was thinking about a bearded dragon but now a leopard gecko?

Question

so originally i was thinking about getting a bearded dragon because i heard they where really smart and fun to play with and handle, and that i could take it out and sit it on my lap while watching tv and it would all be good.

How ever i came across a leopard gecko and someone said that is good as well because they do not grow to be like 2 feet long. anyone have any suggestions or background info or good things to say and what not. Looking to get one tomorrow probably. Will it be as friendly and fun to have?

and that is what i thought about the beared dragons but they get so darn big i dont know if i have enough room for a 55 gallon tank lol

so do i really need a 55 gallon fish tank for a bearded dragon? and how does the rankin's dragon act with people are they the same as bearded dragons?

Answer 1

i own both. beardies are alot easier to handle....LG's usually don't like to be handled and when they are they get really stressed out. here is the care sheet for the LG and the one after that will be the beardie....beardies more expensive but alot more fun!

Common Name:Leopard Gecko

Latin name: Eublepharis macularius


Native to: Iran, Afghanistan, Pakistan, and India

Size: 8 to 9 inches

Life span: Up to 18 years.

General appearance: Leopard geckos are yellow background color with adults having brown spots. They have obvious ears and possess eyelids. They have no adhesive toe pads like other types of geckos, but do have claws on their toes.

Housing requirements:

Enclosure: A 20-gallon long aquarium will be adequate for 3 - 4 leopard geckos (only 1 male per enclosure — they are territorial). Rocks and logs will provide climbing areas and hiding places. Each leopard gecko must have its own hiding place. A lid is not necessary for the leopard geckos, since they do not climb glass, but will help keep crickets from escaping.

Temperature: Daytime high should be 82°F on one end of tank to 90°F under a spot light (choose wattage appropriate for providing the correct temperature. Night temperature should be 70° - 72° F. A small part of the substrate should be heated to 92°F using an under tank heat pad.

Heat/Light: No special UV lighting is needed as leopard geckos are nocturnal. A spotlight with the appropriate wattage bulb should be used for maintaining daytime heat/light.

Substrate: Anything from newspaper to sand may be used, but sand produces the most natural setup. Do NOT use cedar.

Environment: Dry, arid type climate. However, the area under the hide box should be kept moist to aid shedding and simulate the leopard gecko's natural burrows. A shallow water dish should be available at all times.

Diet: Crickets, mealworms, waxworms for adult leopard geckos. Hatchlings and juveniles should be fed small, appropriately sized crickets only. Adult leopard geckos will also eat an occasional pinkie mouse. Crickets should be dusted with calcium/D3 powder and vitamin supplements at every feeding for hatchlings and juveniles, and every other feeding for adults. Avoid wild caught insects!

Maintenance: Keep substrate free of waste products. Water dish must be washed and refilled daily to prevent bacterial growth. Change substrate regularly.

BEARDED DRAGON:
Common Name:Bearded Dragon

Latin name: Pogona vitticeps


Native to: Australia

Size: 6 - 24 inches

Life span: 5 - 15 years

General appearance: Medium sized lizard with a large triangular shaped bead, flattened body and a tail measuring half the length of the animal. Gray, brown or reddish brown color with small spiny scales covering the body with longer scales from the back of the head. When threatened a bearded dragon will puff out its throat resembling a spiky beard. There are many different designer phases of bearded dragons available that can produce different coloration

Housing requirements:

Enclosure: Hatchling bearded dragons can be kept in a 20-gallon aquarium for a few months. Adult bearded dragons will need a 50-gallon aquarium or larger sized cage if more than one bearded dragon is housed. Branches and rocks are needed for climbing and basking. A screen top is needed for ventilation. Do not house two adult male bearded dragons together. You can also use a screened enclosure or custom built enclosure.

Temperature: Day: 80° - 85° F.
Night: 68° - 75° F
Basking: 95° - 105° F.

A heat lamp should be positioned over one end of the tank to produce the basking spot. Use thermometers or temperature gun to measure temperature.

Heat/Light: Incandescent bulbs, ceramic emitter, or heat panels can be used for the basking spot. Full spectrum lighting should be provided using one of the fluorescent bulbs made for reptiles that produce both UVA and UVB wavelengths. A mercury vapor bulb which provides heat and light may also be used. Twelve hours of daylight can be provided through the use of timers.

Substrate: Caribbean play sand is cheap, fairly easy to clean and creates a desert looking environment. However, use caution with hatchlings as some people feel it may cause impaction. Newspaper, Astroturf, paper towels, alfalfa pellets, and vitamin sand can also be used.

Environment: Desert habitat

Diet: Bearded dragons are omnivores. They need both animal and plant material in their diet. Crickets, locusts, cockroaches, mealworms, waxworms, silkworms, butterworms, red worms, earthworms, superworms with an occasional pinky will all be relished by your bearded dragon. You should use caution NOT to feed fireflys as they are toxic to Bearded Dragons. Vegetables that you can offer included greens (turnip, kale, romaine, dandelion, endive, escarole, mustard, and collard), green beans, squash, peas, sweet potato, chicory, watercress, red bell pepper, and cilantro. Fruits can be offered about 1-2 time a week (too much can cause diarrhea) such as blueberries, strawberries, raspberries, cantaloupe, mango, kiwi, and grapes. Commercially made food is also available for your bearded dragon. Fresh water should always be provided. Some bearded dragons like to be misted and lap up the water that way. Powdered vitamin/mineral supplement may be offered 1-2 times a week.

