What kind of reptile is good for a beginner like me?

Question

I'm very experianced with fish and amphibeans as well as small mammals (hampsters gerbils mice...) and dogs and cats. But i have never had a reptile and I was thinking about buying one.

I want something that is relatively small and also something that doesnt eat mice or rats I'm a vegan and an animal rights activist I can't stand that-but I'm ok with feeding crickets and worms.

Answer 1

well, all reptiles require basic extensive care (nothing like a hamster)..

i would recommend hermit crabs:

http://www.hermitcrabassociation.com/php

http://www.hermit-crabs.com/

http://www.thecrabbagepatch.com/

initial cost will be a bit on the higher side but they only need deep cleans in their cage about every 6 months so this is much cheaper than other pets.  you can feed them fresh fruits, veggies, cereal or any other healthy item you yourself would eat.  a cuttle bone can be broken up and thrown in there a bit at a time for calcium..  they are really neat!

Answer 2

crested gecko, gargoyle gecko,crocodile gecko, shingle back blue tongued skink. since your a vegan doesn't mean all animals are.

Answer 3

try a frog or a garter snake there both great

Answer 4

I would recommend a blue-tongued skink. They are very hardy, impressive looking, and usually friendly. There are a several varieties/sub-species. I would avoid the Tanimbar blue-tongues as they are known for being harder to manage than others.

These skinks can reach an adult size of almost 2 feet long. Technically that isn't too big in terms of reptiles. They will require a large terrarium though. At least 55 gallon long terrarium. They eat a mixture of greens/vegetables and meat like high quality canned cat food. Like most lizards they will require a heat light and an ultraviolet light as well as caves, substrate and constant access to a fresh water bowl. They are usually easy to handle, they are quite intelligent and active.  

Answer 5

Bearded Dragon.   They are one of the best for a beginner.  They eat mostly veggies and fruit (you can also get pre-packed foods like Dragon Bites) but they enjoy crickets, wax worms, super worms too.  They do not need much special equipment, do not require constant humidity.  They do need a heat source (I always used under tank heaters) and a full spectrum light (or careful daily exposure to direct sunlight).  They tend to be and stay friendly.

Answer 6

a leopard gecko is best for beginners because they are easy to take care of and if you don't feed them they can live for over a month with out food and if hes shedding he eats his dead skin so then you wont have to clean it up. they also live up to 20 years old. they are very cool and something that's different about them is that they don't have scales they have bumps. you could also get a bearded dragon they are also very easy to take care of. they don't eat meat eather like leopard geckos do.

Answer 7

Leopard Gecko's Read up on them.

Bearded Dragons are nice but they need good size tank.

Answer 8

a turtle

Answer 9

My son got 2 leopard geckos when he was 9.  They were not babies but "young teens". We bought them at a Reptile Expo where prices were not as expensive as Petco.  Geckos are super easy.  Water, light (basking and night lamp) heat pad for under tank, sand, a place to hide under, a humidifying box, wood piece to climb on..... and crickets.  The initial set up was not cheap but after that it is not as expensive.  We change the cage...the sand...every 6 months.  Water needs to be available daily and crickets are free to roam in the tank.  The extra crickets we have are kept in a smaller plastic bug box. When the geckos got bigger, we were told that they could have pinkies....uh...not in this house!  They continue to enjoy their crickets ...which you also have to feed! Then of course you need to clean up the p**p.  But the good thing about that is that they always p**p in the same place!  They like to be held and are cool to watch.  We got the "teen" because the seller at the Expo said that for a younger kid they were easier to handle than babies.  I guess the babies are pretty quick.  Good luck...

Answer 10

turtle  

Answer 11

leopard geckos, or a bearded dragon. just before you get a bearded dragon read a lot on them. some say calci sand is safe some same its deadly. we still dont know what to use for ours but we have both geckos and a beardie. also a ball python, but they eat mice.  

Answer 12

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Answer 13

well because of the vegetarian we can rule out all snakes, but there is one.   the garter snake, doesn't eat mice or other small rodents, they usually eat little fish, minnows.  my friend Jenn has one and she feeds it minnows.  she puts some minnows in the water bowl and then the snake goes into the water and eats them.  you can also feed them worms, frogs, toads, salamanders, and earthworm, minnows, tadpoles and small frogs. they only get about two-three feet.

if you still don't want that they maybe you can get a leopard gecko or a bearded dragon.  they are so cute and so docile, they are such chill animals, i have had no experience with geckos of any kind, but some say they are great animals.  i have a beardie and he is the best thing ever, he sits on my shoulder for hours!! you can feed them crickets, and all types of worms. i feed mine dried crickets and mealworms.

have fun with your scaly critter!!  

Answer 14

Blue tongue skink

spiny crevace lizard

leopard gecko

leopard lizard (yes different speices)

collared lizard

blue spiny lizard

fire skink

ocellated skink

armadillo lizard

bearded dragon

Answer 15

leopard geckos are wonderful pets for kids and adults. they are also easy to take care off and its cheap! i have had and bred MANY leopard geckos, so i suggest a leopard gecko.

Answer 16

Maybe a lizard