I am thinking of of getting either a leopard gecko or a bearded dragon. I have a full leopard gecko set up including UV light. I owned a gecko for around 3 months before it died. I found that it only came out at night as it's nocturnal and I know beardies aren't.
I would like to know your opinion in which makes a better pet, which is easier and which costs more to keep.
Any opinions greatly appreciated Tom

I've never kept lizards so I'm not sure but just giving your post a bump so it doesn't get lost

Em
xx

i sell leopard geckos of different colours and prices...

We accept courier

definately a beardie a least they are out during the day i find them soo amusing to watch especially when its like they're waving at you. My frind has a gecko and rarely so it - noctural

i say beardie but im bias mine sunbathes out garden with me

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Opinions ain't facts, take them in and let them go.

Hi as a reptile keeper of more than 20 years I would have to say there are pros and cons for keeping both these lizards :

Leopard geckos are smaller than beardie so therefore require smaller tanks, they DO NOT need UV lighting as they are nocturnal and gain nothing from having a uv light .....they do however need a heat pad which is best placed under the tank (on the outside) so that if covers only half of the bottom of the tank, this then allows them to bask in the heat but also to find a cooler area the other end of the tank should they just wanna chill out....for lighting a simple 60 watt normal lightbulb can be used but make sure u get a proper fitting for it and dont just leave it hanging in the tank (ud be surprised how many people do!)....they need a few hides in the tank and maybe even some damp spaghnum moss ( this helps with any shedding problems and helps with keeping a level humidity) a shallow bowl for water...and substrate which can be either newspaper, paper towels, kitchen roll or if u want a most asthetically pleasing tank then use repti carpet....i personally stay away for any kind of sand as it can be easily ingested and cause impaction in your lizard...that includes calci sand....as for temps in the viv...The ideal temperature in the hide box is 86 to 90 degrees Fahrenheit at all times. The ambient air temperature of the room they are housed in should be above 73 degrees.”
So u will need a good reptile thermometre as the heat is the thing that helps them digest thier food properly...DO NOT USE HEAT ROCKS as many a lizard has been badly burnt by the use of these as lizards generally cant tell when they should get off....and as leopards obtain heat through thier bellies this can prove catastrophic...
As for feeding ,the leopard, being smaller will obviously eat slightly less than a beardie but can be fed the same things, crix, mealworms (small only stay away from large and morio worms) and waxworms occasionally as a treat.
Also u can try to offer a small pinky mouse once in a while although there is no guarentee it will take it!!...The leo does not eat veg or fruit but by gutloading your crix, he will be getting a small amount of nutrients and that cant be a bad thing.
Handling leos is pretty straightforward, dont grip and allow the lizard to go where it wants by feeding your hands to always have a steady lizard. DO NOT pull or grab leos by the tail as u may find the tail simply comes off in your hand and your left with a stumpy, grumpy lizard!

On to the beardies....being bigger and more active and especially arboreal to a degree, beardies need a much larger viv than leos, they also need special UV lighting, heat sources, logs, hides, larger water bowls (although most beardies will never use the water bowl, some do, if like mine, that likes to swim in his and just sit in it looking at u...they also dont generally drink from a bowl so need to misted twice a day to allow them to absorb the water through the skin and also to lick any water off of plants, logs etc...they also need a good digital thermometre and lights and heaters need to place at one end of viv again with a cooler end at the opposite side...The cost of uv l;ights, fittings, heat lamps, etc can be expensive so this is different from the gecko tank....feeding is the same but with veg and fruit offered..i give mine 3 days a week which is dusted with calci powder....and crix etc are gutloaded before feeding.

Handling again is simple with a beardie as they really seem to like the company of humans and will happily sit with you for ages, my alan normally falls asleep curled up in the crook of my neck....

I would say imo that both lizards are great to own, but if u want a cheaper alternative get a leo, if u want a lizard that is maybe a bit calmer and more happy to be handled get a beardie...leos do like to be handled but ive always found them a bit more skitty compared to beardies

hope that helps a bit lol

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10 rats
1 hamster
1 senegal parrot
1 african grey parrot
4 cats
2 dogs
corn snake
bearded dragon
tarantula
tropical fish

Wow, that was cool. I personally like reptiles in the lizards department, but I have never owned any. My sister has a baby ball python that is real nice, but I don't know that I will ever touch it. I tend to prefer dogs and horses, however I think they are cool. I think I am just scared of what they might do to me.
Later,

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dog beds | dog crates

Gecko
I put a male gecko in with another male gecko today (was told the one I already has was female) and the had a fight one of the got a gash on it's back I bought 2 new female today and he has seen them since then he has been very unsettled and keeps trying to escape out of his tank would it be ok to put one ov the females in with him to settle him I am treating the wound

hi just keeping the thread going. i went to the pet shop to get an iguana some fifteen years ago. i didn't get one, i ended up getting a white faced male cockatiel instead, some difference eh! true story.

oh forgot to say, my sister brought me and my husband ghecko beanie bags home from holiday in malaysia.