#10 Caiman Lizards

Though the Caiman Lizard is at the bottom of this list, it is still incredibly friendly and one of the better pet lizard types. They make a great companion for any owner. Caiman lizards are suitable as pets, but they require experienced reptile enthusiasts to care for them properly.

They get rather large at 5 feet long, so a big enclosure is needed to contain them. However, for a beginner that wants to train them, they can be quite fun. With rainbow colors and a lot of patience, the Caiman Lizard is perfect for beginners that want to take on a larger animal instead of a more traditional reptile.

Because of its length, a Caiman lizard will need an enclosure that is between 4-6 feet long, 1-3 feet wide, and 2-4 feet tall. Part of the terrarium should have a large water area where the lizard can fully submerge, as well as things to climb on. Caiman lizards come from a tropical habitat where they are used to temperatures in the range of 80-90 degrees Fahrenheit, even 100 or more degrees when they are basking. 

They need UVA and UVB rays for vitamin D3 which promotes their overall health as well as an activity like feeding.  A combination of natural sunlight, an Exo Terra Halogen spot lamp, and a Reptisun or Powersun UV lamp will help you replicate the environment a Caiman lizard needs to thrive.  It will also need a comfortable branch in its enclosure to relax on for basking.  

The diet of a pet Caiman lizard can consist of crickets, canned snails and shrimp, super worms, and fruit like kiwi, banana, papaya, and mango.  They also need a reptile multivitamin and calcium supplement. 

As the lifespan of a Caiman lizard is roughly 10 years, a pet owner is looking at an investment of time and money for the setup and maintenance of the pet, as well as space in your house.  Take these things into consideration before taking the plunge.  You should purchase a Caiman lizard through a reputable reptile breeder and can pay anywhere from $350 to $1500.

#9 Green Iguanas

Green iguanas tend to be rather easy pet lizard types for beginners to take care of because there are no carnivorous tendencies. These reptiles are herbivores, so they should be fairly easy to feed. Still, with how large they get (up to 6 feet long), they’d need an enclosure similar to that of the Caiman lizard, but even larger to account for their longer length. Their tank will also require a water pool.

Iguanas are relatively friendly and easy to tame. While they are great for beginners, the amount of care needed to own one means you will need to be able to dedicate time, energy, and money. Green iguanas average $25 – $40. While this may seem like an affordable option for a pet lizard on the surface, the investment in all the care and maintenance can get quite expensive.

A terrarium or cage for the iguana can cost between $150-$1000 depending on size and preference. UVB light bulbs would be an investment between $29 and $300 twice a year. Food for your iguana can cost from $1 – $50 per day.

And as it’s an exotic pet, veterinary care for your pet green iguana can cost on average $200 – $300 a year for general care, but run in the thousands for more serious health issues. And there are other costs to consider like toys, items to climb on, and other miscellaneous costs. (Note: these costs can apply to multiple species of pet lizards, not just iguanas)

With a lifespan of about 20 years, they can be great long-time companions. Just be sure to count the costs and make sure that a green iguana is really the right pet choice for you.

#8 Savannah Monitors

The Savannah Monitor is incredibly easy to tame, which gives beginners the fun of a larger reptile without the stress of controlling it. It will need a large habitat with the ability to dig, as it loves to burrow in the dirt. You’d need quite a large enclosure with plenty of dirt for burrowing that won’t cave in on the lizard, affording it the opportunity of hiding its 3-foot-long body.

As fun, as this creature can be, you’ll have to get comfortable with its diet, which is rich with eggs, birds, insects, and most other animals that are within its grasp. Unfortunately, many owners of Savannah monitors feed them diets high in fat (like rodents or canned dog food), which can result in obesity and fatty liver disease, which can greatly shorten their life expectancy.

It’s also very important to seek a reputable breeder to purchase a Savannah monitor from as opposed to buying an imported one, as imported Savannah monitors often suffer trauma and rough conditions that can also negatively affect their life expectancy.

