Reptiles? (Beginner questions, sorta) | General Discussion

Hello! So the other day my mum said something about getting a small snake for my birthday and with me knowng how she hates snakes ~~I don't know why I love them to death~~ so I said how about a lizard/gecko/something similar instead?

She said that'd be better and then said that we could get one from a pet store along with everything needed... Only I know some (if not most) reptiles need 20+ gallon tanks with really good lids. Especially considering I've got two cats.

Anyway, I'm hesitant with a pet store knowing that you could get the animal in question in a somewhat poor condition so I wanted to try and get one from a breeder... But my mum's against that because we recently went vegan and she's accusing all breeders of killing the reptiles that they can't sell or aren't what they wanted out of the breeding. So help me tell her that that's not what happens most of the time? Possibly?

So I'm creating this for two reasons:
One: What's a good reptile for a beginner that isn't a type of snake? (I was looking around online and Blue-Tongued Skinks look right up my alley with seeming to like being handled and such) And what do you recommend for caring for them?
and
Two: What are your opinions on breeders and pet stores and why you would prefer to buy from one over the other? I know not to really trust pet store staff because they can be misinformed and it'd be better to get advice online... But if you have any personal experience buying from both I'd love to hear!

LegallyInsane

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September 11, 2017 17:29:20

Hello! So the other day my mum said something about getting a small snake for my birthday and with me knowng how she hates snakes ~~I don't know why I love them to death~~ so I said how about a lizard/gecko/something similar instead?

She said that'd be better and then said that we could get one from a pet store along with everything needed... Only I know some (if not most) reptiles need 20+ gallon tanks with really good lids. Especially considering I've got two cats.

Anyway, I'm hesitant with a pet store knowing that you could get the animal in question in a somewhat poor condition so I wanted to try and get one from a breeder... But my mum's against that because we recently went vegan and she's accusing all breeders of killing the reptiles that they can't sell or aren't what they wanted out of the breeding. So help me tell her that that's not what happens most of the time? Possibly?

So I'm creating this for two reasons:
One: What's a good reptile for a beginner that isn't a type of snake? (I was looking around online and Blue-Tongued Skinks look right up my alley with seeming to like being handled and such) And what do you recommend for caring for them?
and
Two: What are your opinions on breeders and pet stores and why you would prefer to buy from one over the other? I know not to really trust pet store staff because they can be misinformed and it'd be better to get advice online... But if you have any personal experience buying from both I'd love to hear!

Sora. Non-Binary, They/He. Members of our system sign off, if no sign off, assume Sora is speaking. Anyone who speaks is an adult

@AnacondaMiracle Don't know about breeders killing off reptiles they don't sell. Would it surprise me? No. Would a responsible, ethical breeder do it? No. And there are responsible, ethical reptile breeders out there. Whatever kind of lizard you decide, do some research online into reputable breeders.
FWIW, a reptile from a pet store, especially chain pet stores, is almost guaranteed to come from a reptile mill, where killing off unsold stock is far more likely to happen (or simply much more likely a place to lose stock due to poor health and living conditions). The health of the animal is almost never as good as one from a reputable breeder. The animals are bred as quickly as possible, in the greatest numbers possible, for the sake of profit. They may even be power-fed to force rapid growth so they can be sold off sooner (which, needless to say, can cause health problems down the road).

I got my corn snake Noodle from a breeder. Partially because I was looking for a specific color that you aren't likely to find in a pet store, partially because I wanted a healthy animal. The breeder was very responsive to my questions and very picky about shipping conditions/timing for the sake of safety. The place had good reviews, so even though it was my second choice (my first choice is well-known to have top-notch snakes that commonly sell out, plus I was looking for a snake at the wrong time of year for babies), I felt confident with my decision and I've yet to regret the extra cost. I would absolutely buy another snake from a breeder, wouldn't even consider going to a pet store to get one.

