Reptile & Amphibian Forums

So, All males will be very brightly colored right? And the the females will be dull. Does this apply to all species?

How do I know which species to buy?

When I go to pick out my lizards, do i try to get the biggest fattest lizards possible?

Thanks again

ZippoBSquared

I can help you out with some of this.

>>So, All males will be very brightly colored right? And the the females will be dull. Does this apply to all species?

In general, males are more brightly colored than females, but that's only in general. Not all males are colorful & not all females are dull. Eve has some particularly bright females. You should check out her phot gallery.

>>How do I know which species to buy?

Unless you order it online, you're probably only going to be able to find C. collaris since they are the most common.

>>When I go to pick out my lizards, do i try to get the biggest fattest lizards possible?

Check the base of their tail. If the bones are sticking out, they probably aren't that healthy. If you go by sheer girth, you may end up with a gravid female which you might not want right now. Another problem with this is that collareds will puff up when threatened to look bigger. So you should go for the base of the tail.

Kristin

I think that would depend on what kind of herp you were interested in. My first lizard was a pair of leopard geckos, which both males and females will be a brilliant yellow or tangerine (if you're lucky). As far as geckos go, I found that the best age is from 3 months to 9 months of age, the fatter the tail is from the base, the better. Different herps have different traits to determine health. Leopards are definately more easy going and friendly if you are looking for one that you would wish to handle. An important factor to remember is to check the mouth of any herp, for signs of foaming, rotting, or discoloration. A reptile with limbs that seem curved or bent are definately not ones you would want to bring home, and avoid the ones with a scrawny appearance. Look for one that seems alert and curious about it's enviornment; one that is constantly looking around and active. As far as collards go, I bought the fattest, most colorful pair I could find. Just keep in mind the investment that certain herps require, such as under-tank heat pads, basking lamps, ceramic heat lamps, and flourescent needs. I invested close to one hundred dollars in heat and lighting alone for my collards. Hope this was of some help, and not too much to read. heh.

Paul