I now have this 55-gal tank. I have to clean it up and find the right spot in the house for it. Then I need to decide what to keep in it. I am trying to decide between a Bearded Dragon and a corn. It looks like a corn would be easier to keep, and I know the kids would really enjoy a snake. Bearded Dragons are really cute, though, and I do love lizards... Any advice or other suggestions for a relatively new herp keeper?

__________________
Amy

it depends what your willing to take care of. Corns are gorgious and you already have some lizardy friends...It seems to me that your more for the corn but I'd be for the lizard lol

Alot depends on the amount of time you want to spend careing for your choice. Bearded Dragons require special lighting and diet and make messes daily The need to be fed twice a day vs corns 1-2 times a week age depending. Bearded Dragons are very personable and fun to watch and handle...Corns require less management. Maybe read the caresheets for each one to help you determine...and really...I'm not telling you this cause I want to send you 15 baby corns

__________________
MARSHA

:D I'm smiling because I have no idea whats going on!

You're right, joeking, I think I am leaning toward the corn, mainly for the reasons Marsha described -- ease of care. A Bearded Dragon would be fun, though, and probably more of a little friend (though I dunno, we may bond more with a snake than I expect). But I'm not sure if I'm ready to add that level of care right now. I'm also not ready for 15 corns, Marsha, lol!

__________________
Amy

Yeah I can see the temptation of the Bearded Dragon...I want a water dragon really bad. Though you already know what its like to have cute little lizard faces looking at you already, so I'd go for the corn. Plus, I've seen some pretty evil Bearded Dragons. My friend rescued one and as soon as you walk near the couch it opens his mouth and turns black (he's actually stoped it now but it took months and he's still evil).

i would say a cornsnake to they are great strter snakes and really easy to feed and clean get one form a breeder that you know is eating well and shedding well.I hear marsha has some great amels for sale.But in a 55gal you will need alot of hides around or bedding for the snake to feel safe my corn is small and in a 4x2x2ft viv and has news paper and some hides,She prefers to hide under the new paper though so she isn´t stressed. good luck with your choice.

__________________
Live for today Not tomorrow.

you have lizards already now...time for a snake me thinks...lol

You will bond with it..trust me! you will also get over the whole feeding mice thing... you already give Leopard Geckos crickets..so whats the difference...haha

__________________
Don't be jealous the voices only speak to me...

www.herprecon.org

A corn is SO easy to care for, and you'd be surprised at how attached you can feel to them. Each has a different personality, and there are SO many colors to choose from. The hardest thing about keeping snakes is having to feed them the frozen/thawed mice, which I think look sad and pitiful. However, it helped if I always tried to look at it as the snakes' mice weren't any different than my frozen pork chops or hamburger meat.

__________________
~Juliane~

All right, all right. I have ordered a cornsnake! From Marsha, of course. I'm very excited. The kids are, too, but not as much as me!! I'm sure we will bond -- I bond with all sorts of animals. And these kids have been thrilled holding the little ringneck snakes we find in the yard all the time. (they nest under our garage, I think -- we find babies so small they get caught in spider webs and have to be rescued!)

I know the mice are no different from my burgers. I buy my beef by the 1/4 cow and put it in the freezer. So the mice will take up a lot less room!

__________________
Amy

I say get a Blue tongue skink. They are awesome.