Lizards as pets

[THE STIFFMEISTER 14,553]

Now then , 

my five year old has been adamant he wants a chameleon for Christmas for quite some months now  , i know . 

I’ve got no experience at all with lizards etc as pets and from what  I’ve read online they aren’t the easiest to keep ….

Any ideas on sensible alternatives , for myself , I was thinking giant African snail or a stick insect ?? 
 

don’t be thinking any stupid plans like tarantulas
 

 

[BEARINATOR 2,825]

Bearded dragons are easy to look after same as some gecko species 

[ArchieHood 3,692]

Stay away from Komodo Dragons their  breath stinks, Stick insects or Praying Mantis are usually a good starter.

[forest of dean redneck 11,183]

No chameleons are to finicky to care for  an fragile 

bearded dragons are ok but might be bit spiny for a 5  year old to handle and  need a 4ft viv and a new uv bulb every 6 months 

look at a leopard gecko calmer to handle only need 2-3 ft viv as adults an used to be cheaper to buy ? Though I’m out of touch as not been involved in reptiles for over 4 years

[forest of dean redneck 11,183]

Stick  insects are boring tbh

iguanas need a whole room when adults an way to large for a primary school kid to handle .

african snails are ok you can feed them left over salad etc give them cuttlefish  bone or calcium powder for their shells .

If they lay to many eggs you can freeze the eggs for a day which kills them then compost them or give them to someone with fish or chickens. .

[foxdropper 17,092]

Sister in law had an iguana .Nigh on 4 ft nose to tail .Had it’s own bedroom ,lamp pool the lot .

Unfortunately her Yorkshire terrier got in somehow and killed the thing .Must of been a lucky strike on the ground .
It shed its tail but too late ,marmite had the thing brown bread .

Have you thought about a corn snake .My kids had one each ,a normal phase and an albino .I preferred them bigger when they took live prey but they are feisty things you need to watch when feeding .After fed they are very placid to hold .Grow to about 5 foot .

Geckos appear to be a good starter .Last  year we had one arrive in a patio pack of Indian sand stone that my son kept until he swapped it for a tarantula that died a week later !

 

[mC HULL 10,411]

get a little ferret get out on the bunny’s with him stiff 

[Gypsydog94 4,326]

Tortoise can’t take much looking after? 

[Daniel cain 42,804]

reptiles need calcium and other bits and bobs...you will end up having to do  everything yourself Stiff...you could get him a Mantis,he can feed it and watch it grow, awesome little pets and only lose £20 if it gets squashed

my Mrs is petrified of spiders but will let a f***ing great big Mantis Climb over her face,kids live  them too,kid it any insects you find around the house

[Daniel cain 42,804]

feed it any insects you find around the house..

[foxdropper 17,092]

With added bonus that should you progress to a chameleon ,he will happily much the mantis

[peterhunter86 8,627]

I've kept water dragons tortoise iguana and a gecko and the gecko was the easiest to keep,they only need a heat mat and not all different types of bulbs that need to be changed or blow every so often and are easy to handle 

[peterhunter86 8,627]

1 minute ago, W. Katchum said:

I know a lad with a gecko an it bites him everytime he handles it haha says he got a diff type for kids tho, can’t remember what types they are but his is deffo fiesty

My one's were grand to handle never had a bother but the iguana I had would draw blood when it would latch on to me and sting like fook when it whipped me with it's tail,I've always fancied keeping a snake 

[Daniel cain 42,804]

18 minutes ago, W. Katchum said:

They sell few diff types a mantis at pit local shop, my kids liked them 

cool little pets Don,take up no room,don't need lights etc ... awesome to watch hunt

[Daniel cain 42,804]

1 minute ago, peterhunter86 said:

My one's were grand to handle never had a bother but the iguana I had would draw blood when it would latch on to me and sting like fook when it whipped me with it's tail,I've always fancied keeping a snake 

we had 2...now there's only 1 in the tank