What type of reptile should i get?

Question

im a soon to be beginner at keeping reptiles. i have fish and i used to have hermit crabs. and i want to get either a lizard or a snake. should i get leopard geckos or a ball python or a corn snake? I have room for a ten gallon tank but in the future i could get a bigger one.

1) if i get leopard geckos what do i need to give them a proper habitat? how many should i get? how long until i need a bigger tank?

2) if i get a ball python what do i need to give them a proper habitat? how long until i need a bigger tank?

3) if i get a corn snake what do i need to give them a proper habitat? how long until i need a bigger tank?

Answer 1

I would recommend that snakes are probably easier to keep than lizards, depending on the type of course, and some turtles may be easier to keep than snakes. For one thing, some turtles (as well as some lizards) are at least partly herbivorous, while all snakes are carnivorous. I would guess that of the three species you mentioned, corn snakes are probably the easiest. In any event, if you have a ten gallon tank I would suggest you get a fairly small reptile because that doesn't sound like a big enough tank for anything bigger. Some kinds of reptiles may stop growing depending on the limitations of their habitat size, while others have a particular size that they always grow to. The staff at your local pet store will probably be able to give you some good advice as to which exact kinds of reptiles are the easiest to keep and what sizes of tanks they require, although reptiles in general are usually fairly hard animals to keep anyway.

You can read more about keeping reptiles of various kinds at the following web pages:

http://exoticpets.about.com/cs/lizardsas...

http://exoticpets.about.com/cs/snakes/a/...

http://www.anapsid.org/ball.html

http://www.moreptiles.com/cornsnake%20pe...

Answer 2

ok this is a possobility but its not really what you asked for you can get bearded dragons they are wonderful pets and are veary beautifle they are easy to take care of also they love to be handled bearded dragons are amazing pets  

Answer 3

It depends what you want in a pet. A snake will be alot easier to keep but a lizard will be more interactive. A snake will need to eat once a week and a lizard needs to eat every day or every other day.

For a leopard gecko you could keep 2 there whole life in the 20 gallon. You are only going to need an under tank heater or an infrared light bulb (the red kind). You dont need bright light because they are nocturnal. Also a hide spot and a water bowl and some sand bedding.

For a ball python i would get a 40 gallon ( usually around 100 bucks ). I would get a heat lamp for a snake because ball pythons tend to get burnt by heat mats. I have had 2 people i know almost have theres die from them getting too hot. Also get some wood shavings for bedding and a water bowl and a hide spot.

For a corn snake a 20 gallon would be good for one. A heat light and water bowl along with a hide is all you need. Mine doesn't use its hide but alot of them do. They also like branches or leafs that you can get from any reptile store

Answer 4

1. Substrate, the tank, a heat lamp/under tank heater, two hides, a water bowl, access to lots of crickets, and a thermometer and hygrometer. They will never need a bigger tank, but bigger is always better.

2. Substrate, the tank, a heat lamp/under tank heater, two hides, a water bowl, access to lots of mice(preferable F/T), and a thermometer and hygrometer. I don't see a ball python staying comfortable in a 10 gallon for long at all, maybe a few months and it will eventually need a 30 or 40 gallon.

3 Substrate, the tank, a heat lamp/under tank heater, two hides, a water bowl, access to lots of mice(preferably F/T) and a thermometer and hygrometer. Same as Ball Pythons, not long, maybe a few months, eventually needing a 20(long) or 30 gallon.

Answer 5

Leopard Geckos can live their entire lives in a ten gallon. Ball Pythons and Corns will eventually need a 20 gallon as adults. All three will need hides, a water bowl, a humidity hide, and substrate. And all three will do best alone.

Leopard Geckos should have paper towels as their substrate, and have a high of 90F during the day and a low of 70F at night. An under tank heater or a lamp works fine, and there should be a temperature gradient.

Ball Pythons will do well on Aspen bedding, and will need a gradient of about 85F to 75F. When it's about a year or a year and a half, you should upgrade it's tank.

Corn snakes should be on Aspen bedding and at 85F-75F. You'll want to put it in a 20 gallon when it's about a year old.

Hope this helps some.

Answer 6

2) All you need for a ball python is aspen bedding, a hide, and a water dish. For heat you will need a under tank heater. A 20 gallon long should be fine for life.

3) A corn snake is pretty much the same setup. A corn snake may need a 40 gallon once it gets over 3 feet. Hope this helps.