What is the pet, slightly large sized, easy to take care of lizard for kids 13+ years?

Question

I want a lizard but I need an easy one to take care of.

I also want to know if it would be ok to have one if I turn a fan on at night and leave the open, I live in southern texas where it is humid

Answer 1

I would NOT recommend getting an iguana. 2 of our rescues came from "kids" pet. They require large cages, special lights and heating. They can grow to be 6 foot long. Leopard geckos and bearded dragons make nice "handle able" pets for kids. Leopard Geckos are nocturnal tho, which means they sleep during the day and are up at night.

Answer 2

Bearded dragon, up to three and a half feet, very easy care. Need a basking spot about 104 degrees, a moving water source, Zilla now makes fountains for that that are actaully really nice, and full spectrum lighting. an adult dragon can live in a 40-50 gal tank happily, but they also like to be held and are very personalble lizards. They feed on Crickets worms fruits and veggies, no avacodo or iceburg lettuce.. and at night as long as your house stays at least 60 degrees, no lighting or heating is needed... they're awesome pets... I have three

Answer 3

PLEASE Do not get an Iguana for a first time lizard. They are expensive, demanding, and can become very aggressive. Requiring trips to the local produce department to keep a variety of "fresh" veggies, expensive lighting equipment to prevent metabolic bone disease due to loss of " artificial sunlight", and a "large" enclosure once they get full size at 5-6 feet. With nails that will claw skin open "when" they decide to go into "heat". Not a good choice, but that's your decision, just wanted to be truth full. African Fat Tail is the most docile lizard I have had, lived 12 yrs. and never bit me. Can easily stay in a 30-40 gallon tank their whole life. Eats crickets, which are cheap 1.25 dozen, feeding cycle varies on age.

Answer 4

Iggys arn't the best pet. I grew up around them and work with them on a daily basis. They get up to 6 ft long and males get sexually frustrated and may lash out during mateing season. What may cost you $35 to begin with will end up being a huge dent in your wallet someday when the animal needs a bigger enclosure. I go bearded dragons, geckos, and beginner snakes personally. The store I work in refuses to sell iguanas because some of the animals are actually indangered in the wild AND because of the size and temperments they always end up back with us in 1-2 years. Not that I'm bashing iggy owners... if you can take care of em all the power to you. Bearded dragons are awsome pets though. Just make sure you have all the suppliments, lighting, and info befor buying ANY animal. Go to a library and look stuff up about a few different animals befor deciding. Be careful about internet sorces though. Anyone these days can make a website :S

Answer 5

Ok dispite what people have told you an iguanas can make a great pet if you can meet it's housing and feeding. It will get costly at times. A better one is the leopurd gecko is a vary good pet to start out with they can get to 10" it mite get bigger like 12". But if you what some thing bigger like a bearded dragon they can get up to two feet long. One that is a little more trikey is the chinese water dragon as a pet they get up to 36" long . What ever you do chose have fun and remaber to have fun.

Answer 6

No reptile is truly "easy". Leopard geckos need an under the tank heater kept at 88-91F. They need to eat crickets and mealworms (and the insects must be fed correctly to provide nutrition). Bearded dragons are nice, but require specific heat for basking and UVB lighting. Diet is a fresh salad daily and crickets and other insects.
Iguanas are a terrible choice for kids. They grow to 6 feet, have hundreds of sharp teeth and a nasty tail whip. They can be aggressive, especially during breeding season, and they require huge cages and also specific heat/light.
Crested geckos are smaller, but sweet and don't require heat or light. They eat a powdered gecko food you can order on line, some baby food fruit, and small crickets.
I'd recommend you read the care info and postings on www.reptilerooms.com (look for the reptile forums link on the left) as it covers many species. You can also read everyones questions and problems and get an idea of what you are getting into.

Answer 7

My son has a bearded dragon and it is very very well tempered it has never bitten nor hissed at anyone and only get between 1 to 2 feet long and live for very longtime and my son is 13 they eat crickets and can go a day or longer if you run out of crickets or forget, so i would go with the bearded dragon.

Answer 8

Not an iguana they are usually very agressive and whip with their tail. I owned several iguanas. A nice lizard to start with is a baby bearded dragon. They can eat dry pellets or live crickets and veggies. They are very tame and like to be held. Leopard geckos can be squirmish and if your child pulls its tail it may fall off...

Answer 9

Iguanas? They're great with kids of any age. I bought mine as a baby. He was about four inches long when I bought him three years ago, and he's over a foot and a half long now. They grow to be very large, obviously, and they usually live from 10-15 years (25 years seems to be the maximum life span f or these creatures) A lot of people who have an iguana end up giving it its own room so that they can isolate the heat that it needs to its own place. Just make sure you and your kids are ready for this kind of responsibility and that you know what you're going to do with your iguana when your kids go to college or move out, if you decide to buy one.

Answer 10

Bearded Dragon, my son has one and he can take care of it on his own.... if he forgets for a day or two the lizard is fine. Get one that is a baby, it is really cool to watch them shed!