I'd like to get a chameleon or gecko, what's a good beginner reptile that's social?

Question

I would really like to have a colorful chameleon, but I keep hearing that they are difficult to care for and are not very social. I want something that's social and moderately challenging to easy to care for.

Answer 1

Definitely not a chameleon. Chameleons are terrible beginning pets and should only be kept by experts with experience. They are about as high-maintenance as reptiles come, and they're not good for most anything besides observation.

In my experience, I wouldn't recommend geckos, either. Although not as difficult as chameleons, they're still rather high-maintenance. They require very specific levels of heat, light, and humidity. They're also not good for most anything besides observation--they are very fast and can escape in the blink of an eye, so you can't really hold them. Also, some geckos are a little cranky and tend to bite. (When I was about 10, I lost two geckos that way. I tried to hold them and they jumped out of my hand and ran under some furniture. We never found them.)

If want some sort of lizard, I would HIGHLY recommend a bearded dragon. They make amazing pets! As far as reptiles go, they're relatively easy to care for, require few special housing needs, and are inexpensive to feed. They're remarkably friendly, almost never bite, and have distinct personalities. Most enjoy being held and are very calm, relaxed, and gentle. Also, they can be trained to some extent... My friend's bearded dragon knows its name and walks perfectly on a leash. For more information on them, here's a good introduction to bearded dragons: http://www.beardeddragon.org/articles/caresheet/

Answer 2

I would suggest a gecko because they are good for beginers and they will let you hold them and are pretty friendly. Chameleons are not great for beginners they can get sick really easily and they require a lot more of your time. I would also suggest looking into Asian Water Dragons they are great and more challenging than a gecko but still moderately easy to care for I have had geckos Still have water Dragons and still have a few chameleons too. Good luck your first herp is always special.

Answer 3

We have leopard geckos. They come in an arrangement of colors and they are very easy to care for, and also very social. If your going more for the social part and a little more care required. We also have a bearded dragon. They loved to be held and peted, but you have to start early with a bearded dragon, and you are unable to hold a leopard gecko intil they are juviniles. There are some websites you can go to,and look at geckos, and it will give you good information.

Answer 4

Chameleons are not a beginner pet. I had a vieled and that was difficult enough for me. Not enough humidity- stopped eating. Didn't vary his food- stopped eating. Too much or too little heat- stopped eating. I looked at him too long- stopped eating. 99% of the time, they are not social and if you do take them out- it will stress them into not eating. My guy didn't eat for 2 weeks once. I ended up selling him when he was 2 yrs old because I couldn't afford him anymore. Thankfully, I raised him right and he was very large and colorful.
The cage I built myself was 4 ft by 2 ft by 2 ft, and 2 ft off the ground, probably about $200 after all of the plants and perches added on. Various food items- roughly $50 because I got crickets by the bulk- 1000 crickets lasted me about a month.

Definately get a gecko- you can handle them and they are low maintenance.

Answer 5

I know what you mean. Gecko's are pretty social and very easy to care for. I think chameleons are the coolest reptiles in the world! I really want one, but they are very high maintenance and hard to care for, and easily stressed. Handling them stresses them to the point of shortening their lives. That doesn't suit my lifestyle at all since I travel a lot. You can't really even leave for long weekends because of the humidity needs of their cages. I just admire them at the pet stores.

I own Nevada horned toads. (Horned lizards, aka Horny Toads). They are awesome!! If it's your first lizard, go with either a gecko or a bearded dragon.

Answer 6

Chameleons are not as easy as geckoes. They require more attention. For a starter, I suggest the beautiful and gentle Leopard gecko that can be bred in captivity. They are cool lizards and will be easy for you to take care of....but don't get a tokay gecko or house geckoes. The Tokay love to bite and they can bring tears to your eyes as it clamps down on your finger. The house gecoes are fun but require very small crickets or other insects. Try to choose a species that is moderate sized (about 6 inches or so....so that getting food isn't so much of a problem. If you do get a chameleon, a flap-neck is a good choice (C. dilepis)...not so showy but in my opinion very sturdy....Jackson's are a big pain...I kept several and when I lived in Hong Kong, they were attacked by mosquitoes every night. I like Blue-tongued skinks...they are easy and gentle. Monitor lizards are sturdy but several grow large. Iguanas are fairly inexpensive and do very well in captivity (have to make sure about their calcium supplements).Most North American lizards are not suitable as they are very demanding about environment and foods. Avoid Ameivas...they are short lived, and avoid Calotes (Asian lizards) as they also do not thrive in captivity. Water dragons of Southeast Asia are pretty good, but choose a female...males tend to break their snouts on the cage when they panic...females are more passive. Message me and I will tell you what I know about anyone you are thinking about...have been keeping them for many years.

Answer 7

Steer clear of Chameleons. They drop dead of shock at the slightest bit of stress. Their heat, humidity, UV light (sunlight), and dietary requirements are so exact they die quickly if they're not met.

Geckos are a better choice, but they can be cranky. More of a "look only" pet, like a fish tank.

Get a bearded dragon. They are relatively low maintenence and some of them seem to enjoy humans.
Russian Tortoises stay small and make fun pets. So do Chinese Box Turtles.

Of course, if you don't want to put the time and effort into proper care you can always get a toy. Cheap and no mess.

Answer 8

A good beginners reptile is Bearded Dragon. They eat crickets, like to be handled or sit on your shoulder and it's kind of cool to watch them fish tiny minnows for food. It doesn't take much to care for them and you don't have to worry about them biting off your finger or whipping you with their tail.

Whatever it is, DON'T get a Tokay Gecko! They're vicious and bark at you and I'm being serious about the barking. And when they do bite, their razor like teeth tear into skin as they lock their jaws. Trust me... they're evil.

Answer 9

Corn snakes are very social and arn't hard to take care of. If you decide you want a corn snake message me at [e-mail] and i'll give you a care sheet.

Answer 10

leopard gecko