Best Starter for Daughter

scouted out some 48 gallon fish tanks...they seem big enough. certainly quite large. i was wondering if beardys have issues with snout rubbing and or reflections in the glass etc? i know i have to watch my water dragon since his temp home is a tank while im building his full size.

I would say leopard gecko.. i have an armadillo lizard.. and they're not hard to keep but are not really hand-able herps.. they just look good in the tank!

my vote is on leo too. they are nocturnal like was already said but they still get active at feeding time and all that. awesome beginner lizards

I would actually say bearded dragon. I have both Leopard Geckos and a bearded dragon, and I think the bearded dragon would be sturdier and harder to squish, and once they are full grown they are slow. And when they say 40 gallon breeder, they don't mean a fish tank. It is specifcally for reptiles. They are wider than a typical fish tank. It is the 40 gal in the list on this page Zilla - Where Reptiles Rule Critter Cage | Products it has a sliding door on top. another good cage would be the large wide or large tall on this page Exo Terra : Natural Terrarium Large / Advanced Reptile Habitat Most "fish tanks" are about the same width, about a foot, and are too narrow for an adult bearded dragon.

I would have to agree with bearded dragon because of the age of your child! But like mentioned fish tanks aren't the best because of the lack of width. One thing to consider is that they will cost alot more for the proper set up and food. They require UVB lights, higher heat for the basking and eat alot of feeder insects in the first year.
If you can find one that is already an adult with a proper enclosure that may be better.

This is a photo of my Bearded Dragons enclosure, still working on it;

http://www.herpcenter.com/members/ml...ed-finally.jpg

yea im familiar with the enclousure thing. i figure the tank we have now will be big enough for the first year maybe, by then ill have the new one finished. learning alot making my water dragon cage, and ill be applying those techniques to any new cage i build. probally going with the beardy again for above mentioned reasons

i am going to have to agree with a bearded dragon, ive got 5 of my own, 39 eggs getting ready to hatch and my other female is gravid, babies even though very very cute are very fast and fragile, i would say try to get one that is at least 8 inches or so, a little slower and a lot less fragile, out of curiousity, where are you located? $100 on a regular Bearded Dragon is insane! i usually let my babies go for $20-$30 when they are of age to go, and they arent normal patterned, my next batch will be ready right before christmas :-)

i am located in saskatchewan canada. if you guys know of a breeder in the area would help alot. pet shops are marketing them for 130$ canadian average.

Originally Posted by Rayban

i am located in saskatchewan canada. if you guys know of a breeder in the area would help alot. pet shops are marketing them for 130$ canadian average.

I know a few, but both are in Ontario;
Capital Dragons, and Exclusive Dragons, there is one in BC called West Coast Dragons.

You could also contact Greg West, he may know more in your area.
Quality Terrariums - Cornelsworld

go to a reptile show i seen baby Bearded Dragons for 25 apiece