A good compromise with your mom may be to look into reptile rescues! Just like with every other type of pet, reptiles are unfortunately abandoned or surrendered due to circumstances. A common reason for surrender is that someone bought a reptile on a whim and had absolutely zero idea that the cute little hand-length iguana baby would turn into a big, dangerous, powerful lizard that would need an entire room of their house devoted to it. There are lots of reptiles out there who need new homes!

As for beginner lizards, I admit I don't have experience with anything but cornsnakes, but I hear leopard geckos are excellent first reptiles. I've also heard that crested/eyelash geckos are relatively easy, but they can be jumpy (literally jumpy) so that may not be your cup of tea.
Whatever you land on...research, research, research. Reptiles are NOT dogs or cats or fish or birds. Every single species has its own unique living requirements that absolutely MUST be met if you want your pet to be healthy. That means that yes, cage setup and food is often much more involved and expensive than the animal itself. And you will need to be able to supply that for the animal's entire life. And if the lizard gets sick, you need to know where your nearest reptile vet is -- do NOT rely on your regular small animal vet for reptile care unless they are specifically trained in it (not just mentioning it as an 'interest').

Dinogrrl

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September 11, 2017 17:53:44

@AnacondaMiracle Don't know about breeders killing off reptiles they don't sell. Would it surprise me? No. Would a responsible, ethical breeder do it? No. And there are responsible, ethical reptile breeders out there. Whatever kind of lizard you decide, do some research online into reputable breeders.
FWIW, a reptile from a pet store, especially chain pet stores, is almost guaranteed to come from a reptile mill, where killing off unsold stock is far more likely to happen (or simply much more likely a place to lose stock due to poor health and living conditions). The health of the animal is almost never as good as one from a reputable breeder. The animals are bred as quickly as possible, in the greatest numbers possible, for the sake of profit. They may even be power-fed to force rapid growth so they can be sold off sooner (which, needless to say, can cause health problems down the road).

I got my corn snake Noodle from a breeder. Partially because I was looking for a specific color that you aren't likely to find in a pet store, partially because I wanted a healthy animal. The breeder was very responsive to my questions and very picky about shipping conditions/timing for the sake of safety. The place had good reviews, so even though it was my second choice (my first choice is well-known to have top-notch snakes that commonly sell out, plus I was looking for a snake at the wrong time of year for babies), I felt confident with my decision and I've yet to regret the extra cost. I would absolutely buy another snake from a breeder, wouldn't even consider going to a pet store to get one.

A good compromise with your mom may be to look into reptile rescues! Just like with every other type of pet, reptiles are unfortunately abandoned or surrendered due to circumstances. A common reason for surrender is that someone bought a reptile on a whim and had absolutely zero idea that the cute little hand-length iguana baby would turn into a big, dangerous, powerful lizard that would need an entire room of their house devoted to it. There are lots of reptiles out there who need new homes!

As for beginner lizards, I admit I don't have experience with anything but cornsnakes, but I hear leopard geckos are excellent first reptiles. I've also heard that crested/eyelash geckos are relatively easy, but they can be jumpy (literally jumpy) so that may not be your cup of tea.
Whatever you land on...research, research, research. Reptiles are NOT dogs or cats or fish or birds. Every single species has its own unique living requirements that absolutely MUST be met if you want your pet to be healthy. That means that yes, cage setup and food is often much more involved and expensive than the animal itself. And you will need to be able to supply that for the animal's entire life. And if the lizard gets sick, you need to know where your nearest reptile vet is -- do NOT rely on your regular small animal vet for reptile care unless they are specifically trained in it (not just mentioning it as an 'interest').

Last edited on Sep 11, 2017 17:57:46 by Dinogrrl

Breeders, if they are good, do everything they can for the best of their animals. Same with pet owners. Do some pet owners abuse or neglect their pets? Yes. Do breeders spend sometimes hundreds of dollars on a sick animal, more than they'd ever make selling the animal? Yes. So it can go both ways.

I've never owned a reptile, but do your research. Join some social media groups that know their stuff, and see what they say about both health and care. Compare information, and don't just take everything as truth. Good luck!

