Reptiles For Beginner Guide

  • We are currently upgrading MFK. thanks! -neo
P

Pazzoman

Piranha
MFK Member
Apr 5, 2009
3,005
50
81
New York
Hey Everyone, I notice member like myself may post lots of threads on "Best Snake For Me" ... "Best Lizard For Me".."What arw the best lizards and snakes?".... "Best reptiles that tolerate handling"... A bunch of these questions. I figured we compile a list of the best top 5 or top 10 lizards and snakes for beginners (could do turtles, tortoises, inverts...but up too you) and list important info like the following:

-tank size
-how the tank should be set up
-what to feed
-how often to feed
-heating/ lighting

Here is the list I think are best for beginners:

Lizards:

-Leopard Geckos
-Bearded Dragons
-Crested Geckos
-Blue Tongue Skinks
-Red/Yellow Ackie Monitors
-Uromastyx
-Fat Tailed Geckos

Snakes

-Corn Snakes
-King Snakes
-Milk Snakes
-Ball Pythons
-Sand Boas
-Hog Nosed Snakes
-Garter Snakes
-Childrens Python

These are the only ones that come to mind...thier are tons of others but try to keep tank size in mind as I may be pushing it with the Ackies as well as the Childrens Python... Also this list is portrayed the idea that these would be purchased captiive bred from dependable breeders at destinations like Expos.

The other of the reptiles are not listed by "best"..just what came to my mind. If this list is good enough i would like to add all of the specific detail to each reptile asap...and then i will edit it and see if you agree.

Thanks!


Sent from my iPhone using MonsterAquariaNetwork app
 
Smooth green snake
Can be kept in a 10g but a15 or 20 is better. They eat a variety of insects everyday and require a lot of branches to climb on. The ambient temp should be around 75-80F and a hot spot at 90F.


Sent from my iPhone using MonsterAquariaNetwork app
 
Aw3s0m3 said:
Smooth green snake
Can be kept in a 10g but a15 or 20 is better. They eat a variety of insects everyday and require a lot of branches to climb on. The ambient temp should be around 75-80F and a hot spot at 90F.


Sent from my iPhone using MonsterAquariaNetwork app
Click to expand...

Hey are the smooth green snakes tolerating of handling? I ask because ive never held, kept or have see videos of them being handled...but then again i never really searched lol.
I will check some info now...as i think many members who get imto reptiles for the first time would like to hold them often


Sent from my iPhone using MonsterAquariaNetwork app
 
You CAN handle them, but they stress pretty easily so if they are taken out, it shouldn't be for more than 10 min. You can get them to tolerate it though, but it takes time. Mostly because majority of them are wc. I've never seen a cb one yet, but I also haven't been seeing them as much as I used to in general. I had a friend whom was able to hold his green anole and it wouldn't try to run away. He was the only one though.


Sent from my iPhone using MonsterAquariaNetwork app
 
Hmm well so far I have 7 lizards and 8 snakes on the list.. 3 more lizards and two more snakes should give somewhat of a variety of pets for a future reptile owner to research on.

Green Smooth Snakes
Egg Eating Snakes

I thank you guys very much for your participation, but do you know of any common reptiles that can be more easily purchased?

Also i personally think a new owner should look into CB reptiles as in the long run...it would generally be more easier to take to feeding and possibly more tolerating to handling.
 
There's also all types of skinks that make great first pets. I've personally dealt with a few Schneider skinks and fire skinks that loved to be handled. I don't know if you wanna add amphibians too but pacman frogs are easy to care for and even though you shouldn't really handle them, just feeding them is well worth it.


Sent from my iPhone using MonsterAquariaNetwork app
 
Aw3s0m3 said:
There's also all types of skinks that make great first pets. I've personally dealt with a few Schneider skinks and fire skinks that loved to be handled. I don't know if you wanna add amphibians too but pacman frogs are easy to care for and even though you shouldn't really handle them, just feeding them is well worth it.


Sent from my iPhone using MonsterAquariaNetwork app
Click to expand...

I head schneider skinks were toleratable of handling, i havent heard much about fire skinks. But i will add them as they both are familiar in the pet trade, thank you!

As for amphibians i defintly will put a list together for them however i want to list all the info for the lizards and snakes first

Also i will take suggestions and keep them till the lizards and snakes are done:


-pac man frog


Sent from my iPhone using MonsterAquariaNetwork app
 
I wouldn't call hognose snakes easy for beginners, they can be very finicky eaters (some dont want anything but frogs) and are rear-fanged (I've seen some pretty bad reactions to a bite). They also have a high metabolism requiring a more attention to their feeding regimen.


Sent from my iPhone using MonsterAquariaNetwork app
 
aidenb said:
I wouldn't call hognose snakes easy for beginners, they can be very finicky eaters (some dont want anything but frogs) and are rear-fanged (I've seen some pretty bad reactions to a bite). They also have a high metabolism requiring a more attention to their feeding regimen.


Sent from my iPhone using MonsterAquariaNetwork app
Click to expand...

Thanks for the info, ive never owned a hognose...i heard great things about them. I think if hognose snakes are puchased CB such as all of these reptiles should, the finicky eating should be minor or even eliminated. As for the allergy of coarse the person buying one like all reptiles should do research and find out (ifpossible) if they are allergic to the mild venom...however hognose snakes are known more for eighter fleeing, opening up thier cobralike hood or at rare times play dead...before bitting.

Thats just my opinion and some research to back it up...however i would like to hear from actual hognose owners.


Sent from my iPhone using MonsterAquariaNetwork app
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
MonsterFishKeepers.com
Top Bottom