Savannah monitors actually shed their skin periodically, which can show up as flaky dandruff around your home if you let it roam. Prices for a Savannah monitor will run from $25 – $100, but as we discussed earlier, the setup for any pet lizard is going to initially cost you. Proper care can give a pet Savannah monitor up to 20 years with its owner.

#7 Chinese Water Dragons

The Chinese water dragon is native to South China, Vietnam, Thailand, southern China, and Cambodia. In adulthood, Asian water dragons come in shades of green from dark Kelly to light mint, with vertical pale green, mint, aqua, or turquoise stripes. They grow to about 3 feet long. This particular species of water dragon is the easiest to take care of for a novice. They have to take some time to get used to the people around them, but they enjoy being held occasionally.

The 55-gallon terrarium is appropriate for a Chinese water dragon.  Many Chinese water dragon pets don’t understand glass and rub their snouts against it, sometimes damaging their noses and lower jaws.  It’s advisable to consider an enclosure with screened siding instead of glass. They need a UVA/UVB bulb in the terrarium to simulate sunlight for 12 hours a day. Other considerations are objects to climb on, a spot for it to bask in heat and proper humidity. Their main diet consists of crickets, grasshoppers, mealworms, and earthworms, but they also enjoy some fruits or finely shredded green leafy vegetables.

Chinese water dragons usually cost between $50 and $100. With a friendly personality, the main concern with this lizard is its need for the right care, which can help your pet Chinese water dragon live as much as 10-15 years.

#6 Chameleons

Chameleons are rather calm and docile, but the reason that they are so beloved by owners is their ability to change colors, as well as their kooky globular eyes. They won’t need to be handled because of their ability to become stressed, so it may not be the best option for kids that want a more hands-on animal. They may be a little more difficult to care for with their special needs, but they don’t need as much space as some of the larger lizards. Life expectancy can be anywhere from 3 – 10 years.

For housing, chameleons love to climb trees, so it’s good to have a terrarium that is vertically tall, with plenty of objects to climb high on. A cage with a length and width that are 3×3 and a height of 4 feet would work well. You’ll need to research the correct temperatures for your particular breed for basking spots and the general climate. And chameleons drink water droplets from leaves–not from a dish. So you’ll need to either mist the enclosure two times a day or have a drip system installed.

Chameleons catch crickets, mealworms, super worms, wax worms, wax moths, and roaches with their ballistic tongues, but they’ll eat small amounts of leafy greens or fruits at times. They need vitamin supplements, as they are prone to calcium and Vitamin A deficiency. Chameleons range from $30 – $300. We recommend going with a breeder for any type of lizard, as you can better trust that you are getting a healthy pet from the start.

#5 Green Basilisk

If you want a little entertainment from your reptile, the green basilisk is the way to go. Green Basilisk For Sale. With the right traction and speed, they can walk on water. This unique talent is the reason that the green basilisk is known as the “Jesus Christ lizard.” The green basilisk comes from Central America and tropical rainforests in Honduras, Costa Rica, Panama, and Nicaragua.

Its body is covered in bright green scales, with a belly that can have white, gray, or light blue markings. While many reptile enthusiasts love its coloring and energy, they can be difficult to care for.

Keeping green basilisks as pets can be challenging due to their size, their need for a roomy, water-based habitat, and their difficulty in being handled. Nevertheless, when provided with appropriate housing, they can serve as an impressive exhibit species. With adequate attention, a green basilisk has the potential to live for as long as 15 years.

If you’re interested in owning more than one, they can be rather territorial. Two females can get along, and two males can get into fights, but a male and female are not advisable unless they are mating. The temperament of the green basilisk is not the most charming of reptilian pets. When they feel threatened, they’ll puff out their necks and snarl, can bite, and are generally nervous and temperamental.

They don’t require much care to be kept safe and healthy, and though they can stretch to 3 feet long, the majority of that length is in their tail.

#4 Black and White Tegus

The beautiful black and white tegu for sale, a South American species, can grow to be nearly 4-5 feet long and is characterized by gorgeous beaded black and white scales, arranged in intricate patterns. They tend to be incredibly friendly once they learn to trust their owners, and can be loyal companions. They become incredibly attached, leading them to follow their human around the house. Like several other reptiles on this list, these lizards have a projected lifespan of 15-20 years.

