Post by ClementeDragons on Jul 8, 2005 15:54:53 GMT -5
I made this topic for those who are interested in getting a lizard but do not know what type to get. There are thousands of different reptiles you can get out there and it can be hard to just pick out one.
Bearded Dragons
The first reptile I am going to tell you about is my personal favorite the Bearded Dragon (Pogona vitticeps). The bearded dragon is probably the most popular lizard in captivity because of its docile temperament and all their different color variations. They can cost any where from $25-$2000 depending on color, size, and gender. Bearded dragons can range from 15 – 24 inches; the biggest dragon I have heard of was 28 inches. They eat a ton of crickets, greens, and some fruit. The minimal cage size for 1 adult dragon is a 40-gallon breeder tank.
Leopard geckos
The next reptile is the leopard gecko (Eublepharis macularius). If there were a lizard that is more popular than the bearded dragon it would be the leopard gecko. These are great for beginners, they are easy to take care of and don’t take up a lot of space. Leopard geckos can cost any where from $10-$1000 depending on color and size. A 10-gallon is minimal for one adult Leopard gecko. They eat crickets and mealworms but when they are adults you can feed them a pinkie (baby mice) occasionally.
Crested gecko
The Crested gecko (Rhacodactylus ciliatus) is not very popular yet but it is starting to grow in popularity very fast. They are very docile and also do not take up a lot of room. The minimum cage size for a pair of crested geckos is a 20-gallon tank. They mainly eat crickets and baby food. To keep them hydrated you have to mist them once a day. They can cost any where from $25-$500.
Green anole
The green anole (Anolis carolinensis) is also a very commonly kept reptile for beginners. They are not the easiest lizards to handle but they are very easy to take care of. A 10-gallon is minimal for one pair of anoles. There main diet consists of crickets and other small insects you also need to spray them one to two times a day.
Chinese Water Dragons
One of the beautiful jewels of the reptile keepers world is the Green or Chinese water dragon (Physignathus cocincinus). Water Dragons are a popular captive but there captive numbers are nowhere near the amount of the more popular lizards like the Green Iguana, Leopard Gecko, or Bearded Dragon. Water Dragons can become very tame and accustomed to human company with proper care and handling. Chinese Water Dragons range in price from $15 to upwards of $400 depending on sex, age, coloring, and wether or not they are captive bred or wild caught. These reptiles range in total length from 3 to 5 inch hatchlings to 36+ inch male dragons. The females fare slightly smaller at an average of 24 inches. The life span of these wonderful creatures, if properly cared for, is comparable to a house cat or small dog at 10-15 Years. These guys prefer a diet of insects such as super worms and crickets and small vertebrate prey such as the occasional feeder fish or pinky mouse. Minimal cage size for a single adult dragon is usually considered to be at least 6 feet long and 4 feet or more tall as they are a large arboreal reptile that relishes the chance to climb. Daily clean water is a must as these bathing beauties love to splash around in there pools and keep there potty business there. Chinese Water Dragons make wonderful companion pets for those willing to invest the time and money into them.
Bearded Dragons
The first reptile I am going to tell you about is my personal favorite the Bearded Dragon (Pogona vitticeps). The bearded dragon is probably the most popular lizard in captivity because of its docile temperament and all their different color variations. They can cost any where from $25-$2000 depending on color, size, and gender. Bearded dragons can range from 15 – 24 inches; the biggest dragon I have heard of was 28 inches. They eat a ton of crickets, greens, and some fruit. The minimal cage size for 1 adult dragon is a 40-gallon breeder tank.
Leopard geckos
The next reptile is the leopard gecko (Eublepharis macularius). If there were a lizard that is more popular than the bearded dragon it would be the leopard gecko. These are great for beginners, they are easy to take care of and don’t take up a lot of space. Leopard geckos can cost any where from $10-$1000 depending on color and size. A 10-gallon is minimal for one adult Leopard gecko. They eat crickets and mealworms but when they are adults you can feed them a pinkie (baby mice) occasionally.
Crested gecko
The Crested gecko (Rhacodactylus ciliatus) is not very popular yet but it is starting to grow in popularity very fast. They are very docile and also do not take up a lot of room. The minimum cage size for a pair of crested geckos is a 20-gallon tank. They mainly eat crickets and baby food. To keep them hydrated you have to mist them once a day. They can cost any where from $25-$500.
Green anole
The green anole (Anolis carolinensis) is also a very commonly kept reptile for beginners. They are not the easiest lizards to handle but they are very easy to take care of. A 10-gallon is minimal for one pair of anoles. There main diet consists of crickets and other small insects you also need to spray them one to two times a day.
Chinese Water Dragons
One of the beautiful jewels of the reptile keepers world is the Green or Chinese water dragon (Physignathus cocincinus). Water Dragons are a popular captive but there captive numbers are nowhere near the amount of the more popular lizards like the Green Iguana, Leopard Gecko, or Bearded Dragon. Water Dragons can become very tame and accustomed to human company with proper care and handling. Chinese Water Dragons range in price from $15 to upwards of $400 depending on sex, age, coloring, and wether or not they are captive bred or wild caught. These reptiles range in total length from 3 to 5 inch hatchlings to 36+ inch male dragons. The females fare slightly smaller at an average of 24 inches. The life span of these wonderful creatures, if properly cared for, is comparable to a house cat or small dog at 10-15 Years. These guys prefer a diet of insects such as super worms and crickets and small vertebrate prey such as the occasional feeder fish or pinky mouse. Minimal cage size for a single adult dragon is usually considered to be at least 6 feet long and 4 feet or more tall as they are a large arboreal reptile that relishes the chance to climb. Daily clean water is a must as these bathing beauties love to splash around in there pools and keep there potty business there. Chinese Water Dragons make wonderful companion pets for those willing to invest the time and money into them.
