What's the best starter reptile for a 11yr old?

  • We are currently upgrading MFK. thanks! -neo
Well, the cages you're looking at come in 4 different sizes. Only the largest two (with a footprint of 18"x18") would provide enough floor space for a terrestrial gecko, like a leopard, panther, or fat-tail. If you're wanting something to handle regularly without much risk of getting bit, then that's what I'd work towards.

Most of the arboreal (tree-dwelling) geckos are pretty flighty, but there's a few that tame down fairly well. Here's my suggestions listed from easiest to tame to hardest:

crested gecko
gargoyle gecko
white-line gecko
golden gecko


Any others, like crocodile geckos, fan-foots, Bibrons & tokays, I've never had success taming down at all.
 
MDC_Leviathan;615523; said:
Any others, like crocodile geckos, fan-foots, Bibrons & tokays, I've never had success taming down at all.
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I used to have a bibron that we held all the time....I guess I was just oblivious to that fact cuz I would have never stuck my hand in the cage if I knew they were supposed to be mean!

Chad
 
for a high arboreal cage like that, I would suggest a small group of green anoles, but they are small and rarely become tame, so then i'd suggest a crested gecko.
 
Ok, it won't let me edit my post, but when I went back over what other people were posting. (I got called to dinner as I was typing) A leopard gecko or a fat tail would be your best. I don't have too much experience with panther geckos, but Leopards and Fat Tails are pretty chill. I don't know where people got off thinking that they need pinky mice, but they don't unless they are breeding like it was mentioned. With a leopard, you can get off with 2 different wattage red bulbs, with the higher wattage as the day bulb. They are nocturnal so do not appreciate the bright lights Igs and Beardies like. Make sure they get their calcium through the calci dust. They will love meal worms, super worms, giant meal worms, and crickets dusted in D3 enriched powder. They also need the humid hide for shedding. Some leopard geckos can be picky, like my friends leopard will only eat meal worms and his fat tail will only eat crickets. I wouldn't suggest an arboreal gecko at all since they are flighty, and I personally don't like anoles because they are flighty as well and tiny.
 
Another good candidate is the Mt horned dragon. They do get a little over your desired size limit (closer to 12") but most are fairly docile and personable. They look very much like a miniature brownish iguana but are actually in the agama family, like water dragons, beardies, etc. And they're insectivores. One would do nicely in one of those larger Exo-Terra cages.
 
a crested gecko would be good they are very nice but are a little pricey($60-$250+) mine is very tame and loves to be handled...
 
joel;615416; said:
leopard gecko
cornsnake
kingsnake
red eared slider
garter snake
these would be a good start
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I wouldn't do a red eared slider unless you have a BIG tank. =)
Plastic kiddie pools work better.:D
 
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