New Pet Help - Lizard/Snake?

Question

I'm thinking about getting a lizard or snake for a pet in the coming weeks but I'd like to know want to prepare first for these animals.

Would it be ok to use an old aquarium tank for them. I don't see what could go wrong with it as long as its filled with the right stuff (I'd rather not buy a terrarium if I have to). Could you please recommend a nice small/medium sized animal and what it needs?

Thanks in advance, best response gets best answer. :)

Answer 1

If you use an old aquarium tank, make sure you clean it extremely well, and that you have a secure(Locking for a snake) lid.

Good Beginner Snakes:

Corn Snake (4-6ft, but thin-bodied): Needs at least 20 gallon tank but bigger is always better, heat(light or under tank heater or both), two hides(one on hot side one on cool side), a waterbowl, substrate(can be as simple as papertowels, but if using thin substrate be VERY careful if using an undertank heater), a raised basking spot(for light), at least one thermometer(Preferably two, one for each side), and a hygrometer(measures humidity).

Caresheet: http://www.kingsnake.com/rockymountain/R...

Ball Python (3-5ft, thick-bodied): Same as above, except needs at least a 30 gallon tank - but bigger is always better.

Caresheet: http://www.kingsnake.com/ballpythonguide...

Good Beginner Lizards:

Bearded Dragon (Average of 18 inches long with tail unless you get special kinds): Needs at least 40 gallon breeder tank, but bigger is always better, UVB light, heat(light or UTH or both), calcium powder, substrate(avoid sand at least for a baby due to very serious health risks), two hides(one for each side), waterbowl, at least one thermometer(preferably two), a hygrometer, and a raised basking spot.

Caresheet: http://www.kingsnake.com/gladescs/bearde...

Leopard Gecko (Gets 6-10 inches long): Same as above but only needs a 15 gallon tank, but bigger is always better.

Caresheet: http://www.geckosetc.com/htm/care.htm

Feel free to send me a message if you have any more questions.

Answer 2

If you've never had a pet before, I can tell you a breed of each species that would best fit your needs.

For a lizard, I would say a bearded dragon. They don't require too much care, but they are usually very docile, and tame easily.

As for snakes, I'd recommend a Ball Python. Although they're a bit boring, they won't try to get away. You could wrap it around your arm, and sit down to watch a 3-hour-long movie, and the snake would, most likely, just sit there and enjoy your warmth.

For the old aquarium....

As long as it has a sturdy top (that means a slide-on top, or a metal grid 'lid' ((And for snakes, weigh the top down, or get a locking top))), it should be fine. Also, if you haven't already, you should wash the inside of the aquarium (AND TOP/LID) with a 90% water, 10% bleach solution.

For food:

Bearded Dragons (and any lizards for that matter) require around 2 dozen crickets a day. You can feed them romaine lettuce, and collard greens. But DO NOT feed them (or any lizard/snake) iceburg lettuce, cabbage, or spinach.

Snakes, at full-grown, will eat one, MAYBE two small rats once a week. Although they can go for a month or so without food, this is not recommended.

Depending on whether the snake/lizard is captive-bred, there is no guarantee that they will eat a certain food they give you, or that they will eat at all. Some snakes/lizards that were captured from the wild will refuse to eat for a month, sometimes several months.

Good luck with your new snake/lizard! I hope my advice has helped.

Answer 3

i recommend getting a leopard gecko. i have two they are pertty cool. most of them are hand tame. i also have two sand boas.. and i get alot more enjoyment out of the geckos.. as far as setup goes  a old tank with a wire top will do fine for the geckos but i would get a new tank with a locking top for the snakes, they like to escape.......for feeding it its kinda of a pain to keeping going to the store for live crickets all the time for geckos so i got mine on this stuff called  CAN O CRICKETS and i hand feed them every outher day   its pretty fun to wahch them try to sneek up on the food and pounce on it, the sankes are a little easier to feed all you have to do is give them a mouse, mine are on frozen mice!  

Answer 4

An old aquarium is fine.  Get a screen top and one of those "bell" lights to put on one side of it.  Corn, King, and Rat snakes make good pets, Glass lizards (legless) are always cool:

http://images.search.yahoo.com/search/im...

......depending if you have a decent sized tank, that is. Don't forget a good weight for each corner of the tank if you get a snake....they can be escape artists.