DalphiaRose

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September 11, 2017 18:14:33

Breeders, if they are good, do everything they can for the best of their animals. Same with pet owners. Do some pet owners abuse or neglect their pets? Yes. Do breeders spend sometimes hundreds of dollars on a sick animal, more than they'd ever make selling the animal? Yes. So it can go both ways.

I've never owned a reptile, but do your research. Join some social media groups that know their stuff, and see what they say about both health and care. Compare information, and don't just take everything as truth. Good luck!

Recommended reptiles for beginners and where to watch some vids on their set ups...

Leopard Gecko: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zTXP-JIm_BU
- Do not keep on sand omg. Coco soil/fibre is a brilliant substrate for them but please no sand q - q
- Please use nutrabol and calcium supplements
- This video is 100% perfect to me in terms of set up, and I highly recommend this channel for anyone looking for leo geckos. She has plenty of other videos on their care/food needs.
- If you're looking for something that can light up the tank and not put your leo at risk, I recommend using waterproof LED light strips which are very easy to install and customise. You can get kits for them with remote controls to change the colour and such!
- 2ft vivarium is the minimum size of enclosure these cute little dudes need. Do not keep leos in pairs, etc, and this also goes for the snakes below.

Ball Python: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yef4YnF3R6g
- Need a heat gradient of 27-29C at the hot end and around 21-23C at the cool end. Allow for the temperature to drop a little at night (if your house is crazy cold at night you may need a dimming thermostat)
- Use a heat mat that covers 1/3 of your tank, they do not require a light
- Always provide two hides, one in the cool side and one on the warm side
- Humidity should be 55-60%, make sure to mist your snake at least once a day when it is in shed. If you get a stuck shed with any snake, there's plenty of videos to help but it is very important that you don't leave a stuck shed, especially if it is stuck on the eyes.
- Always feed snakes the most developed animal they can eat (e.g. pick a jumbo mouse over a young rat as the mouse will have a higher bone density and more nutrition as it is more developed)
- Rough guide to feeding snakes, please note this is not set in stone http://www.thecornsnake.co.uk/forum/topic.asp?TOPIC_ID=27833
- An adult royal python male should be in a 3 or 4ft tank, an adult female should be in a 4ft tank. Do not put a very young and small snake in a huge tank as this can easily stress them out and cause issues. It is also a good idea to have lots of fake foliage, branches that have been cleaned specifically for animals, etc around the tank (don't go picking random stuff up outside as this can make it sick). The fact that you have to up the size of the tank as they get older is a good reason to look for an adult animal that has been well handled and is looking for a new home.

Corn Snake: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XSDwRhwjX5E
- Most of what I said for ball pythons apply for corns but please look up a care sheet regardless.
- Also need two hides etc like I said about the ball pythons (these videos aren't 100% perf in every way for me, I have some gripes)
- There's no set 'best humidity' for corns as far as I have found. I kept the corns I looked after at 25-30% and misted them 1-2 times a day when they are shedding.

I also would say that crested geckos, bearded dragons and possibly blue tongued skinks are good for beginners but the three listed above will always be my go-tos as I am much more informed on them.

PLEASE do vital research on each of their care needs, especially when it comes to heat, humidity, lighting (if needed), vitamin and mineral supplements, proper feeding etc. I would also say to research how old these animals can get to as some can live for a VERY long time (e.g. ball pythons can get into their 40s). Do not take my words as the only advice you'll ever need, do lots of independent research!

