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Best pet reptiles

poppycorn

poppycorn

Luv my bright-eyed jewels
Hi all, could you help me with your collective wisdom? I lead a 4H project for kids wanting to learn about reptiles. (4H is a national youth development program sponsored by the land grant Colleges & Universities in each State.) I am compiling a list of the best 20 reptiles (and other similar creatures) that would be most suitable for kids ages 9 and up (with supervision). My plan is to split up the list and have the kids look up photos and information about these and report back to the group on the pros & cons of keeping this particular pet. Then I'll turn the photos into a card game where you get more points for the better pets to reinforce the best choices list. I did this last year and it was a big hit.

Since I have only kept a few types of reptiles (being partial to corns), I need help in choosing and ranking animals. Here is a list that a better reptile store suggested but I would really like to have additional input. How would you change the list, and why would you rank a particular critter better than another? Thanks so much!

1. leopard gecko
2. corn snake
3. rosy boa
4. Russian tortoise
5. red tailed boa
6. fat tailed gecko
7. blue tongued skink
8. hog nosed snake
9. crested gecko
10. king snake
11. bearded dragon
12. Uromastyx
13. savannah monitor
14. White's tree frog
15. rainbow boa
16. sand boa
17. Berber / Schneider's skink
18. spurred tortoise
19. firebellied toad
20. ball python
 
I would remove the monitor, they get quite ornery in their old age... and big... I really like the tortoise the best, they eat veggies and will probably out live the kid... it's a lifetime pet...
 
I'd have to agree on taking the monitor off of the list. They're a lot to handle for an adult, much less a child. I'm not sure about rainbow boas because I've heard that in addition to specific requirements they can be tempermental (hopefully someone who owns them can chime in). I'd also take the spurred tortoise (aka sulcata tortoise) off of the list. They're cute and adorable when they're little but they're also the third largest tortoise in the world and live for eons. Leopard geckos, corns, kings, ball pythons (captive bred that is), and hognose snakes are great pets. I would actually put the corn at the top because I believe that they would be the most forgiving on that list as far as setup goes. If you wanted something different and unusual for the list a Surinam toad (Pipa pipa) isn't common but fairly easy to care for.

~Katie
 
I am not sure about the temperment, but instead of a savanah monitor, you might consider a ridgetail monitor. They are quite small in size and the ones at my local pet store are pretty nice.
I would take the red tail off of there. They are puppy dog tame, but for kids at the younger end of the spectrum, a 6 ft boa (at least) is going to be way too much.
You might also think about the African House Snake. They are my favorites. http://www.kingsnake.com/housesnake/ and her are a couple of mine- http://www.cornsnakes.com/forums/showthread.php?t=30631 -and- http://www.cornsnakes.com/forums/showthread.php?t=28714
 
I don't actually HAVE one, but from what I've read about them, a Rubber Boa would be a wonderful choice for kids. They are small, don't require heat, are very docile, and just eat pinkies.
 
For the top 3 reptiles, I would suggest: 1. Bearded Dragon 2. Cornsnake 3. Leopard Gecko. Reasoning: care requirements, temperments, pricing, and that they are generally "social" animals ( meaning they will be fine with kids handling them ) The reason I put the Leo as #3 is because they can be skittish, and lose their tails quite easily.

Out of your list, I would remove: the monitor, rainbow boa's and redtailed boa. ( By red tailed boa, are you referring to the actual red tailed BCC, or a Colombian BCI ?)

Reasoning: monitors can become sizable with attitude issues. But I do not have actual experience with owning them, this is just from what I've heard from other owners.

The red tailed BCC can get quite big, and I would worry that the child may decide to take the snake out without someone around and the snake will easily overpower them ( I am not saying kill them LOL.... but heck, my Colombian BCI which is smaller than the true red tails, has quite the strength when he is consticting on my arms. I've had to remove him from my daughter because he can cut off the circulation in her arms, waist, leg, wherever he happens to be hanging from LOL )

Rainbow Boa's: I own Brazilians. The care requirements are difficult for some adults to meet. As well, hatchlings can be quite nippy and their bites do hurt more than corn's.

Honestly, I would not recommend any of the larger Boa for a child. I would stick with the smaller snakes ( corns, rosy boa's, garters, etc ). Certain water snakes would be great for a child.... Care is reletively simple ( same as garter snake care ) and feed, well feeder fish are usually easy to get.

My own personal experiences have been with: bearded dragons ( my first reptile ), iguana ( I adopted, then eventually gave her back to the people I got her from when their's died ), leopard gecko's, cornsnakes, Brazilian Rainbow Boa's and Colombian BCI.

