exoticdreams
New Member
I consider myself a newbie to reptiles, despite that I did briefly keep reptiles as a child. I had two ill fated anoles that I now know were improperly cared for and handled far too often. Seeing the dead anole laying on the bottom of the terrarium at the time gave me the impression that reptiles were delicate and difficult to keep.
I recently got back into reptiles. It happened when I was at Petco browsing fish supplies. Oh, btw I am a longtime fish keeper.
They happened to having a special sale called a reptile rally. They let me hold an adult bearded dragon and I was "sold". I didn't have the knowledge or funds to buy one with all the reptile gear that day. I did have it in my head I wanted reptiles now.
After doing research on their care,I decided I would choose another lizard. I was confused about the UV lighting they needed( saw pictures of beardies kept without proper lighting that got sick), wanted to use one of my leaking aquariums to off set startup costs and none were large enought to house a beardie and I have trouble with humidity due to water leaking in the basement. I decided it would be best if I did not have a desert reptile.
I ended up choosing crested geckos as my "first" lizards. They didn't need special lighting, were small enough to live in my aquariums, could eat a mixture of prepared fruit and could be handled and they were said to be hardy. So I went to a reptile show and got two baby cresties. The cresties currently live in my bathroom in critter keepers and I've been setting up a 40 gal aquarium to house them when they grow up a bit.
In the meantime, I've decided I want a chameleon(specifically a veiled cham). Whenever I go to Petco these days, my first stop is their cham terrarium. I also saw a bunch of chams at the reptile show I was at, including babies only slightly more expensive then one of my cresties. When I mentioned I wanted to get a veiled cham sometime on one of my Facebook reptile groups, I got an offer for one one compete with a setup.
I also realize chams are not exactly lizards for beginners.I read a post about how a chamelone died mysteriously in the car on the way home from a reptile show. I've also read the veiled chameleons are more hardy then other chameleons if they are housed in a properly setup terrarium.
Recently all reptiles went on sale here at our local ( chain store that some forums dislike being mentioned). I stared at the lovely cham on special sale for a long time. I was so temped. I finally decided to buy three anoles instead, thinking to myself, if the anoles thrive, then I'll get a cham.
These anoles are being kept much differently then my childhood anoles.
This time they live in a 29 gal with silk plants for hiding places, special reptile lighting and a heat lamp.I offered them a cricket dusted with vitamin powder and two mealworms, but they have not eaten yet. Maybe give them more time to settle in. They seem content so far even shutting their eyes basking under the heat lamp and (falling asleep?) in my presence. I even added in a water fountain reading they like that, but it's slowly flooding their substrate so I think I need to remove it.
I have put my two terrariums(29 and 40 gal) next to each other in hopes that I can put a plant light over both of them and start growing some live plants in these terrariums.
I recently got back into reptiles. It happened when I was at Petco browsing fish supplies. Oh, btw I am a longtime fish keeper.
They happened to having a special sale called a reptile rally. They let me hold an adult bearded dragon and I was "sold". I didn't have the knowledge or funds to buy one with all the reptile gear that day. I did have it in my head I wanted reptiles now.
After doing research on their care,I decided I would choose another lizard. I was confused about the UV lighting they needed( saw pictures of beardies kept without proper lighting that got sick), wanted to use one of my leaking aquariums to off set startup costs and none were large enought to house a beardie and I have trouble with humidity due to water leaking in the basement. I decided it would be best if I did not have a desert reptile.
I ended up choosing crested geckos as my "first" lizards. They didn't need special lighting, were small enough to live in my aquariums, could eat a mixture of prepared fruit and could be handled and they were said to be hardy. So I went to a reptile show and got two baby cresties. The cresties currently live in my bathroom in critter keepers and I've been setting up a 40 gal aquarium to house them when they grow up a bit.
In the meantime, I've decided I want a chameleon(specifically a veiled cham). Whenever I go to Petco these days, my first stop is their cham terrarium. I also saw a bunch of chams at the reptile show I was at, including babies only slightly more expensive then one of my cresties. When I mentioned I wanted to get a veiled cham sometime on one of my Facebook reptile groups, I got an offer for one one compete with a setup.
I also realize chams are not exactly lizards for beginners.I read a post about how a chamelone died mysteriously in the car on the way home from a reptile show. I've also read the veiled chameleons are more hardy then other chameleons if they are housed in a properly setup terrarium.
Recently all reptiles went on sale here at our local ( chain store that some forums dislike being mentioned). I stared at the lovely cham on special sale for a long time. I was so temped. I finally decided to buy three anoles instead, thinking to myself, if the anoles thrive, then I'll get a cham.
These anoles are being kept much differently then my childhood anoles.
This time they live in a 29 gal with silk plants for hiding places, special reptile lighting and a heat lamp.I offered them a cricket dusted with vitamin powder and two mealworms, but they have not eaten yet. Maybe give them more time to settle in. They seem content so far even shutting their eyes basking under the heat lamp and (falling asleep?) in my presence. I even added in a water fountain reading they like that, but it's slowly flooding their substrate so I think I need to remove it.
I have put my two terrariums(29 and 40 gal) next to each other in hopes that I can put a plant light over both of them and start growing some live plants in these terrariums.
) Through some mistakes as well as tons of constant research on this forum we are very happy owners! I had plenty of previous experience with other lizards, but nothing that would have prepared me for this.
