what lizard would be best for me? help?

[moonstream]

I have been debating between leopard geckos and crested geckos for quite a while now, and I am wondering which is easier to care for, which will become more tame, and which is a better choice if I want a mellow pet who will just hangout, and who wont jump away from me and be able to go outside for short periods in summer (would probably have a small harness)? are there any other lizards (cant have snakes) that would be a better choice? I already have a small female beardie and another isnt an option (caging is too big) I was planning to house the lizard in either a 20g long (30"X12"X12") or a 20g high (12"X24"X18") and dont plan to upgrade housing for at least a year. also, was planning to do a planted viv (and maybe a water feature if the lizard dosent mind high humidity).

 

[cliff_f]

If you are wanting to do a planted viv with high humidity you should go with the crested gecko. you should find some good care sheets on both and read up on them and just see what one you would like to care for.

 

[jpstodwftexas]

Crested Geckos are more Suited for High Humidity Vivariums than Leopards.
Crested Geckos being Nocturnal don't require UVA/UVB Lighting

Leopards Tend to be more docile it seems.
Leopard Geckos are Diurnal(sp?) as such Natural Lighting would do them some good.

But on a leash:roll:

 

[Torin]

Easier, tame, harness? I think you should try some other kind of animal. Maybe a rat, or a hamster. I'm not trying to be mean, or anything. It's just childish to go around holding reptiles, and treating them as little friends. No herp will like a human regardless of how it may look. They don't have the emotional capacity, or much need for socialization even among their own kind. As for the easier thing, I'm not quite sure what you mean. If you mean which will last longer under crappy conditions then it's probably the leopard gecko. Personally I don't see any herp as being much more difficult than another. Seriously think about my rodent suggestion.

 

['stoph]

How old are you Torin? I've read 2 of your posts and you always seem to overreact not to say childish.
At least he looks for info, there are probably hundreds of people who don't even bother and just buy a pet lizard.


As far as taking your lizard pet out - use a flexarium or something similar and put it in a calm corner of the garden and make sure the outside conditions are the same as your vivarium.
Keep in mind lizards are mainly display animals and not petting animals.

 

[Torin]

How old are you Torin? I've read 2 of your posts and you always seem to overreact not to say childish.
At least he looks for info, there are probably hundreds of people who don't even bother and just buy a pet lizard.


As far as taking your lizard pet out - use a flexarium or something similar and put it in a calm corner of the garden and make sure the outside conditions are the same as your vivarium.
Keep in mind lizards are mainly display animals and not petting animals.

I didn't overreact at all. You may be putting too much emotion into my words when you read them. My comments are more apathetic, and sarcastic than what you seem to think.
The only info the op was looking for seemed to be which of the two gecko's was tamer, and easier. I'm sure you know that isn't a good line of inquiry when it comes to herpetoculture. I don't think it's a good thing to encourage beginners by telling them reptiles are tame, or like being handled. If what they really want is a tame animal then they should go for a mammalian pet.

 

[Torin]

The Flexarium is a much better idea than the harness.

 

[RampantReptiles]

Best your going to find for a "hanging out" kind of pet is a bearded dragon, which you already mentioned you have and get too big for your 20g's.

Next best might be a leopard gecko but they arent great for fancy vivariums and definitely dont like high humidity unless its in a moist hide. Care is pretty easy for them, easier than a crested I would say. And no leopard geckos are not diurnal, they are nocturnal just like a cresteds.

Next after that would be the crested gecko, some crested geckos dont like being held much so it is kind of luck of the draw on whether you get one thats real tameable or not. Crested gecko would do better in a planted vivarium but the draw back is that they are going to crawl all over your plants and can ruin delicate plants this way. You can get away with using more sturdy plants like snake plants, that they can climb on and wont break due to their weight.

Planted vivariums are best suited for "viewing" type animals.

Torin does present a good point, lizards are more of a viewing type animal than a hanging out with you type animal. They really get more tolerant of handling than they really enjoy it, such as a cat or dog might.

Best of luck,
Michelle

 

[moonstream]

Easier, tame, harness? I think you should try some other kind of animal. Maybe a rat, or a hamster. I'm not trying to be mean, or anything. It's just childish to go around holding reptiles, and treating them as little friends. No herp will like a human regardless of how it may look. They don't have the emotional capacity, or much need for socialization even among their own kind. As for the easier thing, I'm not quite sure what you mean. If you mean which will last longer under crappy conditions then it's probably the leopard gecko. Personally I don't see any herp as being much more difficult than another. Seriously think about my rodent suggestion.

this is a bit uncalled for, and the line about crappy conditions is a bit rude. I have had rodents all my life and chose lizards mainly because I dont think another rodent would be a good fit right now (overrun w/ gerbils, have a chinchilla) and I find my baby beardie great fun.

thanks for the advice everyone! let me rephase tame. "wont run like the wind when I try to hold it and wont leap away from me when I put it on a solid surface" I would love to be able to bring it outside for short periods and think a leo might be my beast bet. will have to look into it. any ideas on a desert type viv? I am however rething a gecko, will have to look into other critters.

 

[jpstodwftexas]

Thats why I joined the Forums

To learn before I buy.

 

[moonstream]

after much thought I have decided that Ill either be getting another BD, a rankins dragon, a leo (I want something tamer then the cresteds) or more rodents. all of the lizards would need to have a desert type setup, and none are normally suggested to be housed on sand, so I was wondering if anyone had an idea on how to make a very natural setup, w/o sand?

 

[acpart]

after much thought I have decided that Ill either be getting another BD, a rankins dragon, a leo (I want something tamer then the cresteds) or more rodents. all of the lizards would need to have a desert type setup, and none are normally suggested to be housed on sand, so I was wondering if anyone had an idea on how to make a very natural setup, w/o sand?

Pieces of slate, large rounded rocks would probably look natural. The biggest problem with these is that crickets, if that's what you feed, will probably hide and die in them. I use ceramic floor tiles and am quite happy with the effect.

Aliza

 

[bullchifrench]

Leopard geckos don't like alot of humidity. But as far as I know they are more docile than crested geckos. They are also really hardy guys. Wouldn't use a harness on any type of reptile except maybe a iguana, but then those guys get REALLY big. To much lizard for me.

 

[moonstream]

I know leos need low humidity, I was saying a high humidity cage for a crestie.

anyways, I will be getting to lizard in the sping and will most likely house it/them in a 15g long for about 3 months, then move them to either a 29g (with 2 levels) or a 40br (with 2 levels).

 

[Davis]

Not to lead you astray but if you would settle for just a cool gecko that's not really handleable but fun to watch, go for Stenodactylus sthenodactylus. There small so you could keep a group in a twenty gallon(or a 10 if you want to do a small side project), they do fine on sand, they're pretty small, and they're really cool to watch hunt down crickets.

Don't mean to go off topic but just a suggestion if you're strapped for space and don't mind having something you can't really handle.