Quote:
| Sounds like the perfect dorm-friendly pet to keep, Rick! Do you know if lizards "recognize" owners and become emotionally attached to specific persons? |
I had lizrds that could care less if I fell off a cliff and others that had almost as much personality as a dog or a cat and just as freindly.
The best was an African Fat Tail Gecko I had the priveledge of having for 15 years that I purchased as a juvenile.Being fairly large and mostly hardy a hatchling Fat Tail can be held from the start and should be.Mine especually liked to have his chin rubbed and would extend it like a cat when I used my index finger to stroke it.
the Leopard Gecko is a very close relation (both genus Eublepharis which means they have "eyelids" unlike most geckos) and has similiar traits and care though to me not quite as attractive.
Both are nocturnal and totally ground dwelling.At night if using a red or "night" bulb (purple color) as a source of dim light and heat watching these creatures during their active time can be very soothing.
Both are small with the fat tail getting up to 10 or slightly more inches (mine was a serious specimen at 12 inches ! Rare man) and as easy to care for as a pet can be.A real plus is a lifespan that can approach 20 years (mine croaked when I was away for a weekend and there was a power outage from trees falling on the power lines which meant no heat.It was in January so death to any cold blooded creature)
Other "easy to handle" lizards are the Blue tongue Skinks and Bearded Dragons but due to the size they can get to maybe not the most "portable" lizard to have in a dorm.
The list of Geckos though extensive is mostly "look but don't touch " even though you really want to snatch them up and hold one.
The Tokay can give a nasty bite like a mini pit bull.The bas*ard will grab hold and not let go no matter what you do (I had to dunk one under water to get it to release
) though almost worth the hassle to hear one call "tookaaay" at night.
Another I had for about ten years,a White Lined Gecko croaked like a frog at night but again not to hold.He would have none of it and would actually scream and make the most unerving sounds whenever i attempted to pick him up !
The Arboreal Gekos are escape artists and can run across wall faster than the average human can chase them down so not for the shy
for those into such things it is always best to brush up on the care before making a decision and once the decision made for a purchase to commit totally to the care of a creature totally dependant on you to provide for its needs.If serious they make great pets but if just a passing interest they are better left alone.A ten to twenty year commitment is no joke and must be total.
BTW-tortoises you leave to someone in your will.Those suckers live damn near forever
