Having always admired reptiles and lizards I think the time has come to start thinking about getting one.
Its not going to be an instant thing, we ave a big holiday booked for march, so we would not get anything until after that, and will spend the time between now and then researching and working out which one will be best for us.
We have lots of questions, Which lizard is best for a first timer?
What equipment would we need? Where would we buy food? do they eat live food? etc.
any help would be greatly appreciated into us looking into getting our own addition to our family.:)

leopard geckos or cresties are best starter id say, cresties only need a viv (18" 18" 24") as long as your house dosent get too cold (below 60). leopard geckos need a heat mat and a viv i keep 2 leos in 2ftx2ft. cresties eat crickets a couple of times a week, dusted and gutloaded will eat fruit but this is more of a sweet for them than a substantial part of their diet though and so should be fed sparingly. leos will eat crickets, locust, mealworms and waxworms (should be fed sparingly) all dusted.

you can buy food from lizard lounge in hillsborough and the snake shop in attercliffe. i am having to rehome my leopard geckos so if i can help let me know.

Snakes'n'adders on Mansfield Road sell reptiles and their live food. Brilliant shop, get loads of help and advice from the guy who runs it.

Tim & Lester in Lizard Lounge are great. They will take all the time to answer your questions and offer advice. They will allow you to handle the animals too. They also do bespoke vivs, and even will look after your critter while you're on holiday.

Thanks for all the info, any more is greatly appreciated.
I think leopard geckos are looking like the best bet, we are gonna make sure we are well clued up on this before we take the plunge, I don`t want to go into this halfheartedly, I have a feeling I won`t stop once I get going! :hihi:

what about a bearded dragon..sure they grow bigger and need UV but thats what id recommend , beardies are lovely

I think it depends what you want to get out of them.
I have had Chinese water dragons. They are lovely, so interactive and rewarding, they feel lovely (like material) and are stunning. Similar to an Iguana but not quite as big or intelligent. Iguanas can be a handful! When they are young they are very fast and until they are tame they can be very jumpy. My 2 became so tame they would jump up at the glass when I came in wanting to come out and cling to me like baby monkeys. When they were sleepy they would cling to my arm and fall asleep. So sweet. They had strong characters between them too. Mijulie was quite dominant, clever and cheeky-used to love climbing curtains and sometimes slept in my bed if she could. AliG wasn't quite as bright and was a little clumsy, but would fall asleep if you kept blinking at him.
To look after they need a viv, decent sized water bowl to bathe in, humid temperatures (spray inside the viv a couple of times a day). I had timers on a heated mat, UV lights and heated lamp. They need feeding live crickets etc sprinkled with a vitamin supplement too. Once the set up is right, it is easy ish if you are prepared to put the time in. I suppose Bearded dragons are similar to keep-except they are dry not humid vivs, although I have no experience. Viv size 4ft + for adults.
I also had a Chameleon, which looked lovely and I loved watching him eat, and wonder around his viv. Personality wise though he was never very friendly and not as comfortable to handle, as they grip on with their claws. No where near as intelligent either. They are more a lizard to watch than interact with. To keep they aren't quite as difficult as water dragons as they don't bathe and poo in their water bowl, they just need a drip system water feeder. Viv size, I had 3ft wide by 3 ft high with 2ft depth
I also had a bosc monitor, that I wouldn't recommend for a first lizard. They grow very big, are very lazy- all mine ever wanted to do when she was out was sleep and hide in the sofa. Also quite dirty. Lovely lizards and again, the feel of them is nice to stroke, she was friendly but not loving like water drags. Might just have been her. Obviously adults need a lot of space. Mine was in a 5ft viv whilst she was juvenile.
Obviously these are just my experiences but thought they might help. Decide what you want from a lizard before choosing. (to handle/watch etc)

Snakes'n'adders on Mansfield Road sell reptiles and their live food. Brilliant shop, get loads of help and advice from the guy who runs it.


i wouldn't bother with snakes and adders ive taken in 3 rescues with mbd that people got from them.

The Menagerie at Base Green is very good for reptiles :)

I recently bought a full set up from Lizard Lounge in Hillsborough. It was one that they were selling on behalf of someone else that they had sold it to before. It was an African Fat Tail Gecko. These are lovely and slightly chunkier in body than the Leopard Gecko.

