I Am Stuck On Which Reptile To Get

My heart is so torn on what reptile/s to get for my 40 gallon breeder. Keep in mind this is my first time taking care of reptiles but I am willing to put in the time and effort. I think a Blue Tongued Skink would be awesome and I love to handle animals but I also love Tiger Salamanders but they burrow a ton and you can't hold them. What do you guys recommend as a good reptile that loves handling? Also, I don't think I want a Bearded Dragon, Leopard Geckos, or Anoles, just a preference I guess. Is a Blue Tongue Skink a great beginner reptile and is it fine with handling?

 

I don’t think skinks are where you want to go. No small snakes? Chameleons are totally cool. They just don’t do much. Frogs? There are AWESOME frogs out there. The white’s tree frog doesn’t mind handling if you get it as a baby but they tend to get very fat so you’d have to watch the feeding.
I know skinks are cool and so colorful. If you’re willing to spend a few months doing research and going to pet shops that have them, learn everything about them, then you could maybe start with one. But it’s always going to be a reptile not a pet. I’m sorry

 

I don’t think skinks are where you want to go. No small snakes? Chameleons are totally cool. They just don’t do much. Frogs? There are AWESOME frogs out there. The white’s tree frog doesn’t mind handling if you get it as a baby but they tend to get very fat so you’d have to watch the feeding.
I know skinks are cool and so colorful. If you’re willing to spend a few months doing research and going to pet shops that have them, learn everything about them, then you could maybe start with one. But it’s always going to be a reptile not a pet. I’m sorry

Ok, thank you for the response! Yeah I understand that a reptile can't be handled like a hamster would, what snakes would you recommend that tolerate SOME handling? And, would I have to convert the 40 to a tall instead of the way it is now for Whites Tree Frogs? Could I get more than one for the 40 assuming I didn't have to convert it to a tall? Sorry for all the questions but I like information!

 

I’ve never kept reptiles, so you can take my info for a grain of salt, but I have done some research in the past. Keep in mind that a lot of reptiles get quite big, and their feeding habits are not straight-forward whatsoever. I’d say a good beginner snake that stays relatively small is a kinyon sand boa, or a corn snake. There snakes also have an appealing appearance IMO and are okay with being handled- but as said above I have NEVER owned a reptile. You definitely should do your own personal reaserch, and I’m sure there are reptile forums that will help you out

 

Good luck!

 

Ball Python and Corn snakes come to mind. None really "like" to be handled but those two tolerate the handling well. If you want a snake that just kinda lays around go for the ball python, if your wanting a more active snake get a corn. Both are good beginner snakes. The corns are a lot easier to care for. Not that ball pythons aren't hard to care for but their needs are more specific. And they do tend to go off feed at time, which all snakes can and do, but the ball pythons tend to do this more and sometimes you have to coax them by feeding live. I've had both, still have my corn but not the ball python. I can't bring myself to feed a live animal to get them back on feed lol.

 

Ok, thank you for the response! Yeah I understand that a reptile can't be handled like a hamster would, what snakes would you recommend that tolerate SOME handling? And, would I have to convert the 40 to a tall instead of the way it is now for Whites Tree Frogs? Could I get more than one for the 40 assuming I didn't have to convert it to a tall? Sorry for all the questions but I like information!

You could do two in the 40. They will need “trees” to climb but they don’t have to extend out of the tank. Once they’re bigger you’ll want to really watch how much you feed them. Try googling them. They can turn into blobs. Take a look and let us know what you think.

 

I personally wouldn't do treefrogs in a tank that shallow, but you can turn it on its side and use it that way, BReefer97 will be able to show you their enclosures as well.

 

I’m going to mend my previous statement about the white’s frogs as I’ve gone through some videos and found more information. A 40 gallon breeder would be perfectly fine for a pair or even 3 whites tree frogs. Right now I have one single white’s in a 20 gallon long and she does amazing. It was only supposed to be temporary while we were doing other set ups, but she’s done so well there we’ve decided not to move her and see how she does with another white’s added in the future.
White’s tree frogs do require height, but they require length too. I’ve observed that they jump long distances as opposed to jumping high. They weigh a lot for a tree frog so they have trouble hanging to the glass up high and as adults they spend more time on the ground of the enclosure. The only issue is they eat a LOT, live foods only. And if you happen to get a male, they sing loudly through the night in hopes of finding a mate. Females are relatively silent. They’re also not great to handle as their skin is very delicate and the oils from our hands can harm them.


