small pvc pipe in the corner of the aqaurium and then putting sand in the aqarium making shure not to get any in the small pipe.once it is all done and the sandfish is in their you will put small amounts of water in the tank by trickling it down the pvc pipe.this keeps the bottom layer moist for the sandfish.you should do this every 3 days or so.
they need a hot spot on top of the sand of high 90s and low 100s.if you want to provide uva and uvb it is up to you,but if not make sure to use a vitamin and calcium supplement on its food.
diet:a variety of insects especialy burrowing ones like all types of mealworms and crickets
notes:these are good hardy animals that are not that hard to take care of if you follow this care sheet and they are really interesting animals

hope this care sheet helps.alsofrog eyes hear cost about 50 buck at the most usually.right now i have a pair of leos.
nick

oooh thank you for the info ^_^

I'm going to go look at my local pet shop if he has any sandfishes available, and if not, I'll get informed about if there's any skink breeders here.