Reptile owners

[Hannibał]

Recently been considering getting a reptile/amphibian , and was wondering if any of you have such pets, and what you would suggest and why you'd suggest it. All cold blooded animals accepted, be it turtle or crocodile. I've had a few growing up, but had more fuzzy animals so I'm not real sure what to get.

Leaning towards a savannah monitor, although the 4ft adult length sounds a bit much though being I've heard they can be mean.

[The Bison King]

I don't personally own a reptile but I do work part time at a pet store. I like the Leopard Gecko's and this bad ass lizard called an Uromastyx

[rdsrds2120]

Monitor's are mean. I think this needs to be narrowed down to what you're looking for in a reptile. Do you want to b able to safely handle it, even at adult size? Do you want one just for sake of raising it, or do you want something that just looks cool ?

I know if you raise a small snake right, they can be pretty manageable (don't need to be fed often, handled if non-aggressive).

-rd

[Army of GOD]

With Sub-Zero, I don't only own Reptile, I murdalize him.

[Johnny Rockets]

Do not get a monitor. Ever.

These are large carnivore reptiles that need a lot of care and a lot of thought and money put into an environment. That, and they are vicious. Never think for a moment that a reptile is capable of interacting with you like a dog. You are it's food source. One way or another.

Boa Constrictors are easy to handle and have a good temperament.

If you want a larger safe reptile, get a Iguana. They eat vegetables and pellets, can be litter trained, will ride your shoulder for walks, can free range, and won't eat your baby.

We have a 4.5 footer. Cool pet to own, but can be messy and stubborn.

Johnny Rockets

[Hannibał]

I worked in a giant family owned pet store years back, was basically a place for them to house their pets and make a lil money to feed them. We had several full grown iguanas roaming the reptile room, all but 1 was nice but I remember being young with a juvenile iguana and he was the meanest sob ever, just a fluke?

As for what I'm looking for, I would like a managable pet (no tokay geckos!) I don't expect it to be my dog, but id like it to not try and attack everytime I feed it or clean its enviorment. Size is a plus, but more so id like longevity. Looking cool is unimportant.

BK you mention Uromastyx, haven't seen much of them, aren't they similar to a bearded dragon?

And AoG I hate you. Id drop sub zero with Kano! Your probably one of those freeze,slide,uppercut cheaters! back on topic

Edit: Carnivore is a PLUS. I had a pacman frog once and feeding time was awesome.
[bigimg]http://inlinethumb20.webshots.com/44499/2938527600046342862S425x425Q85.jpg[/bigimg]

[Johnny Rockets]

Most iguanas are pretty passive, especially if you handle them a lot. They have a +15 yr. life span too...

Bearded Dragons are quite sociable I hear.....


We had a pack man frog.....Jesus that thing was a eating machine....and damn fast when it wanted to be. My teenage son was being cute with it at feeding time, holding a goldfish out for it in his fingers. Nipped his fingertips and made him fill his pants. I think I pulled something laughing so hard.

JR

[muy_thaiguy]

I don't think it would be recomended due to temperment, but it is long lived, eats meat, and grows fairly large.



http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rIeL0g8GpXM

[Hannibał]

Actually I looked at that (alligator snapper, I believe is what that is) people keep them in above ground pools!! Lol. Bearded dragons are great, just a little on the small side.. Ill look up some more info on iguanas maybe I just had a bad one

[DoomYoshi]

You are not far south enough to keep an Iguana. I have met several people who claimed their Iguanas were friendly. However, every time the Iguana was just so cold that it was lethargic. If you want an Iguana, before you get, call all the local shelters and see if they will take it. I think you will find that even the shelters who specialize in reptiles or exotics will not take them. That is because the abandonment rate for Iguanas is 99.2%. that rate includes the irresponsible bitches who don't take care of them properly. To get an Iguana you have to be willing to give up a bedroom, as any less size than that is pure cruelty. Also, you will need to epoxy the walls. Epoxy is 100 bucks a bucket. If you don't do it, you will get rot and mold all through the house as the humidity level they need is quite high.

If I wasn't paid to work with Iguanas I would never touch them and I love reptiles and have worked with them my whole life.

Start with a corn snake, if you don't get bored of that after five years then Move to something bigger.

[Hannibał]

Doom, thankyou very much for your insight. That is exactly the type of first hand info I would like. I have known someone who had a portion of their basement dedicated to their iguana, didn't think about the mold and such though. Can I ask what you do for a living?

As for the corn snake, I was thinking more along the lines of Red-tail boa if I went snake. When I worked at the pet shop they seemed to be the best most well rounded of the snakes, not tiny, not gigantic (see reticulated python) and very mellow.
[bigimg]http://global-reptiles.com/images/Redtail-Boa.jpg[/bigimg]

[DoomYoshi]

http://Www.scalesnaturepark.ca it's where I work. I get paid to explain to people why Iguanas make a bad pet lol. Before here I have worked at both a pet store and a humane society. I also volunteered and worked ever since I can remember at http://www.seawayserpentarium.com.

[Hannibał]

Awesome, I voluntered 1 day a week at my local aspca for quite some time when I was younger, props to you. Sounds like a cool job, I take it you guys in cali have a problem with iguanas..shame people don't research before buying..and dosent help pet stores push them and reticulated pythons, sulcatta tortoises, etc on people. They look so cute when they're shells the size of a silver dollar, who'd think in just a few years they'd be able to push furniture around, pull up boards in the floor, etc.

[muy_thaiguy]

Actually I looked at that (alligator snapper, I believe is what that is) people keep them in above ground pools!! Lol. Bearded dragons are great, just a little on the small side.. Ill look up some more info on iguanas maybe I just had a bad one

Yep. Though, not something I'd let the kids play with.

[DoomYoshi]

And yes, red tail boas are a good beginner reptile. The biggest mistake I find people make with their snakes is overfeeding. Try to watch out for that.

[paradise28]

We have a leopard gecko . She's adorable. They're very small, and not carnivorous haha. Ours is just chill and fun to carry around.

[KoolBak]

I have had snakes on and off over the years.....currently have a Ball Python and she is 9 years old....long term commitment, and although they are very easy to take care of, they need to be taken care of PROPERLY and you need to really understand their needs. She is a sweety....loves being held, isnt hyper, will get nice and fat but not real long, relatively speaking. My last Boa was 7 feet and got a little unmanageable....

Have fun ;o)