whats an active kind of lizard thats still docile?

Question

i have been told that geckos, bearded dragons and water dragons are good docile lizards but in my experience bearded dragons are kind of boring. it seems like they just lay around all day and geckos are nocturnal so the sleep around all day. as for the water dragons i'm not sure. what about green iguanas or monitors?

Answer 1

Iguanas can be anything but docile! Even gentle males can become very aggressive during breeding season. I've never kept monitors - I know people who have and do. Monitors can be pretty docile, but require a lot of floor space AND height...depending on the species.

Chinese water dragons are extremely docile for the most part and quite active. They even seem to look forward to coming out and being handled once their comfortable with their surroundings. I've kept beardies, water dragons and igs. The water dragon has the qualities you are looking for most. They still require pretty special care with lighting, temps and cage size - but being insectivores makes for an easy diet. Some do manage to get their WD to eat greens, but it's not always easy - and not detrimental if they don't take to salad items.

Here's a website for this very friendly and easy to handle lizard:
http://www.triciaswaterdragon.com

Answer 2

Docile Lizards

Answer 3

A water dragon, mountain horned dragon or uromastyx might be a good choice for you. Although in reality, even these can be "boring" and just lay around if you don't keep their enclosures warm enough. If they have to sit under their UVB/heating lamp/ceramic heat emitter to stay warm, any reptile is going to seem boring and inactive. You can also increase activity by giving your lizard an "oversized" enclosure with more than one hide and basking area and lots of rocks or branches/logs for climbing (as appropriate for the species).

Green iguana can grow 5-6 feet, and tend to become aggressive when sexually mature. You'll also need to dedicate a room or build/buy a custom enclosure because of their larger adult size (enclosure size also gets to be a problem with the chinese water dragon, since these will be 2-3 feet as adults but are more active than the iguanas - both also require high humidity which can be difficult to maintain). Monitors tegus spend a lot of their time resting, and like caves or hides where they can stay out of site while they're doing this. Both have the potential to be aggressive, depending on the species.

Mountain horned dragons are a mixed bunch - I've seen them docile and aggressive, but this depends on the individual - if you want a docile one, you'll almost need to select your animal in person. These only get to a maximum of around 14 inches (again, depending on which species, there are 4) and need a high humidity.

Uromastyx, I've never seen aggressive. They tend to stay out in the open and like to interact with their owners. Their biggest requirements are for heat (basking areas >100o) and low humidity - so low, you shouldn't even keep a water bowl in their enclosure - only offer water for about 15 minutes once a week.

Here are some additional websites where you can get info about these:
http://www.anapsid.org/mainlizards.html
http://www.wnyherp.org/care-sheets/lizards/
http://www.kingsnake.com/features.html
http://www.deerfernfarms.com/Uromastyx_Index.htm

Answer 4

Iguanas are anything but docile. The grow quite large and there are not cages that are large enough to house them it would need to be the size of a room to even start to fulfill their needs. But if you are serious about it then I know people that let their iguanas rome around the house all dat the sleep in their cages at night. iguanas can be quite aggressive toward certain people and if you are going to get one you must be prepared to keep it for life. if you take good care of it it will grow attached to you but if you give it away it can fall into a thing like depression where it wont move and it will stop eating. most iguanas die from this. so if you are not responsible then this is not the pet for you.

Monitors are much more wild then even iguanas. the still grow quite large and you would still need huge cage. the also have a much harder diet than the salad eating iguanas . depending on the species they can eat raw meat {chicken or fish} eggs and mice or rats. they also have a nasty temperament and are more of a "ooo look at the pretty lizard" than a "hold on let me get him out" you know? If you want a docile lizard thats still friendly and does more than just sit around then i would suggest a blue tongued skink. they make great pets. ill let you do the research and make the choice though.

Answer 5

Sometimes lizards don't move around because they are basking. You can't expect a lizard to run around it's cage 24/7. Water dragons are puppy dogs. They will sit on your lap, come to the glass of the cage when it sees you, and even enjoy being handled. They are a lot more lively than bearded dragons. They do require a lot of climbing space. They will break there jaws trying to get out of a small cage. Reptariums are sold at Petsmart and are perfect for water dragons. Aquariums are usually to low and small. Provide lots of branches and UVB lighting. Don't forget heating source. They are more arboreal, so a heat lamp is best. Don't buy one from Petsmart or Petco unless you can adopt one for free. They are known to mistreat water dragons. Smaller pet stores are usually more reliable.

Iguanas are not docile, trust me. They are a pain to own.

Monitors can get BIG. They require a lot to eat. Your best bet is a water monitor or savannah monitor. The savannah is a whole lot cheaper.

Chinese water dragons are your best bet. Get as much info about them as humanly possible before you get one. For the lizard's sake.

Answer 6

leopard geckos...trust me!!! they are also cheap since they don't need uv rays. They are very freindly and are very iteresting creatures. they are also one of the most docile creatures once they get to know you. I may be selling a 3 week old normal leopard gecko in the future for 20 bucks if you are interested.

Answer 7

You might check out collard lizards, crevice spiny lizards, emerald swifts, red- headed agamas haitian curly tails and such. They're rather small and inexpensive, but if you buy several, they form little colonies with their own little hierarchy.

Answer 8

mali uromastyx, plated lizards, ackie monitors and bosc monitors