Top Three Lizard Species for the Novice Owner
| With so many lizard species making their way into the pet trade, it is important to know which one would make a suitable pet for your level of experience. For the beginners, it is really important to choose a species that is relatively easy and possesses a good temperament. Although everyone has their own opinion, below are three recommended species that would be highly suitable for a novice reptile owner.
It is almost universally agreed that Bearded Dragons ("Beardies") are probably one of the best and easiest species to own. As long as all of their needs are met, they have a calm and gentle disposition and will live a long life. Their smallish size also makes them ideal as a pet - makes them more manageable to handle as well as suitable for an aquarium that could easily fit in your room. As omnivores, their diet mainly consists of insects and fresh vegetables, easily obtainable and cost-effective. The uromastyx ("uros"), or spiny-tailed lizard, is just as easy to care for as the Bearded Dragon. Like the Bearded Dragon, the uromastyx derives from a hot and dry environment thus replicating the same conditions in the home is relatively easy. They do require a specific 120 degrees basking spot at all times. There are 16 different species in a variety of colors. They are also omnivores and their diet consists of insects and plants/vegetables. Finally, the blue-tongued skink is another species that is very docile and easy to care for. Like the others, the blue-tongued skink comes from a dry, desert-like condition and replicating this environment in the home is easy. They require a basking spot between 80 – 100 degrees and would appreciate substrate material in which they can burrow. As omnivores, their diet requirements are 60% vegetable/plant and 40% meat-based (insects, chicken, turkey, etc.). |