Tim and Lester were very good with me and answered all the questions that I had for them. I have even been in and asked more!! They were also amenable to me paying 2 payments on it over a fortnight. I asked them if it was possible to do that and if not to put the sticker back on and if it had gone then so be it, but no it was ok for me to pay over 2 weeks.

Lizard lounge do a full set up (inc Gecko) for just under £70. They are easily accessible by public transport. Easiest way is on the tram. Stay on till Malin Bridge and walk back to Towsure's. THe shop is opposite Towsure.

In your research I advise you can not go to a better place to look and ask questions.

Hi
Leopard Geckos are certainly a good "starter" reptile.
Bearded dragons are also lovely but take a little more work (not a lot more, but the set up etc is more expensive and they grow very quickly!)
The snake shop at Attercliffe is the place I would recommend. Personally I wouldn't go anywhere else.
Jon that owns the shop knows everything there is to know about all reptiles and won't sell you loads of expensive things if they aren't necessary.
Some people have commented in the past that he sometimes seems a bit "off" or ignores them when they go in. The reason he can appear that way is because if he is talking to someone he gives them his undivided attention before moving on to the next person. This is no bad thing because he will give you all the info you need without being interrupted. He is a fountain of knowledge and continues to support you throughout the lifetime of the animal you buy from him.
Anyway, back to the animals.....yes they eat live food! Crickets are a firm favourite and leopard geckos also like mealworms, which a lot of people prefer feeding and they can't jump about! You can get books on how to look after them for a good price, and it also might be worth you looking on the reptile forums www.reptileforums.co.uk People on there are always happy to give advice etc.
Sarah

Tim & Lester in Lizard Lounge are great. They will take all the time to answer your questions and offer advice. They will allow you to handle the animals too. They also do bespoke vivs, and even will look after your critter while you're on holiday.

here here , fantastic service

http://www.livefoodsdirect.co.uk/

Leopard Gecko
Ackies Monitor
Bearded/Rankins/Frilled Dragon
Crested Gecko
Leopard Lizard (similar to a bearded dragon but from the US)
Chinese Water Dragons

All are find for starters, just find one you like and make sure you do your research.

As for shops, avoid P@H because of price, other than that you're spoilt for choice. All of the four in Sheffield are much the same.

Leopard Gecko
Ackies Monitor
Bearded/Rankins/Frilled Dragon
Crested Gecko
Leopard Lizard (similar to a bearded dragon but from the US)
Chinese Water Dragons

All are find for starters, just find one you like and make sure you do your research.

As for shops, avoid P@H because of price, other than that you're spoilt for choice. All of the four in Sheffield are much the same.


i have kept all of them apart from cresties. but for a newbie i wouldnt go for a ackie or leopard lizard, or a CWD. cant say all 4 shops are the same, sheffield exotics i avoid like the plague tell others too. bad service and bad conditions is just a start.

i have kept all of them apart from cresties. but for a newbie i wouldnt go for a ackie or leopard lizard, or a CWD. cant say all 4 shops are the same, sheffield exotics i avoid like the plague tell others too. bad service and bad conditions is just a start.

Take a look round all shops and choose your own favourite. I took a second look round snakes and adders and was quite impressed at the choice they have at the moment.

My opinion on the best starter lizard is all dependant on what you want out of it.

Leopard gekos are great and cheap to buy and keep. They dont require a great amount of experience. But they are nocturnal so if you want to light up they viv they may spend a lot of time hiding.

Bearded Dragons- These are probably the lizards that most people buy beause they all have different personalities they are diurnal so they like the bright basking spot. They are usually very calm and like being handled once they settle in. Beardies also eat a mixture of veg and live food. However their set up cost is higher but looks better and an be made a feature of the room.

I would say other lizards tend to either need more experience or may cost quite a lot more and you dont want to spend hundreds and find out that keeping reps isnt for you

I have the full set up with Bearded Dragon 12 months old for sale. Its a 4ft Vivarium with built in cabinet - I have just posted it for sale on this group..
£250 for everything and he is very very lovely... The tank is really nice too with under storage cupboards it was bought from Swell UK on the internet and the Dragon was from Attercliffe Reptile shop..
Let me know if interested. He's just grown that much the Vivarium takes up half my living room.. I didn't realise how big a tank you needed eventually..

