Best Starter Pet Reptiles
Here's my simple recommendation for good 'starter' reptiles. I made this based an availability, ease of care, size, temperament, and hardiness. Just my opinion though... always feel free to do your own research to find what best works for you.
Bearded Dragon
Great pet lizard with a temperament to match! As they get older they pretty much become lap cats and seem to enjoy human interaction (they are very interactive themselves). They eat like pigs on both veggies and insects. An adult needs a relatively large cage. 50-70gal.
Corn Snake and King Snake
A great choice of pet snake (both in the colubrid family) that have great temperaments. Easily tamed. They never miss a meal and eat like pigs on frozen thawed rodents. An adult usually only requires a 30gal cage. The are active snakes though and really like to slither around and explore, though they are occasionally happy to sit in your shirt or hoodie.
Blue Tongue Skink
Similar to the bearded dragon, but smooth to the touch. Very friendly, very mellow lizards that a quite handle-able. Eat like pigs on both fruits, veggies, and insects (you can even make an easy BTS 'chow' in with your food processor to store in your fridge). Adults require a relatively large cage of 40-50gal.
Western Hognose Snake
A really get bet snake that stays small. The are easily tamed and take to handling fantastically. Even though they are rear-fanged the venom is not harmful to humans... and they are not prone to bite (even a mad one will just 'mock strike' by bumping you with its snout!). They ussually take well to eating frozen thawed rodents and eat like pigs. Adults only need a 20-30gal cage.
Leopard Gecko
Another friendly and hardy lizard. They tame easily and have a super endearing face! Usually don't require more then a 20gal cage. They feed on insects, but you can by pe-killed canned crickets and mealworms or specialty gecko food for them. Also are great eaters.
Crested Gecko
Up and coming gecko that has become very popular in the pet trade recently. They tame well and have charming little faces! They do require a more topical set-up with climbing though, but don't need a huge cage. They can also feed on a special crested gecko diet so you don't have to buy live bugs.
Other good choices:
Ball Pythons. Great pet snakes, but due to their stricter heat/humidity requirements and that they are known to be finicky eaters and get stressed. soooo i didn't put them on the main list.
Common Boas/Hog Island Boas. Boas make really great, really mellow pets... but require a bit more research and have stricter heat and humidity requirements. Some species of boas can get 8-10ft which requires large housing and large food (jumbo rats and/or rabbits).
Woma Pythons. A really great and beautiful python that is unfortunately hard to find and very pricey ($300-$400+). They can rage from 5-7ft. Young ones can be bitey and some never grow out of it. But a mellow one is a fantastic pet that doesn't get to be a monster size.
Savannah Monitor/Tegu Both can make great pets, but can get about 5ft and require a very large cage. As they get older they get tame and lazy (with regular handling and care). They seem to enjoy human interaction and are very smart as you can potty train them. Beware! An accidental bite from a hungry one can leave you in stitches.
Lacerta. Another very hardy fun lizard... but they don't seem to readily available. Males are known for their brilliant green and blueish markings. They do well in captivity and don't mind being handled. also insect eaters.
Bad Choices.
Leave these to more experienced or advanced reptile keepers. Many of these end up in bad health do to lack of proper care (which people underestimate), and/or they get large, and/or aggression. They often times end up in shelters or exotic rescues.
Iguanas. Yes really. The common (and often inexpensive) green iguana is not the best choice for a first timer. The require good heat, humidity, lots of climbing as they are arboreal, and a cage the size of a small walk-in closet. These guys are primarily vegetarians and thrive on a variety of fruits and veggies.
Many suffer in captivity do to their easy accessibility but lack of proper care. Negligent owners leave them in an improper cage with only crickets to eat... as a result they suffer from depression, bone deformations, malnutrition, dehydration, and may get aggressive.
Burmese/Reticulated Pythons. Despite being fantastic pets... they grow to an enormous size and aren't always cared for properly... so they often end up in recuses or shelters. A new reptile owner might be overwhelmed by these large snakes growth rate and price of keeping. Are you ready to spend $800-$1000+ on the pythons housing? Plus $5-$10 every week for feeding ONE SNAKE?
Tokay Gecko. They are another reptile usually available relativity cheap. They are known for being one of the most aggressive species of geckos. They are pretty, but don't handle well.
Venomous species. Rattlesnakes, cobras, copperheads, mambas... Do i really need to say anything?
Always make sure to DO YOUR RESEARCH before you buy any animal! That animal is dependent on you for care whether that be food, housing, or a trip to the vet. Expect to take care of that animal its whole life!
Always make sure you know what you getting into!
