BUT WITH WHAT YOU ASK???

I don't have a clue.(never had any lizards (only anoles, and they don't count bc I practically have a backyard full of them...), only Leopard Geckos...) hehe. anyway, for those of you who missed my constant posts in dec and jan...lol... I got two female tokay geckos for christmas. Beautiful (malnurished) females that are now eating and healthy in a wonderful but small 20 gallon long tank.

So here is my dillemma:

In april when I go to FIRE, i will be getting a 40 gallon tall tank for my girls, which leaves me with an empty 20 gallon long tank. I have a desert background to go with it too, or it can be kept as the jungle background I have it on now for my tokays, but my problem is I'll have a 100 watt Ceramic Heat Emitter free as well as a flat tank, so I figured why not get a forest or desert dwelling lizard species instead.

The requirements:

-So now that I'm all bitten and calloused from the tokays, I want to have a nicer, sweet lizard I can hold and pet sometimes. something with an interesting character.

-perfered desert (or forest dwelling/ rocky dwelling) habitat

-i want a hardy lizard that when full grown is still content in a 20 gal long. (not anoles or Leopard Geckos) good life span., over 10 years.


I'm looking for some species to research about now so I can figure out what to buy at the fair when I'm there in april, if I decide to get a new pet. Thanks in advance!!

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Alexa.

0.2 Tokays, names TBA
1.0 Ball Python, Draco
1.0 Bubblegum Snow Corn, Apollo
R.I.P Leopard Geckos, Archaia-khellendros-Amenophis

Herping 5 years exp.

Well, sounds like a bearded dragon or a rankins would be ideal for you, temperament and housing wise, however a 20g tank will not be big enough when the lizards reach adulthood, so unless you can upgrade when they get large they are not really the choice for you.

To be honest, the best advice I could give here is don't just get an animal because you have a spare tank. You should get an animal because you want it, and will love and care for it - what reptile do you really want, and would be able to care for properly? We have several spare vivs but we won't just get an animal to fill them (as tempting as it is ) - why not go to the show, do some research on the net and in books, and decide what animal you would like to own, rather than picking one at random because you have the space?

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"If you know everything you may as well blow your brains out because the reason for existence is to learn more everyday." - Mark O'Shea, 2004

The majority of small lizards do not enjoy human company and will resist being handled. Narrowing it down to arid lizards pretty much says Bearded Dragon, rankins, or uro to me, but they all need larger cages than that. Leopard Geckos and FTGs are the only small, arid lizard that will tolerate being handled that I can think of. the fat-tailes aren't mucg differebt than a leo in appearance and requirements though. There are a few skinks out there that will tolerate handling, but nothing to the extent that a leo or Bearded Dragon would.

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+5 bonus points to whoever finds me a job!

"Eagles may soar, but weasels don't get sucked into jet engines." - John Benfield

Haitian curly tails are great lizards to own. A 20g may fit them just fine. They usually are tame with a little handling every day. I used to own two and they were great. There are also other various types of curly tails which are very beautiful!

Ofcoarse a normal 30 gallon or larger with a larger width is better. They are active and very entertaining reptiles and very rewarding. Just make sure you don't let them run around outside because they are very very fast. When I say fast I mean fast, I run on the treadmill nearly everyday and it is still hard to grab them when they are on the loose.

Well, I really do WANT another lizard. And I only use the excuse of not wanting to waste a spare tank for the parentals. Ummm, I've had bad luck with leopards... but if I see some albino females at the fair in the juvi-early adult stage I would consider getting them again. I really want a uro, but the only way I can get it is if I coerce mum to let me make a repti-room out of our spare room... and then I can have some bigger lizards, which is what I've always wanted, but never had the space. I'm taking advantage of my spare cage because I want to... any excuse for a new friend, hehe. I just posted that because I was wondering what other types of species were out there to consider. I posted now so I could get info now, and then in two months go to the fair with money and list of supplies in hand for my new buddy(s). I heard collard lizards were really personable. And I saw this really gorgeous spikey lizard in my local herp store as well that I was drawn to. We'll see. Thanks very much for the advice.

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Alexa.

0.2 Tokays, names TBA
1.0 Ball Python, Draco
1.0 Bubblegum Snow Corn, Apollo
R.I.P Leopard Geckos, Archaia-khellendros-Amenophis

Herping 5 years exp.

Just make sure you remember that nearly any diurnal lizard is going to require UVB, unlike the Leopard Geckos and tokays.

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+5 bonus points to whoever finds me a job!

"Eagles may soar, but weasels don't get sucked into jet engines." - John Benfield

I'm of the opinion that a 20 gallon tank is too small for any lizard, it just doesn't allow for much activity. Even my Anoles are housed in a 29 gallon.

Just do your research before you buy and you will both be happy.

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Answers are great. But I prefer questions!

Visit me at www.jaysreptiles.com

Leopard Geckos are a great idea, what do you mean you haven't had much luck with them?
Collared lizards are great, and will tame well if you have them from being babies and handle them regularly, however they tend not to be as tame as something like a Bearded Dragon. Our adults are not very tame at all, the female will tolerate handling, but the male really isn't one for cuddling. Our juv, who we hatched, is much tamer, but tends to be skittish in the morning and throughout the day, and tame in the evening when she is sleepy. You could house one in a 20g however it's much kinder to provide them with a lot of space, as they enjoy exercise, and if given enough room will run on their hind legs.

Good luck with your search, but still, rather than fill a tank because it's empty it really is better to find an animal that you really want and then see if you are able to house it.

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"If you know everything you may as well blow your brains out because the reason for existence is to learn more everyday." - Mark O'Shea, 2004

What about putting the tank on it's side, so that it's taller and narrow, then housing a crested gecko inside? The only lizards that I'm dealing with are Crested Geckos, but I LOVE them!

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Brent Strande
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Stop by the North Dakota Herpers Forum at www.ndherp.com !!!