I have the full set up with Bearded Dragon 12 months old for sale. Its a 4ft Vivarium with built in cabinet - I have just posted it for sale on this group..
£250 for everything and he is very very lovely... The tank is really nice too with under storage cupboards it was bought from Swell UK on the internet and the Dragon was from Attercliffe Reptile shop..
Let me know if interested. He's just grown that much the Vivarium takes up half my living room.. I didn't realise how big a tank you needed eventually..

how big did they say it would get as a adult? a 4' viv is fine.....bigger than lots of how they are kept, plus you can let it run around the living room

They said a 4ft Viv would be best for an adult, I started off with a small one when I first got him but he soon grew out of that!!..
He is very long though and does need the room.. I let him out as often as I can he's very friendly and funny to watch, he watches TV too..
Would like him to go to someone that is prepared to give him a really good home..

sheffield exotics i avoid like the plague tell others too. bad service and bad conditions is just a start.

Strange, every time I go in there I invariably spend at least half an hour having a chat with the guys.

Be warned though they're not your typical reptile keepers - i.e. Their normal!!! Although they sometimes fall down with with they're cleaning regimes, every animal I've bought from there has been healthy, which is more than I can say for some shops further afield.

Snakes N Adders - excellant premium stock, but prices to match!

Snake Shop - my favourite as he tends to have quirky items in every now and again and will chat to customers for hours.

As I said before, you can't go wrong with any of them!

Strange, every time I go in there I invariably spend at least half an hour having a chat with the guys.

Be warned though they're not your typical reptile keepers - i.e. Their normal!!! Although they sometimes fall down with with they're cleaning regimes, every animal I've bought from there has been healthy, which is more than I can say for some shops further afield.

Snakes N Adders - excellant premium stock, but prices to match!

Snake Shop - my favourite as he tends to have quirky items in every now and again and will chat to customers for hours.

As I said before, you can't go wrong with any of them!

i have been into herps for 15 or so years, and i often used to go in, and 'listen' to conversations.....like offering rock pythons, iguanas, turtles etc to newbies...not told what size, temprement etc. unfortunatly, where i live, for many many years people knocked on my door, with animal that grew to big, or wanted advice and 9 times out of 10, they brought it from there..

my fave is john at the snake shop (i was his very first customer, never knew him before that) and what he know's and tells people, is worth listening too, he wont sell owt to people on spur of the moment etc. yes people think he can be a bit off, but thats just how he is, hes not a outgoing person...i respect him so much

les and his brother down leppings lane, i know them too, decent lads, but not overly experienced...have no problems with them at all....

know chas to at snakes and ladders, happy to chat, knows what he says but only spoken to him a few times and not been in for a year...but not heard any concerns from people

oh i have seen some disgusting places around the country (and im not afraid to report any shops, even if i know the owners) i like reptiles, and they like me :hihi:

i have been into herps for 15 or so years, and i often used to go in, and 'listen' to conversations.....like offering rock pythons, iguanas, turtles etc to newbies...not told what size, temprement etc. unfortunatly, where i live, for many many years people knocked on my door, with animal that grew to big, or wanted advice and 9 times out of 10, they brought it from there..

my fave is john at the snake shop (i was his very first customer, never knew him before that) and what he know's and tells people, is worth listening too, he wont sell owt to people on spur of the moment etc. yes people think he can be a bit off, but thats just how he is, hes not a outgoing person...i respect him so much

les and his brother down leppings lane, i know them too, decent lads, but not overly experienced...have no problems with them at all....

know chas to at snakes and ladders, happy to chat, knows what he says but only spoken to him a few times and not been in for a year...but not heard any concerns from people

oh i have seen some disgusting places around the country (and im not afraid to report any shops, even if i know the owners) i like reptiles, and they like me :hihi:



Ok I wasnt going to mention this but you used to help out at the snake shop so you are going to be biased but I have been informed the real reason that you dont like sheffield exotics because the owner refused to give you two adult sliders for free.

Ok I wasnt going to mention this but you used to help out at the snake shop so you are going to be biased but I have been informed the real reason that you dont like sheffield exotics because the owner refused to give you two adult sliders for free.

well helped out at another one too, so that rules that out for being biased.....

and no, i havent liked sheff exotics for many many years, 10 or so so that has nothing to do with turtles, as i only had them coming in late 08, and why the hell would i have asked for more turtles? i was over run with them even with 2 ponds, hence was making a damn huge large one....more cost, more expense?? nah, get your facts right. i often had to turn down turtles as once word got around, i had them coming from manchester and even further..

i didnt want any turltes, huge expense and effort, so i def wasnt going to ask for free ones from a shop lol would go back and ask who apparantley told u that that its far from the truth