With my oldest daughter, I have no problems telling her to go get a dragon or certain corns. The boa's, she handles with me around and holding the head area because although I don't think they would, but if any of them happened to bite, it would hurt her. The leo's are much too skittish for me to tell her to get one... I will however let her hold some of them.

hmmmmm.

I would add Hermit Crabs to your list. They are fairly easy as far as care, and quite the interesting lil fellows.

Hope my scattered thoughts help :)
 
I agree with everyone else. While I don't own monitors, theyr'e not something I'd want my own child to own, let alone recommend to other children. Some can be dog-tame, but some can leave a nasty wound unprovoked.

Ditto for the Rainbow Boa, I've heard of several folks who own them and they can be quite tempermental and apt to nip. While they're a gorgeous snake, I think their housing would be a bit too complicated for most beginners.

While I don't know of many nippy Red-tailed Boas, the size could definitely pose a problem. The few people on here who have them and also have children, never let their children handle them alone.

I am kind of surprised that Rubber Boa wasn't listed. They're the calmest snakes possible, and require no supplimented heat or light. They're good to go in most any home environment.

What about Anoles? They can be quite the character in a planted tank, are animated, active, and eat bugs. While generally not good handled, they are easy to care for and maintain.
 
The reason I put the Leo as #3 is because they can be skittish, and lose their tails quite easily.
Click to expand...

That really doesn't happen as often as you'd think. I've bred geckos for three years and haven't lost a tail from hatchlings or breeders.

BD's on the other hand, while they have great temperments and personalities, their care requirements are a lot more involved then the LG.

I would remove the RTB, Sav and BRB.

My top three for young children:

1 - Cornsnake
2 - Leopard Gecko
3 - Anole
 
Taceas said:
What about Anoles? They can be quite the character in a planted tank, are animated, active, and eat bugs. While generally not good handled, they are easy to care for and maintain.
Click to expand...
..and I could send you a couple hundred just from my backyard... :D I think I live in the middle of a colony.. actually the whole state seems to be in the colony....
 
i would also say anole should be on there. Currently i have 2. You can't really handle them but there fun to watch eat and have kind of cute personalities.
 
poppycorn said:
1. leopard gecko
2. corn snake
3. rosy boa
4. Russian tortoise
5. red tailed boa
6. fat tailed gecko
7. blue tongued skink
8. hog nosed snake
9. crested gecko
10. king snake
11. bearded dragon
12. Uromastyx( take this off, THey do not like to be handled much from what i hear.)
13. savannah monitor( too big and too nasty of a bite )
14. White's tree frog
15. rainbow boa( Bite as hatchling and grow too big and husbandary is hard for a kid, even tho i have one)
16. sand boa
17. Berber / Schneider's skink
18. spurred tortoise( need a lot of space)
19. firebellied toad
20. ball python( would have to be CB
Click to expand...

those are the only problems i have, good luck
 
blckkat said:
That really doesn't happen as often as you'd think. I've bred geckos for three years and haven't lost a tail from hatchlings or breeders.
Click to expand...

I've bred gecko's for over 5yrs now... Unfortunately I've found it does not take much for them to drop their tails as youngsters. I'm not saying that just because you touch the tail, it will drop... but if a skittish leo goes to take a leap and you grab for it, catching it by the tail, it "may" drop it. It's just something for people to think about, be aware of and know what may or may not cause it :)
 
dr.teeth said:
blood pythons are my favorite and i think they are the best
Click to expand...

Definately disagree on this one. I would not recommend a blood for children or beginners. Too feisty, too large, etc.
 
I have a fellow herper friend my age who has 2 Uromastyx. I've held them before, they're a little jumpy and don't really enjoy being held...BUT they make great pets (other than handling), fairly easy to care for and cool looking. i would leave them on the list. John
 
Working at a pet store, I usually suggest:

1. Anole
2. Firebelly Toad
3. Bearded Dragon
4. Leopard Gecko
5. Corn Snake

We have 3 Mali Uromastyx who are actually really lazy and don't mind being handled at all, just sort of sit there and fall asleep in your hand. We took them to a school for a presentation to 4th and 5th graders and they were a huge hit.
 
On Rainbow Boa's, I wouldn't say all rainbows aren't for beginners. I keep Argentine Rainbow boa's. They don't get as large as Brazilians(usually 4'-5' max), don't need high humidity, are more docile than my corn's were at hatchlings. The specific reason I breed them is due to these factors. If they were more readily available they could be the next "Corn" for those that want rainbows but none of the problems :grin01:
The only thing bad I can think of is that some hatchlings can be hard to start, but this should be taken care of before they leave the breeder.
 
i would take off the spurred tortoise because 1) they get HUGE 2) they're really expensive and can eat a ton.
and replace it with an eastern box turtle or a wood turtle. easy to care for and usually easy to find at pet stores/turtle breeders. and they stay relatively small.
 
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