Reptile & Amphibian Forums

Hi,

I am looking for a lizard that can be handled every day but not really excessivley. Space is not a factor so the people at the pet store reccomended a bearded dragon and a leopard gecko. Im experienced in box turtles but lizards are a whole new world. Which type would be a better?

either would be a great beginner lizard. another that i would like to add would be a crested gecko ( rhacodactylus ciliatus) they are very hardy and get about the same size as a leopard gecko.
i personally like the climbing geckos better and they come in dozens of color morphs.
if you get a bearded dragon and don't want to spend a lot of money on an eclosure you'll likely be looking at building a custom cage.
leopards can be kept in a 20G aquarium and cresteds can be the same ( only higher is better) also, cresteds thrive at room temperature ( 68-80 deg. F)
look for information on the rhacodactylus, bearded dragon, and leopard gecko forums and you will find all the information you need. also do a google search for care sheets on all, it is much easier to do this than ask a lot of beginner questions. let us know if you need any more specific help.
andrew

Crested geckos sound great but what about handling? Ive read that geckos skin is very delicte and they should only be handled when you have to. Also do they easily tame like a leopard gecko?

the skin is only delicate around sharp objects. handling the gecko will not hurt it's skin. i've only had cresteds get wounds from other crested gecko bites. they seem to tame down more as they age and as young geckos are pretty jumpy.

I just don't understand why blue tongue skinks are constantly overlooked?? I have owned beardies, leos, and cresteds. You want to know what the easiest to feed? The blue tongue skinks, I don't have to buy crickets for them, You know which are the easiest to handle? Blue tongue skinks! They are slow, and have really tough skin, they also are fairly big and solid so you don't feel like you'll crush them if you need to grab them. You know which seem the smartest? The blue tongue skinks, they seem to recognize you ver a stranger, mine know where the dors open so they scratch when they want out. They just seem very smart. The only lizard I've owned that seems smarter is my monkey tail skinks.

BLUE TONGUE SKINKS RULE!!!!

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LIZARDS
0.0.1 Monkey-Tail Skink- "Bubba"
1.1 Irian Jaya Blue Tongue Skinks- "Sammy & Sausage Girl"
1.0 Indonesion BTS- "Don"
0.0.1 Tanimbar Island BTS- "Sebastian
1.0 Kei Island BTS- "Huckleberry Blue"
0.0.1 Ornate Uromastyx- "Spike"
0.1 Albino Leopard Gecko- "Sasha"

SNAKES
1.0 Green Tree Python- "Pink Floyd"
0.0.1 Sonoran Gophersnake- "Toro"
0.1 Western Hognose- "Piggy"

CHELONIANS
0.0.1 Egyptian Tortoise- "Tank"

I love my girl, have a Merauke Blue tongue big girl , but sweet as can be, very inquisitive, a bit picky in her eating habits sometimes, (SPOILED) but loves her bananas her name of course

CHIQUITA

Chiquita (Chicky) female Merauke BTS

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Eve / PHEve

NICE pic, they all look great !

Keep posting skinky pics,
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Eve / PHEve

i agree with you on the traits of them, however i personally think they are ugly and disproportionate. everytime i have handled one however they are very nice and quite easy to hold onto which would make them a great beginner lizard.

HUH UGLY?!?!?!

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LIZARDS
0.0.1 Monkey-Tail Skink- "Bubba"
1.1 Irian Jaya Blue Tongue Skinks- "Sammy & Sausage Girl"
1.0 Indonesion BTS- "Don"
0.0.1 Tanimbar Island BTS- "Sebastian
1.0 Kei Island BTS- "Huckleberry Blue"
0.0.1 Ornate Uromastyx- "Spike"
0.1 Albino Leopard Gecko- "Sasha"

SNAKES
1.0 Green Tree Python- "Pink Floyd"
0.0.1 Sonoran Gophersnake- "Toro"
0.1 Western Hognose- "Piggy"

CHELONIANS
0.0.1 Egyptian Tortoise- "Tank"

GREAT shot !

Only bluey owners appreciate such BEAUTY!
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Eve / PHEve

I have a bearded, a leo, and a mali uromastyx, and the bearded tolerates handling the most. He's more care though, so you have to decide what's more important to you...I spent a fortune on my beardie the first year I had him. I've had my leo for a month now and, including the costs of the actual lizard and his entire setup, I haven't spent more than $130-140. I would like to try a crested someday too...you might want to check those out, as someone has already stated. They seem like a very interesting lizard to watch.

Also, with handling, if you do insist on it, with the smaller lizards, only do it for a minute or two and make sure it can't get into anything (like under furniture). Beardeds are easier in that sense because I can just let mine run around in my room and he can't get into too much trouble. My uromastyx generally tries to get into everything.

Thanks for the advice. When you say smaller do you mean leos and lizards that size?

A Blue tongue can be handled for hours on end and still be fine. They are THE BEST reptile for handling, hands down!

PHEve your girl is gorgeous!!!

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LIZARDS
0.0.1 Monkey-Tail Skink- "Bubba"
1.1 Irian Jaya Blue Tongue Skinks- "Sammy & Sausage Girl"
1.0 Indonesion BTS- "Don"
0.0.1 Tanimbar Island BTS- "Sebastian
1.0 Kei Island BTS- "Huckleberry Blue"
0.0.1 Ornate Uromastyx- "Spike"
0.1 Albino Leopard Gecko- "Sasha"

SNAKES
1.0 Green Tree Python- "Pink Floyd"
0.0.1 Sonoran Gophersnake- "Toro"
0.1 Western Hognose- "Piggy"

CHELONIANS
0.0.1 Egyptian Tortoise- "Tank"