Amphibians vs Retiles

[Guitartists]

Not on your list.... but my all time favorite reptile pet was GREEN Anoles

They make fabulous little pet creatures, easy to keep, hardy, tame oh so easily and they like to be handled. I used to let mine run loose in my houseplants

I took them just about everywhere when I was young. Inseparable

 

[Goat_Walker]

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I am now a member and looking around. Ie found some good stuff, thanks!

Do we have a profile on there? I cant seem to find one

 

[birdnutz]

I personally like the day geckos. A little harder to find but are active during the day. Also more of a fruit eater (at least the kind I sold). No pesky crickets. In the frogs it was the poison arrows hands down. You can make a beautiful rain forest type terrarium and they eat wingless fruit flys. Beautiful colors but of course you don't want to hold them because of the oils and bacteria on your hands. They're not poisoinous in captivity. But they are kind of costly.
Edited to add Red Bellied toads to the list. Very colorful and quite entertaining to watch. Have also been known to breed easily in captivity. As with any of the frogs it's best to use R.O. water and to clean it daily.

 

[Goat_Walker]

our local petsmart have fire bellies , I might check those out. what could I use for filtration? The tank would have 3-4 inches or more of water, and thats not tall enough to place my regular filter in.

 

[Aneesa's Muse]

I have Crested, Leopards and a Bibron's ..geckos! I also have a fairly large Pacman frog ..and have had American bullfrogs, White's or Dumpy frogs, and FBT (firebelly toads) in the past, as well.

If you want to use what you already have and you want something to handle occasionally, go with a Crested ..just lose the heat lamp cuz they can't exceed 80F without stressing and becoming ill or dying. Cresteds are nocturnal, but they will tolerate some handling during the day ...just maybe a little sleepy or grouchy for being woke up

You can feed them Crested Gecko Diet ..a 2 part system... that does not require supplements to be added or incorporating bugs into their diet. The CGD is a complete and balanced nutritional meal. Turning the 10g on end ..so it's taller.. and putting in a potted live plant or a few fake ones, with paper towel liner (not repticarpet ..their little toenails will get caught in it), a vine or branch for climbing and a food dish... you're all set. Mist at least once a day to maintain 65% humidity ..or in that range... and for them to have "moving" water to drink ...as they don't really drink from a water dish too readily. (Mine like water fountains cuz the gurgling, bubbling from the "spout" is moving and fresh.) Obviously, this is very basic info, so if you wanted more details.. just let me know in PM.

Since you don't want to go with a Leopard gecko, and you may want something handleable.. frogs are really not it. Frogs ..even big ol' massive Pacmans... are generally too sensitive for being in prolonged contact with our skin. Human skin, period. Anoles.. Green or Brown... are another "sensitive" animal that does not do well with excessive handling. I have a Brown Anole and I don't touch her because even though she is very tame, she stresses and she's very delicate.

What about a African Fat-tailed gecko? They resemble Leopards a little.. have similar care... can be tame and handleable, but again... they are nocturnal animals. You wouldn't have to lose the heat lamp, but it would be better if you could get a UTH (under tank heater), as they prefer belly heat.

I can't really think of much else ...other than a snake or tarantula (not as handleable), but you didn't mention them... that would work out for the 10g and your present supplies.

Crested Geckos are awesome... just ask Jordan! ...and you have everything you need, plus some you don't ...for its basic housing.

I could probably even help you find a responsible breeder near you ..to avoid shipping and/or pet shops.


..almost forgot.... FBT tanks should be part land, part water and an UGF (under gravel filter) works for the water part, as does the ReptoMin filter that can operate in as little as 2" of water. I had my FBTs in a 5.5g with a plexi barrier between the water feature and their marshland. They LOVED it! But remember, an FBT secretes a toxin and should not be handled excessively ...for their sake and yours.

 

[Goat_Walker]

Well I was reading more about the pacman frogs, and even though they are low maintenance and are beautiful, they eat mice. And there is no way that I could fee them that as I have owned mice in the past and now own rats.

So now I am down to crested and african fat tailed geckos as well as fire bellied toads and newts. I am still researching so one or the other might also be eliminated from this list

 

[Goat_Walker]

i sent you a PM btw, Aneesa's Muse

 

[priszilla]

I just got 6 little fire bellied toads!!!!I got them off CL and their tank with a neat filter that looks like a pile of rocks.The owner said she had them for 2 years - they are fascinating to watch. I have had them 6 hours and no fatalities yet. I htink I did pretty good- the whole thing was $5. tank with a sceened lid, cool filter and waxworms and superworms too. She fed them a very varied diet.They had eaten silkworms earlier today-I think I willg et some small feeder guppies to put in with them as well and some water plants. I have wanted to grow a tadpole to a frog and tried 2 kits and numerous wild-caught tads.This is much better.

 

[Goat_Walker]

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Wait, you go all that for only $5?!

 

[hollyclyff]

I've got firebelly toads in a part land/part water tank with a filter and waterfall. They've been quite hardy and easy to take care of. I just use well water and clean it when it gets dirty. I've had mine for three years and never had any health issues. They come to the side of the tank when they see me - looking for food. If I stick my hand in for maintenance, they all hop over to see if I have food. They're not at all shy and they love to eat! But of course I don't take them out and play with them.