Reptile & Amphibian Forums

I'm looking into getting a lizard. I saw a uromastyx at a local pet store that stole my heart. I've since learned that I may need to break in on something a bit simpler to care for. Leopard geckos and bearded dragons have been suggested. I'd always thought that leopards would require a lot of humidity and had never really considered them. My brother had a beardie, and it darn near ate him out of house and home. How do skinks figure in? Are they complicated? They seem like hardy animals. but I know the best way to get a feel for them is to talk to someone who has one.

Thus the post! I know any herp is work, but my big experience was a ball python. She was wonderful, and she was very low maintenance. I know this leaves me ill prepared for something complicated.

My big concern is that I not get something that I can't afford to take care of, or that I'll kill in the first six months (again, my brother's experience). Any suggestions are greatly appreciated! Thanks!!
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I miss Charlie...

Hello:
Leopard Geckos are a great first lizard though I would go with one at least a couple months old. There are lots of color variety in them and they are also easy to house and feed. They don't require all the UVB that diurnal lizards need though you should have a day/night cycle for them. They can tame down faily well and can live for nearly twenty years. There's lots of care info on this site so you can spend some time checking it out. They are also a nice size, growing to about8-9" on average. Some may be a little larger but not by much.
Blue Tongue Skinks can also make a great first lizard though you want an Australian one over an Indonesian as the Austalian ones are a bit more even tempered. They grow a bit larger, up to two feet in length, but they are easy to keep and will eat just about anything.
There are lots of other great Lizards but for a first time lizard these are probably the easiest to start with.
Good Luck and Have a Great Day!!!

You might want to try a leopard gecko first. I've always thought they are slightly more tamed than beardies though I love both. A uro would be after you get the hang of lizards. Also, leos don't need as much humidity as their cousins the african fat tailed geckos do. So thats a plus.