small arboreal lizard?

hello

i was wondering if anyone knew of a small arboreal lizard that are suited for beginners. i am already planning to get a crested gecko, but i will have an extra 20 - 25gal tall tank that i'd like to put another arboreal lizard in. i was thinking of one that isn't too skittish when being handled. i was thinking of a couple anoles - but i heard they can make a dash for it

keep in mind, i won't be handling them everyday. probably once every other day for an average of about 10 minutes, and the days that i clean their cage.

if anyone has any suggestions, please let me know! thank you very much!

[aimEe]

small arboreal lizards....

Hmm, theres a lot but only a few that really meet your reqiruments on the skittish part. heres what i can think up for you.

1.House Gecko:Very unique looking but not as unique as a cresty or the other areboral species. they grow to a maximum of 6 inches at most and they also have the "stick to nearly anything" claws like a cresty. There pretty hardy but also skittish at times. The beuaty of these little fellas is they only cost 5 bucks at your local petco and usally that means you can buy 2 since there so cheap.

2.a gargoyle gecko is also a considerable purchase although there a bit pricy but seeing as how your purchasing a cresty this isnt such a bad idea. Crestys and Gargoyles look similar due to being from the same Genius. if you have an ADULT Garg's you can house him with your cresty if its an adult as well or if there both at the same age as one another. The garg's diet is also the same as a crestys diet.

Thats all i can think of at this moment but let me give you some advice from one cresty owner to another, invest in Sandfire Dragon Raunch's "Crested Gecko Diet" it is the key in owning a cresty and you dont need to feed them insects, although i do occasionally for fun. Dont feed your cresty crickets alot beacuse there reckless when they dive for them and eat a lot of subtrate in there mouth which takes a long time to digest and can kill them if to much is eaten. Hope this helps and good luck!

There's an awesome little arboreal lizard called the Japalura. It's an agamid from Southeast Asia. BUT they are basically only available wild caught. It's a shame, they're really cute, and the one I worked with was pretty hardy too. If you're up to it maybe you could get one to start with and then later try to breed them. I can't think of any non-gecko small arboreal lizard that's widely captive bred.

Erin B.

I would Highly recomend NOT getting a house gecko, there is NO way you can handle them (unless you like to hold on very very tightly...) you hardly ever see them, and when they are out they blend in with the scenery. I actually had one escape form its vivarium while the lid was on, with a light on it! it liked in my house (now i see why they are called house geckos!!) for at least 9 months! i was sure it had dised and even had a memoral for him, as he was quite old anyways, but low and behold he shows up 9 months latter in my whites tree frog tank. the funny thing is that whites are know to eat small lizzards!