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Posted: 8/23/2017 9:52:35 PM EDT
I've been seriously contemplating a pet lizard.
Have explored the possibility of several types, but leaning towards an iguana or tegu. I have the time and space, and aren't worried about the possibility of being bitten, but would prefer a species that will eventually be tame. I have no experience with lizards. We do have turtles, frogs, sheep and geese, so animal maintenance is already on the daily chore list. Reptile people, thoughts? |
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20 years ago I had a pet iguana that was about 2 feet long. I used to sit on my porch and he would sunbathe on the front grass, did this a million times. One day he got spooked and ran up the neighbor's tree. Took me 4 fucking hours to get him down, I was about to cut down the tree. Don't be like me.
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Wife had a bearded dragon and I gav it a natural anole to hang out with. The anole must have carried some kind of wild pathogen and the dragon immediately died.
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I chat with a local Western Fence Lizard nearly every day.
Insightful little guy. He sure doesn't have much good to say about Geico. Attached File |
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If you aren't worried about getting bit by those two, you haven't been or haven't seen it happen.
My advice for larger lizards; Uromastix Blue-tongue skink Bearded dragon Frilled lizard Sungazer Asian (captive bred only) or Australian water dragon Chuckwalla |
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Well, I guess I should start look at Bearded Dragons.
Suggestions on specific type, or does it matter? |
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If you want something exotic, look at panther chameleons. Might not be a great starter lizard but as long as you're not an idiot you can manage. I'll try and upload some images later of mine. He's still young but starting to get some cool colors.http://i.imgur.com/EaMc3Jf.jpg View Quote |
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Is he tolerant of being handled and friendly? View Quote I get him out about once a week but I hand feed him about everyday. They do the whole shoot the long ass tongue out thing just like you think they would. It's pretty neat. |
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Bearded dragon,there isn't a better pet lizard. View Quote It is the only lizard that can actually be a "pet" Chihuahua vs Bearded Dragon |
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If you want a large lizard that can damn near be dog tame, a tegu is what you are looking for.
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If you are serious about wanting a tegu or iguana you shouldn't have a lack of concern with being bitten. Tegus can inflict a pretty serious bite,not as nasty as a big varanid but still enough to suck.
Bearded dragons,if raised and handled properly,are the best lizards on several levels: easy to care for,readily tame,enjoy interaction far more than most and have a sweet spot of being big enough to handle easily but don't attain a size where they're a pain. Leopard geckos are neat little guys but don't tame quite as easily nor do they enjoy being handled as much. If you want decoration rather than a pet,it's another matter. |
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We have several pet lizards. The assholes always crap in my driveway and on my front steps. But they eat some of the bugs, so they get a pass.
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iguana's have real teeth and if they bite your thumb because they are assholes, it will look like a small shark bite and will bleed enough that it will over pour you cuped palm while look at it and think "that just really happened".
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DOVER, Delaware (AP) — Several flesh-eating pet lizards were found feasting on the corpse of their owner in his apartment, police said.Police were called to Ronald Huff's apartment in Newark, Delaware, on Wednesday after a relative became worried because Huff failed to show up for work, investigators said.Officers found Huff's body on the floor, with his pet Nile monitor lizards feeding on his flesh. The state medical examiner is investigating the cause of death.Huff, 42, had last been seen Sunday, New Castle County police said. View Quote |
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We've had several pet iguanas. If you've got the time, room and patience they can be great pets.
One of ours was litterbox trained. She was also very protective of our oldest son when he was young. She was a lot like a cat in many ways. I still miss her. |
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Water monitor. Like big lazy dogs......with scales and flicking tongues.....
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Yep. Quiet, tame, relatively clean and easy to care for. You can stick them on your shoulder and sit at your computer for hours and they won't move.
I was a little skeptical when my wife got one but I like it now. |
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Caught a geko who climbed down a barrel and couldn't get out. Had to tilt the barrel for it to escape. Does that count?
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What you're looking for is an adult, wild caught Black and White Argentinean Tegu. They're quite friendly, and will come right to you when they see you.
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Quoted:
I've been seriously contemplating a pet lizard. Have explored the possibility of several types, but leaning towards an iguana or tegu. I have the time and space, and aren't worried about the possibility of being bitten, but would prefer a species that will eventually be tame. I have no experience with lizards. We do have turtles, frogs, sheep and geese, so animal maintenance is already on the daily chore list. Reptile people, thoughts? View Quote Aint worried about gettin bit?!?! Oh damn...you dont know do ya. You dont want to get bit by those two. Get a nile monitor. Haha..youll need lots of space. Get a nice little borin leopard gecko...shake there tale alittle when gettin ready to eat. And then goes and hides. They live around 25 years. |
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Had a chinese water dragon for about 12 years growing up. She would play with the cats, liked sleeping on top of the hanged clothes in the closet, would crawl on my face to wake me up, slept underwater for hours at a time in her aquarium tank and spent a lot of time digging holes to lay her eggs in every spring.
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Do not get a Burundi Nile Monitor.
I still have scars from the one I raised. Wicked bite- tail strikes- he was a mini TRex. My mother was fascinated when he'd beat rats against the side of the glass, splattering blood everywhere. It was kind of weird seeing mom interested in that. |
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My buddy has a tegu thats pretty friendly it was captive bred i believe and hand raised. I've not owned any reptiles in years but had them as a kid and into my early 20's, chameleon's are very cool looking but not so good for handling, some geckos are cool, but some not had a Tokay he was unhandable, had a monitor he was kind of like a cat mostly tolerated me with occasionall tail whips, only got bit when he was still small, hated all other people.
But like others said Bearded dragons seem like the best bet though I never owned one. |
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I chat with a local Western Fence Lizard nearly every day. Insightful little guy. He sure doesn't have much good to say about Geico. https://www.ar15.com/media/mediaFiles/57642/lizzardian-267728.JPG View Quote |
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Blue Tongued Skink.
They get some size but they're hardy as hell and good personalities generally. Bearded dragons are probably a good choice as well but they are a little meh in my opinion. Uromastyx are cool as hell but I have never had one. Someone on Arf owns a couple that are sharp lookers... they may have weighed in already. If you want something that stays small-ish and is cool AF check out gargoyle geckos. Iguanas are assholes. Any large lizard like a Tegu is going to need space. Do you really want something you have to hibernate? It's a PITA. |
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DO NOT get an iguana. They grow to be mean assholes. My GF in college had one that was 4-feet long. It would whip you with its tail, claw you to the bone and shred your clothes, and bite you with its razor sharp gums. It took massive smelly shits and required frequent fixes to its gigantic cage because it was always trying to escape. When it did get out it always ended up on something like the top of the couch or curtains and it would DIG IN and you had to pull each goddamn claw off individually while it was whipping you and biting you. I learned that the best way to capture it was with a beach towel then just dump the fucker back in its cage.
It met its demise by my hand and I'm not one bit ashamed to admit that. WORST. PET. EVER. |
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Do not get a Burundi Nile Monitor. I still have scars from the one I raised. Wicked bite- tail strikes- he was a mini TRex. My mother was fascinated when he'd beat rats against the side of the glass, splattering blood everywhere. It was kind of weird seeing mom interested in that. View Quote Yup, sounds like a normal nile. |
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