Anyone ever own a pet lizard/reptile?

[Richard_Cuckold]

Growing up I owned a good amount of reptiles (turtles, iguanas, anoles etc) but that was when I was a kid.

I'm now approaching 30 and looking to get a new pet(s). I've considered getting a dog or cat but thats sorta cliche and kinda wanna get a cool lizard.

I'm thinking either a leopard gecko or a bearded dragon. I've read up on both of them and they seem like they would be pretty easy to take care of. The downside to a bearded dragon is that they get huge and eat a TON. But the upside is that they are friendly/docile creatures that like human interaction.

Leopard Geckos dont eat as much and are also docile/friendly but they are nocturnal and usually only come out at night(spend most of their days hiding/sleeping)

Has anyone here owned a gecko or bearded dragon? Any advice would be great! THanks

[Phobia]

There's a reason dogs and cats are cliche. They're good pets. If you want to avoid then buy a sabertooth tiger. If you want a loyal pet that is easy to care for, get a dog. Don't not buy a dog simply because a lot of people own them. If you want a dog then get a dog.

[Silock]

Lizards are awful pets. They are okay to look at, but they don't appreciate you like a furry pet does.

My leopard gecko was a little bitch. Never warmed up to being handled, and was always hiding. I adopted him out.

[Sorter]

Asfar as my personal herp experiences go:

LP geckos are easy to take care of generally friendly but can be less than enthused, and are rather easy pets. Won't typically bite or be fussy in terms of eating.

As for bearded dragons:

Much smarter than people give them credit for. Can seem rather lethargic at times but they also go crazy.



If you're truly interested in a lizard and don't have many limitations, I'd reccommend a Black-Throat Monitor. Exceptionally docile, smart, loyal, and are truly breathtaking once you've raised one. They get a bt large so if you have other pets it can be a problem. However, they can be trained to an extent, are pretty dam smart as far as monitors go, and are docile to boot. Pretty cool lizards.


For the love of god, don't get a Croc monitor. Those ****ers are nasty, bitey, and their teeth are wicked. I had a guy tell me a story once about how he nearly bled out from a 3 month old from a bite to the wrist. They're aggressive, easily agitated, and generally regarded as pricks. Black throat monitors, not at all IMO

[nstygma]

Originally Posted by Sorter

Black throat monitors

these?

[Sorter]

Originally Posted by nstygma

these?

yup. contrary to popular belief, you can train them like dogs to an extent. I've had a black throat come up to me and start nuzzling my leg and be exceptionally friendly. Truly, they are remarkable. They also don't tend to be aggressive when feeding as opposed to savannahs or other monitors. Personally, that is the only kind of monitor I'd ever own.

[beach tribe]

Originally Posted by Sorter

yup. contrary to popular belief, you can train them like dogs to an extent. I've had a black throat come up to me and start nuzzling my leg and be exceptionally friendly. Truly, they are remarkable. They also don't tend to be aggressive when feeding as opposed to savannahs or other monitors. Personally, that is the only kind of monitor I'd ever own.

So do you house train them or what?
Seems like it could get nasty.

[HemiEd]

Originally Posted by nstygma

these?

That is just creepy as hell, especially after reading about some of the stuff earlier in this thread. I was waiting for it to snap that guys throat.


When I was a little kid, I caught a horny toad right out on the sidewalk, but it died. I think they are pretty well extinct now, right?

[Bump]

I had a roommate.
His roommates moved out a few months before I moved in.
The old roommate left behind a snake.
My old roommates scared of snakes.
I moved in and there is a snake in a cage in the living room.
It was mad as ****.
Because it was hungry.
My old roommate scared of snakes.
Never fed it.
I went to the damn pet store to buy live mice.
That thing bit me when I opened the cage to feed it.
I screamed like a bitch.
Then I regained composure and fed the damn thing.

Snakes should not be pets people! They certainly should not be.

[Sorter]

Originally Posted by Bump

I had a roommate.
His roommates moved out a few months before I moved in.
The old roommate left behind a snake.
My old roommates scared of snakes.
I moved in and there is a snake in a cage in the living room.
It was mad as ****.
Because it was hungry.
My old roommate scared of snakes.
Never fed it.
I went to the damn pet store to buy live mice.
That thing bit me when I opened the cage to feed it.
I screamed like a bitch.
Then I regained composure and fed the damn thing.

Snakes should not be pets people! They certainly should not be.

I disagree. I've had plenty of snakes both wild caught and bred that were excellent pets.

[Bump]

Originally Posted by Sorter

I disagree. I've had plenty of snakes both wild caught and bred that were excellent pets.

really? Did you guys form a bond? I just felt bad for that thing man, it was small ass cage, it's not right in that situation. I don't know what yours is though.

[Sorter]

Originally Posted by Bump

really? Did you guys form a bond? I just felt bad for that thing man, it was small ass cage, it's not right in that situation. I don't know what yours is though.

The times I kept snakes, I had an oversized cage that mixed both artificial sand, branches, and living vegetation. Additionally, I didn't typically keep them for very long as most were WC (wild-caught). I'll say that all of the kings, milks, rat snakes, and most racers warmed up pretty quickly. However, I didn't keep them for more than 3 weeks.

The hots I caught (copperheads) actually warmed up fairly quickly, which was surprising to me. They were fine with me free handling them to an extent ( limited persons in the room, no noise, etc).

[Bump]

Originally Posted by Sorter

The times I kept snakes, I had an oversized cage that mixed both artificial sand, branches, and living vegetation. Additionally, I didn't typically keep them for very long as most were WC (wild-caught). I'll say that all of the kings, milks, rat snakes, and most racers warmed up pretty quickly. However, I didn't keep them for more than 3 weeks.

The hots I caught (copperheads) actually warmed up fairly quickly, which was surprising to me. They were fine with me free handling them to an extent ( limited persons in the room, no noise, etc).

damn, you have bigger balls than I do free handing a copperhead

[CrazyPhuD]

I have a pet trouser snake does that count?

(come on someone had to say it! This place be slippin!)

[Silock]

Originally Posted by Sorter

The times I kept snakes, I had an oversized cage that mixed both artificial sand, branches, and living vegetation. Additionally, I didn't typically keep them for very long as most were WC (wild-caught). I'll say that all of the kings, milks, rat snakes, and most racers warmed up pretty quickly. However, I didn't keep them for more than 3 weeks.

The hots I caught (copperheads) actually warmed up fairly quickly, which was surprising to me. They were fine with me free handling them to an extent ( limited persons in the room, no noise, etc).

I don't know whether to respect the hell out of you or call you a ****ing moron . . .

Jesus, dude.