What is the easiest lizard to care for?

Answer 1

Depends. Leopard Geckos only need a 10 gallon tank with a screen top and a heat bulb for the day and a smaller heat bulb for the night, 75w, 50w respectively. They don't need to be handled but tolerate it rather well when they get older and when they are exposed to handling from a young age. Being nocturnal, Leopard Geckos don't need a UVB/UVA fluorescent bulb, but they do need to be supplemented with calcium. They don't need to be on sand and don't require humidity as they prefer between 20-30%. Leopard Geckos need to be fed every night when young, and about 4-5 times a week as adults. Leopard Geckos will drop their tail if handled to roughly or if they think they are in a dangerous situation. It grows back, but takes about 40 days depending on how much of the tail is lost. Leopard geckos live 10-20 years if females, and 20 to around 25 as males and grow to around 8-12 inches with males usually being slightly larger. Females can be housed together in a 15 gallon tank, up the tank size by 2.5 gallons per each additional lizard. Males cannot be housed with other males, but can be housed with multiple females (probably 3 or more) if you have a big enough tank. Leopard Geckos primarily feed on crickets and mealworms will the occasional waxworm treat (only use waxworms as treats) and will usually not eat anything that they do not observe to be moving.

Bearded Dragons are also easy lizards to care for, but don't live quite as long, around 5-10 years is expected, but I've heard a couple people tell me up to 18. Don't know if that's true or not. Bearded dragons are not nocturnal, so they REQUIRE a UVB/UVA fluorescent bulb during daytime, along with a heat bulb. Bearded Dragons grow to around two feet including the tail so they need at least a 40 gallon tank to live in. There are some bulbs that combine heat and UVA/UVB, but they are between 40-70 dollars for the bulb alone. Bearded Dragons are far less finicky eaters than Leopard Geckos and will eat salads, crickets, wax-worms and pelleted bearded dragon food. DO NOT FEED MEAL-WORMS TO BEARDED DRAGONS UNTIL THEY ARE AT LEAST 6 INCHES. I have heard from multiple people that they can have seizures when juveniles if fed meal-worms Bearded Dragons have a much more laid back temperament than Leopard Geckos and appear to enjoy interacting with people.

Leopard Geckos setups including the lizard will usually cost around 150-200 dollars if all products are purchased from PetSmart

Bearded Dragon setups including the lizard will be closer to 300-350 if all products are purchased from PetSmart