A blue tongue skink will work in a 40 gallon breeder. There are also vastly different subspecies that need very different care. A 40 gallon breeder would work for a northern blue tongue skink, but they would definitely 100% enjoy a larger enclosure if you’re ever able to provide it. But they’re pretty good for beginners. If you’ve never owned or handled reptiles, they can be intimidating to handle if you have no experience with them. Skinks can go very wrong very fast if care isn’t up to standards so you must do a lot of research if this is what you want. BUT a northern is truly a good reptile for anyone, beginner or not. You just have to be sure it’s what you want and that you’ll be able to consistently provide care for years.

I seen chameleons mentioned and I think people get them confused with other types of reptiles. A chameleon should never be kept in a glass enclosure of any kind and should be kept in a tall screen enclosure because they cannot have stagnant air

You can look in to fire skinks. They’re much smaller than BTS but require live insects regularly. That would be your only downfall with how young you are is getting a steady supply of insects.

I’m at a loss as what else I should recommend other than various types of snakes haha

 

Ok, thank you all for the responses! I am now deciding between a couple Whites Tree Frogs, a Corn Snake or Ball Python. I really have loved looking into these little animals and I now know that it would probably be one of these. The frogs are super derpy and I love that but a snake eats mice and I actually kind of think that would be easy to feed and you also don't have to feed them constantly. The snakes morphs are beautiful also, but what do you guys recommend for which reptile to get?

 

Ok, thank you all for the responses! I am now deciding between a couple Whites Tree Frogs, a Corn Snake or Ball Python. I really have loved looking into these little animals and I now know that it would probably be one of these. The frogs are super derpy and I love that but a snake eats mice and I actually kind of think that would be easy to feed and you also don't have to feed them constantly. The snakes morphs are beautiful also, but what do you guys recommend for which reptile to get?

The snakes would probably be easier for you in the long run. The frogs eat a lot and unless you’re looking to breed your own insects or go to the pet store a few times a week, I would skip them. Frozen/thawed mice would be easy enough to feed and you’re right, snakes don’t (and shouldn’t) eat all that often. They also don’t need to have their food supplemented like the frogs would. I would personally go with a corn snake. I absolutely love ball pythons and their morphs, but corn snakes are one of my favorites.

 

I don’t keep reptiles myself (I keep my husband instead; he is not a snake person), but I have heard very good things about Kenyan sand boas as pets. They are very handsome snakes, there’s several color morphs to choose from, and they have a reputation for a relaxed disposition. Oh, and try to find a picture of a male and female together; they’re hilariously sexually dimorphic.

 

I started with my corn snake. And yes I keep dead mice in my freezer lol. I feed my snakes once a week. No muss no fuss.

I would recommend a corn if you decide to go with a snake. I live in IL and my house temp year round works for my snake too. I keep no heat pad on his enclosure. Ball pythons do have to have heat and humidity.
Corns are just easier in my opinion
And python will eventually get big enough they will need rats. Don't feed live unless necessary because rodents can hurt a snake.

 

Garter snakes if available. Highly underrated, in my opinion, and there are morphs out there too. Perhaps 2-3 in a 40g?

I had one years ago, given to me by my biology teacher. Probably one of my favorite snakes, because of its activity level as well as being very tame. It was very aware of people's presence in the room and couldn't wait for someone to open its enclosure to be either fed or let out. I fed it pinky mice and fish. I did feed it an adult mouse once or twice. The first time was pretty scary. And as mentioned before, always frozen thawed.

 

What if you turn it on it’s side and get a created gecko?

 

Unless your house gets to 85 degrees during the day, a corn snake needs an under the tank heat mat or a heat lamp. They need a cool end of the tank in the mid 70s and 85 degrees on the warm end. A lot of people seem to keep corn snakes with no heat and just let them deal at room temperature. Snakes need to thermoregulate their body temperatures and there would be no regulating happening if the temperature is consistently the same through the tank. There’s a difference between thriving and surviving I don’t want to offend anyone on this thread but that’s how it is. I would never keep a snake without a form of heating on the tank.

scarface I totally agree with garter snakes! So underrated. California red sided garters are one of my favorites, their colors are so striking for a garter snake. Though the garters around here have ruined my favorite gardening gloves because they musk the second they’re touched

 

California red sided garters are one of my favorites, their colors are so striking for a garter snake.

Just looked them up. Beautiful!

 

Ok, so I think I am liking the idea of a corn snake. My room always stays at around 70 degrees so I would definitely need a heat lamp or mat. Could you guys recommend a good heat mat or lamp to use? I have been searching but haven't find any specific good ones. Would I need two heat mats/lamps then set one to 75 on one side and one 85 on the other since my room stays at 70 degrees? My room sometimes gets down to 68. Any help is greatly appreciated thank you everyone!

