Im not sure if I should get a male green basilisk or a bearded dragon. Basilisks are really cool looking and unique but I cannot hold them because they are to speedy and jumpy. Bearded dragons dont look as cool but you can hold them and ive heard that you could also play with them. Is it true that a bearded dragon will "play". Which one lives longer? Which one is easier to take care of. which one is more friendly?
2007-03-04 04:49:01 · 14 answers · asked by jake mills 2 in Pets ➔ Reptiles
One more thing:
Im a beginner lizard owner.
Ive had green anoles before but not for very long. plus I was young and dont remember how to take care of them.
2007-03-04 04:52:20 · update #1
one more thing:
Basilisks are alot more expensive.
2007-03-04 05:00:48 · update #2
Thank you very much! all of your answers are great, its a shame though that I can on ly pick one as a best answer. :(
Im definetly going to get a beardie. they seem very cute and friendly. Thanks again!
2007-03-05 12:51:47 · update #3
I would go with the bearded dragon (don't you know that a basilisks glaze with turn you to STONE) not something you want in a pet. Any good pet store will have literature available that will give you any additional info you need....
2007-03-04 04:59:21 · answer #1 · answered by Rider (12NI) 5 · 1⤊ 1⤋
I've had both, and the Bearded Dragon was definitly the best choice. Bearded Dragons are much easier to care for and require a smaller tank than a Basilisk. Bearded Dragons are very friendly and Basilisk are not so friendly the tend to want to bite. Since you are a beginner I would definitly go with the Bearded Dragon and if you look them up online you will find Beardies with colors like red, yellow, white, grey, and brown. A Bearded Dragon setup cost less than a Basilisk and use reptile carpet not sand or wood chips they can impact the lizard and kill it. Make sure you do a lot of research before you get you lizard, good luck.
2007-03-04 08:40:35 · answer #2 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
Bearded Dragons are fairly adaptable to most living environments and not nearly as stressable as a Basilisk. If you are looking for "laid back" then go for the Beardie, if you want something you need to leash or chase then go for the Basilisk.. but keep in mind that stress will eventually impact on the Basilisks health and the price you paid for the flashy lizard may not have been such a good idea after all. Beardies also eat a wider range of food as well and that can also be a plus.
2007-03-04 09:52:18 · answer #3 · answered by hotsnakes2 4 · 1⤊ 0⤋
My first reptile was a bearded dragon. No regrets here. In my experience bearded dragons require a lot less work and maintenance than any other reptile and they don't mind sitting on your lap or shoulder for long periods of time.
The intitial setup for any reptile will be pricey, but in the long run a basilisk would cost more because you would need to set up a pool of water and filter it(unless you changed it everyday).
If you don't want something quite as large, but just as friendly as a bearded you may want to look into leopard geckos. Crested geckos are also a good option, but may not take to handling as well. Also, there are plenty of breeders around the internet that sell cool looking dragons... some even bright red. It may cost you more, but gosh are they beautiful.
2007-03-04 07:58:18 · answer #4 · answered by rubbercement 2 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Definitely go with the bearded dragon. Basilisk have some pretty specific care requirements and can get pretty big. They look cool and all, but you should start with an easier herp, then later on down the path you can get your basi :D
Do some research into care sheet's and online for bearded dragon info, there is a lot of conflicting info out there so be warned. I suggest starting at beardeddragon.org or bearded-dragon.com .
2007-03-04 06:06:44 · answer #5 · answered by Chris 2 · 1⤊ 0⤋
If you are buying a lizard, usually the more expensive one is the better. The basilisk lizard would be fun to have as a pet and if you could get the lizard to trust you than you have nothing to worry about. Thus, if you get the basilisk lizard you are bound to have more of a time spent than with the bearded dragons.
2007-03-06 12:21:03 · answer #6 · answered by Noah64P 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Bearded dragons are wonderful pets. We have had both Basilisks and Bearded Dragons, and the Beardies are definitely more fun.
2007-03-12 02:34:53 · answer #7 · answered by Jennifer A 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I definitely would go for the Bearded Dragon, never seen a basilisk in South Africa, but the beardie is a pleasure to have around, they are low maintenance, they love being held are placid creatures ans you won't be sorry if you get one or even two, I have a large boy of six months and a baby of one month and their personalities are totally different but they are my babies, yea the glass dancing is so cute.
2007-03-05 01:04:29 · answer #8 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
hi there
i would recomend both but that's up to u ....bearded dragons are very tame and yes u can play with them .....but basilisks really cool....bearded dragons live for 10-15 years...basilisks live for about 10-12 years .....bearded dragons get about 2-2.5 feet long and there r many mophs ,they need a heat lamp & normal lamp but i dont recomend sand for a substrate(try aspen or betta chips),basilisks eat only meat(they perfer fish)they get about 2-3 feet long ,bearded dragons eat both meat and vegitation (they perfer crickets ,an assortment of worms ,when they get larger pinky and/or fuzzy rats or mice,they also eat romain lettuce (NOT ice berge lettuce) different friuts and veggies)basilisks need a normal lamp ,heat lamp ,the substrate can be aspen or betta chip or sand mixed with peat moss and soil ,or it could also be water (basilisks are also called jesus lizards ...if they have a big enough tank they can run on water!)u could make the incosure half susbstate half water
u can have it all water as long as there is banches for them to climb on...make sure that the water is only about 1-2 inches deep
hope this helps u dicide1
2007-03-04 06:12:25 · answer #9 · answered by reptilian_queen1 3 · 1⤊ 0⤋
I have beardies and I love them. Their initial set up can be a bit expensive, but they are so easy to keep. Once you have the proper husbandry, basically all they need is food and light. They are quite tame if you handle them. My one girl loves to just ride on my shoulder. She actually tries to cling to my hand when I put her back in her tank. I haven't actually seen them "play" but they do some neat stuff like arm waving and glass dancing. If properly maintained they can live 10+ years.
From what I have read on basilisks, they can be a little hard to maintain. They are prone to injuries. Their requirements are similar to those of a water dragon. You need to keep water for them to soak in, a good humidity level, places for them to climb. And yes they do require daily handling to keep them tame and they are fast and they like to flip around and nip at you.
My vote for an inexperienced owner would definitely be the bearded dragon. Here is a link to one of the forums I belong to. Great place to get info and advice on beardies and a lot of the people are owners of all different kinds of reptiles.
http://dragonzone.rapidboards.com/
Also feel free to email me with any other questions.
2007-03-04 06:05:28 · answer #10 · answered by nikipowpezz 2 · 1⤊ 0⤋