As for where to get them, I absolutely recommend that you DO NOT get them from places like Petco. I also would be wary on getting them from breeders as they are not often handled a lot before selling. Instead, I would recommend using a website like craigslist or Gumtree to find reptiles in your area that have been well handed, are slightly older and needing new homes (many of them will come with their full set ups too for a fraction of the price, though sometimes those set ups aren't great hng). Or, alternatively, a rescue such as the SPCA. Just make sure you watch someone else take the animal out of the tank and handle it to see if it really is friendly. It can be difficult for a first-timer to tame as they may not be as confident as someone who's already owned a similar animal.
I absolutely also recommend that you get a thermostat as well as a thermometer so you can set the temp of the heat mat or heat lamp as doing otherwise may burn your pet. Also avoided heated rocks for the same reason. Don't bother with setups you can buy from zoomed, etx as often times they do not have all of the equipment or give you things you don't need e.g. many leo gecko set ups you can buy come with a lamp instead of a heat mat. I am much more informed on Leopard Geckos, Ball pythons and Corn snakes as I looked after them in a zoo, so feel free to PM me with any questions you have.

Sorry if this was a bit all over the place, I jumped around when I was writing it! Again, feel free to PM me whenever.

GrimAndGloomy

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September 11, 2017 18:25:01

Recommended reptiles for beginners and where to watch some vids on their set ups...

Leopard Gecko: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zTXP-JIm_BU
- Do not keep on sand omg. Coco soil/fibre is a brilliant substrate for them but please no sand q - q
- Please use nutrabol and calcium supplements
- This video is 100% perfect to me in terms of set up, and I highly recommend this channel for anyone looking for leo geckos. She has plenty of other videos on their care/food needs.
- If you're looking for something that can light up the tank and not put your leo at risk, I recommend using waterproof LED light strips which are very easy to install and customise. You can get kits for them with remote controls to change the colour and such!
- 2ft vivarium is the minimum size of enclosure these cute little dudes need. Do not keep leos in pairs, etc, and this also goes for the snakes below.

Ball Python: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yef4YnF3R6g
- Need a heat gradient of 27-29C at the hot end and around 21-23C at the cool end. Allow for the temperature to drop a little at night (if your house is crazy cold at night you may need a dimming thermostat)
- Use a heat mat that covers 1/3 of your tank, they do not require a light
- Always provide two hides, one in the cool side and one on the warm side
- Humidity should be 55-60%, make sure to mist your snake at least once a day when it is in shed. If you get a stuck shed with any snake, there's plenty of videos to help but it is very important that you don't leave a stuck shed, especially if it is stuck on the eyes.
- Always feed snakes the most developed animal they can eat (e.g. pick a jumbo mouse over a young rat as the mouse will have a higher bone density and more nutrition as it is more developed)
- Rough guide to feeding snakes, please note this is not set in stone http://www.thecornsnake.co.uk/forum/topic.asp?TOPIC_ID=27833
- An adult royal python male should be in a 3 or 4ft tank, an adult female should be in a 4ft tank. Do not put a very young and small snake in a huge tank as this can easily stress them out and cause issues. It is also a good idea to have lots of fake foliage, branches that have been cleaned specifically for animals, etc around the tank (don't go picking random stuff up outside as this can make it sick). The fact that you have to up the size of the tank as they get older is a good reason to look for an adult animal that has been well handled and is looking for a new home.

Corn Snake: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XSDwRhwjX5E
- Most of what I said for ball pythons apply for corns but please look up a care sheet regardless.
- Also need two hides etc like I said about the ball pythons (these videos aren't 100% perf in every way for me, I have some gripes)
- There's no set 'best humidity' for corns as far as I have found. I kept the corns I looked after at 25-30% and misted them 1-2 times a day when they are shedding.

I also would say that crested geckos, bearded dragons and possibly blue tongued skinks are good for beginners but the three listed above will always be my go-tos as I am much more informed on them.

PLEASE do vital research on each of their care needs, especially when it comes to heat, humidity, lighting (if needed), vitamin and mineral supplements, proper feeding etc. I would also say to research how old these animals can get to as some can live for a VERY long time (e.g. ball pythons can get into their 40s). Do not take my words as the only advice you'll ever need, do lots of independent research!

