Help Me!

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Posted by Rob Carmichael on May 06, 2003 at 16:11:38:

In Reply to: Help Me! posted by TheNakedCowboy1 on May 05, 2003 at 21:29:24:

It sounds like you have done your homework. Based on the criteria you listed, and, depending on how much your tank is going to cost, you have a few options:

1) Veiled Chameleon: hardy for a chameleon and beautiful, very interesting (actually, fascinating)...but, they do need good ventilation (tank may not be a good choice) and a drop type system for water.

2) Ridge tailed Monitor: only reach 16-20" and really cool animals to observe. Do well in tanks as long as they have LOTS of bright light via a lamp such as a power sun by zoo med. Very pretty; comes in shades of reds and yellows. Can be kept in small groups and fascinating to watch. These monitors can be a little pricey; I've seen them go between $175 to $500.

3) Collared Lizards; a very underappreciated lizard that reaches 12-15" and look like a mini t-rex. very pretty; shades of greens, yellows, reds. Can be cannibalistic so make sure if you keep a group to give them plenty of basking/hide areas. You can get these captive bred for cheap prices.

4) Leaf tailed geckos; ULTRA cool and cryptic lizards.....you have to see one to really appreciate.

These are just a few examples; obviously, I wouldn't recommend a gila monster since you are a young person but the above lizards all make great choice as long as you have the proper set up.

:Well, I am 15 years old and looking to buy a lizard for my room. I am very responsible for my age I guess because most other kids would not be doing research as to what I should get. I have been looking for like a month and still have no idea what to get. I want something a little like this ...
:- 1-2 feet or so long
:- Very tame yet not totally boring (as in it will still walk on me and stuff)
:- Colorful and interesting looking
:- Looking for one of the following colors: Green, Red, Orange, Yellow. Pretty much anything but brown
:- Not a skink (my stepmom doesn't want me to get one for some reason)

:Now I can take care of it and I have about 500$ to spend on a tank and everything. I plan on doing a tube-feeding type system where you drop the food in and they scurry out the hole in the tube and the lizard gets them. Is this optimal or is there a better way?

:I also plan on building my own tank. I am very experienced with this as I have built 3 100 Gallon Fish tanks in the past and never had a leak. Long story short: my dad works in a fish-store. What is the tank size I will need for the kind that you recomend?

:Also, I have heard about duos and trios of lizards (1.1 or a 1.2) and I think this could work, but if I got this I would want their combined length to be no longer than 3 feet. What is a good pair/trio for this?

:I know I have a lot of questions but I can't seem to find a lot of info on the net. Please help!

:Thanks A lot,
:Kevin

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