Best small lizard for beginners?

Question

I've had almost every pet on the market, aside from Reptiles and Amphibians. The problem is, I'm active, and all of the other types of pets always end up going up for adoption within a year. My dog is getting older (she's eight) and I'm in the market for a second pet. I've narrowed it down by care, responsibility, size, and attitude. I've come to a conclusion that I want a Lizard, as they and snakes we're my final choices, and snakes freak me out to the point that I'd rather be stabbed than take a chance with one in my yard, much less my house.
Anywho, I want a small lizard that is very calm and will live no more than 5-6 years (can't take it to college so I'm going to have to leave it with family) and it needs to cost the least possible ($225 budget for everything) but it needs to like water because I want it to have a water feature to keep me calm. It doesn't matter what kind of Lizard, because I'm going to have to order it.

Answer 1

There's really nothing that fits your request. Leopard geckos are calm, but they can live 15 years and require at least a 20 gallon long tank (not 10 gallons, as that doesn't provide a proper temperature gradient or enough space for the 3 necessary hides...hot, cool, and moist). They also wouldn't do well with a water feature.



Crested geckos are small and can be calm if tamed well, and they will do well with a water fall, but they can live up to 15 years on average as well.



Anoles/long-tailed lizards/house geckos are small and don't live as long as the leopard/crested geckos, and can have a water feature, but they aren't calm.



I would personally wait until you're out of college before you get a reptile. Also, unless your dog is the size of a great dane, 8 years old is not that old for a dog.

Answer 2

Calm small lizards - leopard gecko. only problem is that they live 10-20 years. the only lizards that i could think of are little skittish house geckos or anoles. You can't hold them though. All a leopard gecko needs is a ten gallon tanks, carpet, a hide, lamp, water bowl, and thats about it that I could think of. They are very docile and easy to tame.

Answer 3

Um, anyone heard of a fore bellied newt?

They can live as little as one year, and most are mainly aquatic. There small, you can fit 2 per 10 gallons, and they cost about 50$ to take care of short term.

Answer 4

U can try salamanders, leopard geckos, even a beardie. But they don't care for water. All 3 cost less than 200$ to care for.

Answer 5

well to me green anoles are the best small lizzards i had one and it never bit me ever . it died after 10 years

Answer 6

That is crazy. I just posted an article on this- http://www.supremegecko.com/miscellaneous/what-is-a-great-reptile-for-beginners.html