As for where to get them, I absolutely recommend that you DO NOT get them from places like Petco. I also would be wary on getting them from breeders as they are not often handled a lot before selling. Instead, I would recommend using a website like craigslist or Gumtree to find reptiles in your area that have been well handed, are slightly older and needing new homes (many of them will come with their full set ups too for a fraction of the price, though sometimes those set ups aren't great hng). Or, alternatively, a rescue such as the SPCA. Just make sure you watch someone else take the animal out of the tank and handle it to see if it really is friendly. It can be difficult for a first-timer to tame as they may not be as confident as someone who's already owned a similar animal.
I absolutely also recommend that you get a thermostat as well as a thermometer so you can set the temp of the heat mat or heat lamp as doing otherwise may burn your pet. Also avoided heated rocks for the same reason. Don't bother with setups you can buy from zoomed, etx as often times they do not have all of the equipment or give you things you don't need e.g. many leo gecko set ups you can buy come with a lamp instead of a heat mat. I am much more informed on Leopard Geckos, Ball pythons and Corn snakes as I looked after them in a zoo, so feel free to PM me with any questions you have.

Sorry if this was a bit all over the place, I jumped around when I was writing it! Again, feel free to PM me whenever.

Last edited on Sep 11, 2017 18:28:31 by GrimAndGloomy

@AnacondaMiracle - If anything, I'd say the lizards at the petstores are the ones that come from the inhumane breeders. The private breeders usually breed their animals because they want other people to have an animal like the ones they love. Which means their animals are generally in very good shape (little baby anythings are prone to picking up minor illnesses, so there still might be a few mildly ill hatchlings in the mix.) I got my first lizard Cuddles from a pet store. Sweet little guy crawled right onto my lap. Unfortunately, he had a severe case a giardia (an intestinal parasite,) that could have easily killed him if we hadn't taken him to a vet to get checked up on. On a related note, I highly recommend taking any new reptile to a qualified reptile vet (please note that these can be hard to find. A lot of vets...don't really know what they're doing on the reptile front because they focus on cats and dogs...)

Now, on the cuddly, good natured, easy to care for, non-snake reptiles, the Bearded Dragon is king. They are extremely forgiving, and laid back when socialized properly. My vet recommends handling the hatchlings about 20 minutes a day, or longer, if the lizard doesn't seem stressed by it. Usually they don't have much fear of people in the first place though, so that's not hard to accomplish. The hatchlings...don't always seem to understand that human skin is a lot more delicate than their's so they might scratch you some by accident - they generally grow out of that though. But they also see no problem with crawling up your head or stepping on your face. -_- ...They do not grow out of that I'm afraid.

They are very sweet, and in my experience will get annoyed if they feel they aren't being included or are being ignored. I've seen mine inflate themselves to get attention (please note that a blackened inflated throat pouch means the lizard is angry or trying to intimidate something - they leave it white when they want attention.) Mine have both been fond of watching television, and I've heard several other people report the same thing. They're pretty intelligent, so they like the mental stimulation (I mean, just sitting in a terrarium basking is kinda boring...) They need a UVB bulb for basking, a heat lamp to keep their tank nice and toasty, fresh vegetables (no iceberg lettuce - darker lettuce is fine though,) feeder insects or a different protein (such as boiled eggs,) and calcium powder (so their bones stay healthy.)

On the subject of calcium DO NOT BUY CALCI-SAND!!! IT IS LITERALLY POWDERED ANTI-ACID! It neutralizes their stomach acid, and can impact their intestines. Pet stores will try to sell you Calci-sand, just ignore them. If a vet tries to recommend calci-sand, that's a good indicator that they don't know what they're talking about. Construction sand is a bit better, but can be rough on their intestines. I recommend newspaper, paper towels, or reptile carpet (yes that's a thing.)

If you'd like to know more about beardies, I'd be happy to give more advice on the weekend, I've got a school project right now though I'm afraid! ^_^' Hope I helped some!

