Reptile Set-Up

[Gryz]

I recieved a 10g tank from my neighbor, and would like to have some sort of reptile in it. I'm not a reptile person, so I don't know what a good set-up would be or what to put in it.

I would really like something that you could pick up and kind of play with, not something that you can't handle and just sits there.

Could you please let me know how to set up the tank and what inhabitant(s) could live in there comfortably?

[FishinInTheDark]

PM Imaexpat2. I think he keep herps.

edited for spelling.

[Brock Fluharty]

How about a couple of leopard geckos? They are a bit expensive (ranging from around $10-$45 around here), but you can tame them, and breed them with quite ease.

[Gryz]

Yea, I was suggested Leopards, but am now looking into African Fat tails, as I heard they are easier to handle.

[2639]

Not an expert but i did lots of research...I agree about the gekos...plus, you could save a ton of money by switching to them.

I think Lizards of some sort will be your best bet. But they do require some special gear and you can not cut corners on some of the husbandry techniques or gear.

Some suggestions I would make would be Leopard Geckos, Fat Tailed Geckos or Bearded Dragons. While these can generally be handled without causing undue stress there are many others that handling will have a negative effect on healthwise due to over stressing.

If handling is the name of the game....Might I suggest a Herp of some sort from the Colibred Family. These are very colorful, very tame, very easy care critters and respond quiet well to handling. Any of the Milk Snakes, King Snakes or Corn Snakes can make for a fairly small easy to handle snake and most are exceptionally striking color pattern wise. A Neonate from this family can make it for a pretty good while comfortably in a 10 gallon tank and require minimal care from you the keeper. I can data dump on you if you want more information....

[Sugar Magnolia]

Not an expert but i did lots of research...I agree about the gekos...plus, you could save a ton of money by switching to them.

:lol:

Schneider's skinks are awesome lizards. We had one for years and he is now happily living at a friends house. He's at least 8 years old now. We kept him in a 10 gallon tank with a heating rock, bowl of water, and crushed walnut shells for bedding. He burrows in the "sand" to sleep, and when he's out he is typically draped over his heating rock. Diet was crickets and meal worms that had been fed a vitamin formula. Very tame, and never once in all these years has it bitten anyone.

A friend of ours has a leopard gecko, also a very cool lizard. Very tame and easy to care for.

[2639]

I visit Louisiana 2-3 times a year and am tempted to catch the wild geckos I see all the time. I just don't have the time for lizards like I used to...I have two pests already one is 6 months and one is 2 years...LOL

[newtofish]

My son has an Armadillo Lizard that he has had for awhile. Great little guy easy to handle and not as fast as dragons when they do get away. Easy to care for also.

[gman0526]

I have an albino leopard gecko, very easy to care for.

[Doctor_Reef]

I have kept bearded dragons…they are a lot of fun also... All though I am not sure if your tank will remain large enough for them...as they do get very nice sized....

[2639]

I agree with Ron...They can get fairly big.

[Ocean Singer]

I wish I could keep those kinds of reptiles, they're all illegal in hawaii :(

[2639]

Lots of restrictions in HI, huh?
Tell me something, what's up with an 'interstate' in HI, you only travel 'around' the one state! LOL just messing with ya.

[Gryz]

Sorry OS...

What is the typical set-up of the tank like for a gecko...?

[Brock Fluharty]

No sand, just paper towels in the bttom, a dish of water, a dish of calcium, and feed live crickets. Keep a butter containber or something for them to crawl in. The leos will ingest the sand, causing impaction. very bad and can kill them.

[Gryz]

Thanks Brock,

What about heat - I read they like in the 80's during the day and 70's at night. How do I do that?

[gman0526]

Here's Gomes my albino leopard
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v605/Gman0526/Gomes3.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v605/Gman0526/gomes5.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v605/Gman0526/Gomes2.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v605/Gman0526/Gomes4.jpg

[Brock Fluharty]

Gman, won't he ingest that sand, killing him? That's just what i've always read. I don't know though. I heard it causes impaction and can kill them very quickly unless taken to a vet. You should have an under tank heater, only covering 1/2 of the bottom of the tank, so he can get cooled off if needed. I guess just turn it down at night.

[gman0526]

Impaction ocurs mostly on baby LG since when they hunt, they strike and swallow the sand once they're grown is fine to keep them with reptile sand.

Weather here fluctuates between 80-95 gedrees all yr long. Do you really think I'm going to buy a heater pad for him? :-D

[Sugar Magnolia]

Great looking gecko George! Refresh my memory - what kind of camera is that new one you're using?

[tabby]

I am not a big fan of such critters, but that is one very cute lizard!!!!!!

[gman0526]

It's an Olympus Camedia 740UZ 3.2 MP. If I had the chance i would've gone with at least the 750UZ which is 5.0MP and still has the 10x optical zoom.

[2639]

Nice shots GMan!! Great looking speciman.

[Gryz]

Yes, very nice...

So when I put the heater pad under the tank, should I leave it on all the time, or shut it off at night to get the tank to the 70's?

[gman0526]

Get a thermometer and humidity reader too. They can be housed up to 90-98 degs., so that shouldn't be much of problem.

[Gryz]

Does the whole tank have to be at that temp. or just the area above the heat pad?

[Brock Fluharty]

I think just the half, so he can get cooled off sometimes too.

[Soulja221]

i've kept herps for many many years, and all in all i think my favorite would be a pair of russian spur tortises...may not be your cup of tea as i see that this is turning into a campaign for geckos lol.