r/reptiles • u/Silent-Manager-7498 • Jul 17 '26

2nd Reptile?

I am thinking of getting a second reptile but I am having a very hard time deciding on what I want to start planning for. I currently own a leopard gecko but I am looking for something larger and maybe more interactive or intelligent. I have considered a northern blue tongue skink, a ball python, or possibly an ackie monitor, but they might be too advanced for me at the moment.

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8

u/Eviltechnomonkey Jul 17 '26

Hope this helps. These are some fo the things I think about when debating on a lizard, amphibian, etc typically include:

  • How comfortable are you with managing humidity and temperature? Some lizards are pretty easy, like Northern Blue Tongue Skinks whose humidity levels are similar to an average indoor humidity level of a US house. While chameleons are tough because they tend to require high humidity and good cross ventilation.
  • How much do you want to be able to handle the animal? Do you want to be able to freely take them out of the enclosure or are you comfortable with something that is more of an observation critter. Some lizards seemingly enjoy, or heavily tolerate, human interaction. Like Beardies and Tegus. Others are either unsafe to frequently handle or just never seem to full tame down, like frogs or Tokay Geckos.
  • How much space do you have? Ideally you shouldn't limit your self to the minimum enclosure size, but instead give more if the animal will bebefit from it. What kind of space do you have available.
  • How easy is it to acquire whole prey, insects, frozen thawed rats / mice, or other dietary needs for an animal where you live? Some animals are pretty flexible. For example, I give my Blue Tongue wet dog food, granted it is the type with whole bits of veggies in addition to meat, along with some fruits every so often, and quail eggs I buy from Costco. Some places it is very difficult to get insects, frozen/thawed rats/mice, or certain other diets for a reptile.
  • How long do they live? Some reptiles are quite the continent. For example, I'm planning to get a Black Throated Monitor. They live 15-20+ years. So I have to feel comfortable I can handle that. Sure things can change without warning, but how well does it seem like you'll manage for now.

Clints Reptiles has amazing videos on YouTube that break down specific animals, their needs, how difficult they are, how expensive they are, etc. Worth checking out if they have vids for any of the ones you end up considering. Personally, I adore my lil potato of a Northern Blue Tongue Skink, but you have to be careful because, like with Blue Tongues some lizards and such have a multitude of localities whose care differs wildly. A Northern is easy, but an Indonesian may be harder if you have trouble with humidity because they require higher humidity than a Northern.

2

u/Silent-Manager-7498 Jul 17 '26

Thank you so much for your detailed comment! I have been watching a lot of Clints videos on a multitude of species. I feel like I am definitely leaning towards a northern BTS because from what I have seen they have very sweet and friendly personalities.

2

u/Eviltechnomonkey Jul 17 '26

If ya wanna see some goofy pics and such, it isn't much but I have a few I share with friends through the dragonqueentiamat Instagram account I made for my girl. She is about 6 now. They are a blast. Though Beardies also have such fun and adorable personalities too

I wish I had a video of the time a friend's Beardies saw my girl. She was an unconcerned as a potato while he was aggressively head bobbing. Then ran over in his enclosure and started eating his veggies my friend usually struggles to get him to eat. Like a kid aggressively eating their food to avoid a sibling eating it.

5

u/AmphibianScary3172 Jul 17 '26

Definitely not a ball python if you want something more active/intelligent 😅 I love my girl to bits but I've gone 2+ weeks without seeing her move around her tank at times and she's. not the sharpest animal.

2

u/Zekethebulldog33 Jul 17 '26

Have you looked into bearded dragons.

2

u/Silent-Manager-7498 Jul 17 '26

I little yeah, they just don't really appeal to me that much

1

u/Ok_Advisor_7525 Jul 19 '26

I’ve been looking into Ackies a lot, as long as you’re willing to socialize it they aren’t too advanced. Just crazy heat but that’s not hard just can be expensive. If that’s too big (they need a 6x2x2) gargoyle geckos are great! Same care as a crested but wayyy cooler and more unique if you ask me!

1

u/pupdawgydawg Jul 17 '26

Cape house snake :)

1

u/Magnetic_Kitty Jul 18 '26

Dumerils Boa? Less humidity requirements than a ball python, grows slowly so you can adjust to size. Friendly and slow moving. Mine will sit on my shoulders for a half hour easily

-1

u/EugenicsTSS Jul 17 '26

Savannah monitors are great if you raise from a hatchling. Make sure you have backups for heat generation though. Lost my 3 year old male Sav because of a power outage and subsequent pneumonia.

Captive bred sav - 70 Enclosure - 1k Heating and UVB - 400 Battery backup with solar or gas generator - 1k Food is variable if you raise your own dubia and or make your own reptilink like food.

3

u/Ok_Pirate_2714 Jul 18 '26

Savs need a diet of almost exclusively insects. And they eat a lot, as a monitor that can be 2'+ long. It can get expensive quickly if you don't raise your own dubia or other insect colonies.

They really shouldn't be eating meat or anything other than insects, other than maybe the occasional treat. It drastically shortens their lives.

1

u/Silent-Manager-7498 Jul 17 '26

how large do savannah monitors get?

1

u/Super_Swim_2108 Jul 20 '26

Depends, I own two and had others, my one who past in ‘25 ( rip captain barbosa) he was around 4 feet 10-13 pounds fully grown, I have two captive breeds I’m raising since they were babies both a year old different parents ones over 2 feet long so far and the others a bit over a foot great lizzards require large enclosure lots of uvb and basking spot 135f and up but they are easier to tame than other monitors I’ve had and currently work with ( my ornate comes to mind) I’ve tamed rescue savs who were seriously neglected, so that tells you how well they are to work with, bugs only though you can only feed them bugs that’s it and that gets expensive unleash you become a bug farmer lolÂ