StormyDragon

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September 11, 2017 18:55:11

@AnacondaMiracle - If anything, I'd say the lizards at the petstores are the ones that come from the inhumane breeders. The private breeders usually breed their animals because they want other people to have an animal like the ones they love. Which means their animals are generally in very good shape (little baby anythings are prone to picking up minor illnesses, so there still might be a few mildly ill hatchlings in the mix.) I got my first lizard Cuddles from a pet store. Sweet little guy crawled right onto my lap. Unfortunately, he had a severe case a giardia (an intestinal parasite,) that could have easily killed him if we hadn't taken him to a vet to get checked up on. On a related note, I highly recommend taking any new reptile to a qualified reptile vet (please note that these can be hard to find. A lot of vets...don't really know what they're doing on the reptile front because they focus on cats and dogs...)

Now, on the cuddly, good natured, easy to care for, non-snake reptiles, the Bearded Dragon is king. They are extremely forgiving, and laid back when socialized properly. My vet recommends handling the hatchlings about 20 minutes a day, or longer, if the lizard doesn't seem stressed by it. Usually they don't have much fear of people in the first place though, so that's not hard to accomplish. The hatchlings...don't always seem to understand that human skin is a lot more delicate than their's so they might scratch you some by accident - they generally grow out of that though. But they also see no problem with crawling up your head or stepping on your face. -_- ...They do not grow out of that I'm afraid.

They are very sweet, and in my experience will get annoyed if they feel they aren't being included or are being ignored. I've seen mine inflate themselves to get attention (please note that a blackened inflated throat pouch means the lizard is angry or trying to intimidate something - they leave it white when they want attention.) Mine have both been fond of watching television, and I've heard several other people report the same thing. They're pretty intelligent, so they like the mental stimulation (I mean, just sitting in a terrarium basking is kinda boring...) They need a UVB bulb for basking, a heat lamp to keep their tank nice and toasty, fresh vegetables (no iceberg lettuce - darker lettuce is fine though,) feeder insects or a different protein (such as boiled eggs,) and calcium powder (so their bones stay healthy.)

On the subject of calcium DO NOT BUY CALCI-SAND!!! IT IS LITERALLY POWDERED ANTI-ACID! It neutralizes their stomach acid, and can impact their intestines. Pet stores will try to sell you Calci-sand, just ignore them. If a vet tries to recommend calci-sand, that's a good indicator that they don't know what they're talking about. Construction sand is a bit better, but can be rough on their intestines. I recommend newspaper, paper towels, or reptile carpet (yes that's a thing.)

If you'd like to know more about beardies, I'd be happy to give more advice on the weekend, I've got a school project right now though I'm afraid! ^_^' Hope I helped some!

Last edited on Sep 11, 2017 18:56:44 by StormyDragon

Also, look at the beardie cuteness! (None of these are mine, although I do have a picture of Cuddles dressed as a drag queen with lipstick and everything lying around somewhere...) [img]https://i.pinimg.com/736x/a3/5f/6e/a35f6ee6969d47c7d8c2097ce8fa93e0--crazy-funny-pictures-funny-cute.jpg[/img] [img]https://c1.staticflickr.com/3/2873/9030927327_c5d65eca70_b.jpg[/img] [img]http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-_zhh4aNc4nY/U03u41YDRgI/AAAAAAAAEfo/EIrJPwdH5Mc/s1600/IMG_7229ee_smaller.jpg[/img] [img]https://s-media-cache-ak0.pinimg.com/736x/c3/fc/cd/c3fccd81bdbddea6ba2d6959f80c9f8e--cute-funny-animals-bearded-dragon.jpg[/img] ...Did I mention that a lot of them don't seem to mind silly costumes? Cuddles liked dress up. He'd try to wriggle into his scarves by himself. My current beardie Luna though...will glare angrily until it's removed...so I don't get to dress her up... ;_;

StormyDragon

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September 11, 2017 19:09:46

Also, look at the beardie cuteness! (None of these are mine, although I do have a picture of Cuddles dressed as a drag queen with lipstick and everything lying around somewhere...)
a35f6ee6969d47c7d8c2097ce8fa93e0--crazy-funny-pictures-funny-cute.jpg

a35f6ee6969d47c7d8c2097ce8fa93e0--crazy-funny-pictures-funny-cute.jpg

c3fccd81bdbddea6ba2d6959f80c9f8e--cute-funny-animals-bearded-dragon.jpg

...Did I mention that a lot of them don't seem to mind silly costumes? Cuddles liked dress up. He'd try to wriggle into his scarves by himself. My current beardie Luna though...will glare angrily until it's removed...so I don't get to dress her up... ;_;

Thanks to all who's posted so far!