 

Garter snakes are good also! So are the King snakes, I just didn't recommend a King because they can be nippy, depending on the snake. Mine has never bit me.

I won't go into the heating, I'm not going to go down that road, I'm not getting into an argument about how or why or should be doing something and derailing your question.

I won't even say "if" you use a heat lamp it can dry them up where it's hard for them to shed.

Either way have fun deciding on what you want!

 

Ok, so I think I am liking the idea of a corn snake. My room always stays at around 70 degrees so I would definitely need a heat lamp or mat. Could you guys recommend a good heat mat or lamp to use? I have been searching but haven't find any specific good ones. Would I need two heat mats/lamps then set one to 75 on one side and one 85 on the other since my room stays at 70 degrees? My room sometimes gets down to 68. Any help is greatly appreciated thank you everyone!

If you have a heat mat on one side of the tank it will likely increase the temperature of the other side by a few degrees so I think you’d be fine with just having one heating element ZooMed and Pangea both have good heat mat options, but I would use them with a thermostat. Some of them come with one already built in so it’s worth checking. I use zilla thermostats for my reptiles and they’re pretty accurate but I still check with a heat gun and adjust if I ever need to. Though that’s not really necessary, I just bought a nice heat gun so might as well use it haha and all you have to do is make sure the heat mat you’re using suits the size of your tank and is maintaining a maximum of 85 degrees there’s usually a chart for them online that tells you which one works for your tank. And I don’t know how humidity is where you live or what it’s like in the room you’re keeping it in, but make sure it’s around 40-50% in the tank for a corn.

Garter snakes are good also! So are the King snakes, I just didn't recommend a King because they can be nippy, depending on the snake. Mine has never bit me.

I won't go into the heating, I'm not going to go down that road, I'm not getting into an argument about how or why or should be doing something and derailing your question.

I won't even say "if" you use a heat lamp it can dry them up where it's hard for them to shed.

Either way have fun deciding on what you want!

That’s why you can also use a hygrometer to check humidity readings as corn snakes need 40-50% humidity in order to properly shed a good substrate and misting every few days does the trick, it’s low enough that you don’t even really need a hydrometer. King snakes are great too! They’ll eat just about anything too haha.

 

If you have a heat mat on one side of the tank it will likely increase the temperature of the other side by a few degrees so I think you’d be fine with just having one heating element ZooMed and Pangea both have good heat mat options, but I would use them with a thermostat. Some of them come with one already built in so it’s worth checking. I use zilla thermostats for my reptiles and they’re pretty accurate but I still check with a heat gun and adjust if I ever need to. Though that’s not really necessary, I just bought a nice heat gun so might as well use it haha and all you have to do is make sure the heat mat you’re using suits the size of your tank and is maintaining a maximum of 85 degrees there’s usually a chart for them online that tells you which one works for your tank. And I don’t know how humidity is where you live or what it’s like in the room you’re keeping it in, but make sure it’s around 40-50% in the tank for a corn.



That’s why you can also use a hygrometer to check humidity readings as corn snakes need 40-50% humidity in order to properly shed a good substrate and misting every few days does the trick, it’s low enough that you don’t even really need a hydrometer. King snakes are great too! They’ll eat just about anything too haha.

Ok, so in general do you recommend a heat lamp or mat? And mats don’t have temp controllers do they? How would I properly measure the temperature with a mat if it didn’t have a controller? Yeah, I’m not too worried about humidity I have 3 fairly sized fish tanks in my small room which makes it extremely humid and plus mistings so hopefully humidity won’t be a problem! Also, do you know of any charts I can look at online that show me that? I’m not too sure what to look up.

 

Ok, so in general do you recommend a heat lamp or mat? And mats don’t have temp controllers do they? How would I properly measure the temperature with a mat if it didn’t have a controller? Yeah, I’m not too worried about humidity I have 3 fairly sized fish tanks in my small room which makes it extremely humid and plus mistings so hopefully humidity won’t be a problem! Also, do you know of any charts I can look at online that show me that? I’m not too sure what to look up.

You can get a thermostat that you plug the heat mat in to. And for corn snakes it sounds like a heat mat is the best option. Some come with built in thermostats but some do not. You can buy a Zilla brand one separately if it doesn’t come with one. As long as it maintains 85-90 degrees on one side of the tank you’re golden.

 

You can get a thermostat that you plug the heat mat in to. And for corn snakes it sounds like a heat mat is the best option. Some come with built in thermostats but some do not. You can buy a Zilla brand one separately if it doesn’t come with one. As long as it maintains 85-90 degrees on one side of the tank you’re golden.

Awesome! Thank you for the help!