Maintenance: Fresh water should be offered daily. If using newsprint then clean as needed. Wood shavings should be spot cleaned as needed. Periodically, the enclosure should be disinfected. A 5% bleach solution makes an excellent disinfectant. Be sure to rinse the enclosure thoroughly after disinfecting. As always, be sure to wash your hands thoroughly after handling your bearded dragon or any cage accessories.

Answer 2

Leopard gecos are very easy care you just need a heat lmap/ten gallon tank with wire cover, newspaper for bedding, and a few shaloow dishes which can be made from cut off bottoms of pop bottles or ashtrays. You will need to deal with live bugs leopard geckos wont touch canned bugs, So your looking at a fair amount of crickets on hand at all times and some other bugs. Leoaprd geckos if you ask me are boring thou...they sleep all day and are only awake late in the evening, they are somewhat fragile and apper quite stupid. I reccomend a bearded dragon for a trill of a reptile pet, you'd need uvb lighting (7.0 to 10.0) a 40 gallon Breeder tank and much more bugs, although bearded dragons also get much larger 16-24 inches full grown with tail they are gentle and do not bite unless you stick your finger in there mouth lol. Beardies are awake during the day and much more mobile you can also have your beardie hang out on yuor shoulder without risk of him falling and breaking like a leopard gecko. I can and will offer more information on either if you'd like.

Answer 3

Leopard geckos are great pets. I raise and breed them. You can keep one in a 10 gallon aquarium. They eat crickets and meal worms. As a treat they can be given wax worms and pinkies. They get 8 to 10 inches in length. You need a heat lamp for over the cage, a dish for water that should be changed daily, a hide box, and a substrate for the bottom of the cage. I use calcium sand as the substrate in the cages for my adults and paper towls for the babies. I've been using calcium sand for 5 years and never had a problem with it. They are very gentle. They are mainly nocturnal animals but I have several that will come out and play in the day time more than night. I guess it just depends. If you have any questions or concerns feel free to email me at [e-mail] If you want something that gets a little bigger than that and it just as friendly get a mali uromastyx. I have a pair of them as well. They get up to 16 inches in length.

Answer 4

Leopard Geckos tend to be easier to take care of and they do stay smaller...
But if you plan on handling your reptile, then I say go for the Dragon...They get used to their owner faster and I swear they act like little dogs that only eat bugs...

Either way it is up to you and your life style...

I have worked in pet shops, I sold about the same amound of Leopard Geckos as bearded dragons.
I NEVER had a customer return the dragon, most of them came in to get them some more food and said they LOVE their dragon and were so happy to have it...
With the Leopard geckos...people returned them all the time...they said they were borring and MEAN!!

My personal experience with them is, dragons actullay begin to like you after a while, they will scratch on the glass to get your attention and you can carry them around with you.
Leopard Geckos, are mean little critters to start with, it take them quite a while to get used to you(and they still don't LIKE you), they don't like to be handled, they are almost impossible to break out of being nocturnal, they would much rather be left alone.

But as I said, it depends on your preference, some people like the geckos because they stay small and don't need any attention, other prefer the dragons because they become more like dogs(size included)

You should go to a pet store or breeder who has both and try to handle them for a while, talk to the person selling them, get as much information as possible(from internet, care guides, yahoo Answers...etc) and just find out which fits you better...

Either way you go..good luck with your new rep!!!
Hope this helps

Answer 5

get a bearded dragon, leopard geckos shouldnt be handled often. If your worried about how big the bearded dragon gets, get a rankin's dragon instead, there also called lawsons dragon and only get about 10-13 inches long. there just like bearded dragons with minor differences. look em up online and you can also buy one online.

Answer 6

I personally would say a bearded dragon I have one and they are so much fun! They can be handled more and they have more of a personality.Sure they get big when there older but they live longer which is cool.Bearded dragons like to be taken out earlier and leapord geckos dont you have to wait a little bit longer so you can hanlde them.

Answer 7

You should research the care on both species before getting any. Make sure you can provide the proper diet, the proper enclosure, temperature ranges, etc....

That said, beardies do have cool personalities. Geckos are not as friendly. Beardies are also hardier, and better suited for someone that has less experience w reptiles.

Answer 8

I love bearded dragons, because the temperment is just as you described it. If they'd had fur, I'd swear that they were little dogs. I'm sorry because other than seeing leopard geckos in windows I have yet to handle one. If it works out, please post a reply on one of my questions. it doesn't even matter if it applies. Good luck!

Answer 9

A leopard gecko sounds about as fun and excitingly different as it gets!

Answer 10

forrget both of those, get a chameleon!