Unfortunately, while I'd love to rescue a reptile rather then buy one that hasn't had much previous handling, if any at all... There aren't any rescues in my area for reptiles from what I can find and there doesn't seem to be any actual reptile vets either so I may have to wait until I move (though I don't know when that'll be) before I consider trying to get one.

I don't really much care how long a reptile will live, I'm perfectly happy having to take care of one for the rest of either my life or my pet's life. One of my cats is currently reaching the end of her days (she's... 11? 12? Maaaybe 13?? I've lost track) and I've had her almost since she was a kitten. Pets are life time commitments and I understand that quite well, rehoming or putting the cat in question down only if I had to due to some other reason.

Despite what I said above, I'm still very much interested in one day owning a reptile (probably multiple at that) so I'll greatly continue accepting advice! And don't worry about research, I'll do plenty once I know what exactly it is I want!

LegallyInsane

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September 11, 2017 19:19:54

Thanks to all who's posted so far!

Unfortunately, while I'd love to rescue a reptile rather then buy one that hasn't had much previous handling, if any at all... There aren't any rescues in my area for reptiles from what I can find and there doesn't seem to be any actual reptile vets either so I may have to wait until I move (though I don't know when that'll be) before I consider trying to get one.

I don't really much care how long a reptile will live, I'm perfectly happy having to take care of one for the rest of either my life or my pet's life. One of my cats is currently reaching the end of her days (she's... 11? 12? Maaaybe 13?? I've lost track) and I've had her almost since she was a kitten. Pets are life time commitments and I understand that quite well, rehoming or putting the cat in question down only if I had to due to some other reason.

Despite what I said above, I'm still very much interested in one day owning a reptile (probably multiple at that) so I'll greatly continue accepting advice! And don't worry about research, I'll do plenty once I know what exactly it is I want!

Sora. Non-Binary, They/He. Members of our system sign off, if no sign off, assume Sora is speaking. Anyone who speaks is an adult

@AnacondaMiracle

There is a user @/Slothbug~ They are VERY knowledgeable on many reptiles! They've helped me on numerous occasions!

Leo's can live 20(sometimes more) years with proper care! So they are a long term commitment~
(I've seen several people saying not to follow most/if any/ of the advice given by the Youtube channel Leopard Geckos. AND: I'm not a fan of any loose substrates, since they can possibly impact a reptile, and that's no fun~ I use Ceramic tile for my Leo girl Gator.)

BeeFuzz

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September 11, 2017 19:44:32

@AnacondaMiracle

There is a user @/Slothbug~ They are VERY knowledgeable on many reptiles! They've helped me on numerous occasions!

Leo's can live 20(sometimes more) years with proper care! So they are a long term commitment~
(I've seen several people saying not to follow most/if any/ of the advice given by the Youtube channel Leopard Geckos. AND: I'm not a fan of any loose substrates, since they can possibly impact a reptile, and that's no fun~ I use Ceramic tile for my Leo girl Gator.)

@AnacondaMiracle May I ask the name of your area and I'll see if I can find something?

GrimAndGloomy

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September 12, 2017 04:30:57

@AnacondaMiracle May I ask the name of your area and I'll see if I can find something?

Beardies make awesome pets, I can confirm! They are not very hard to keep (which doesn't mean that you don't need to do an extensive research tho!) and are so fun to observe.

GabuGabu

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September 12, 2017 08:03:30

Beardies make awesome pets, I can confirm! They are not very hard to keep (which doesn't mean that you don't need to do an extensive research tho!) and are so fun to observe.