Black and white tegus for sale are more challenging to locate than some other species, so you’ll need to find a reputable breeder.  A hatchling typically runs $200.  As with other popular lizard pets, your B&W tegu will need plenty of room in its enclosure, with measurements from 6x3x3 feet to 8x4x3 feet for larger ones.  You’ll need suitable accessories for climbing, a basking spot with a UVA/UVB bulb that can get up to 100-110 degrees Fahrenheit, and temps from 90-95 degrees and cooler spots of 75-80 degrees. 

Tegus also need 75-90% humidity in their enclosures to thrive, so you’ll need a system in place to take care of that.  They like to burrow in substrate, so 4 inches in depth would be good, but it’s recommended to avoid pine or cedar, which can cause dust which is damaging to their lungs.

Its diet should vary for maximum health–don’t rely solely on frozen/thawed rodents or lean meat.  You should mix in fish, eggs, fruit, and veggies.  Many tegus turn their noses up (or should we say snouts) to vegetables, so you should chop them fine and mix them in with other ingredients these lizards favor.

#3 Skinks

The African fire skink is easily one of the most popular types of skinks to adopt as a pet, primarily due to the beautiful red markings. It works well for beginners with their low-maintenance needs, but they aren’t really meant for handling. More so, they can be admired from outside of their habitat, watching as they move around and enjoy their surroundings. As an added benefit, this particular skink isn’t really prone to many health issues, making them easier to care for.

If you want a reptile that likes the company of other reptiles, the Gidgee skink is a good option. Though they are quite large at 10 inches long, they like to live with a partner to bring out their social side. With a little patience, they become quite easy to handle.

For a more docile reptile that is more prepared for handling, consider the blue-tongue skink. It only weighs about 4 pounds, stretching to 20 inches long. They are often considered a great choice for beginners and for kids.

Skink lizards have a diet that mostly consists of insects. All three of the species we’ve mentioned are omnivorous, so they should have diets that are balanced between insects (they prefer live ones like flies, crickets, roaches, millipedes, centipedes, beetles, grasshoppers, worms, slugs, mosquitos, or snails), and vegetables such as carrots, collard greens, dandelion greens, cabbage, green beans, arugula, squash, or pumpkin. While a little banana, papaya, or berries would be okay for fruit, citrus fruits can kill a skink.

Skinks prefer burrowing to climbing, so their enclosure, which should range from 40 gallons – 55 gallons in size. They enjoy hideouts, so look for ones made of Cork bark, wood, rocks, or other reptile-friendly materials. They will need heated bulbs, and bedding can be cypress mulch, aspen wood shavings, or newspaper. Skinks are prone to blockages, so make sure yours is not eating the particular wood you may be trying.

A blue-tongue skink can run from $150-$500; an African fire skink can range from $40-$50; and a gidgee skink is the most expensive variety, costing between $500-$2000!

#2 Geckos

Geckos are a little smaller than other pet reptiles, but they come in many varieties. The leopard gecko, for example, is one of the most popular options. Their skin can come in a variety of morphs, but the common colorings are yellow, white, or black spotted. They are fairly easy to handle and don’t often bite, but they get much of their notoriety from the sounds that they make. They also communicate with tail movements. Leopard geckos can be held, but are not affectionate or playful, per se. Leopard geckos only grow to be about 8 inches long, reaching their full maturity at about 1 year old.

As leopard geckos are nocturnal, they don’t need as much UVA/UVB light as other lizard species–2%-7% light can help keep them healthy.  A 10-20 gallon aquarium or enclosure will work, depending on it you want just one gecko or more. You can add hideouts, branches and plants, and a watering area, as geckos drink a lot of water. For feeding, leopard geckos eat live crickets, silkworms, roaches, mealworms, waxworms, and super worms.  You should also include some fresh greens in their diet.  Pet leopard geckos typically run $30 to $100, but can cost as much as $3000! It’s best to seek a breeder to be assured your leopard gecko is healthy.

The African fat-tailed gecko, on the other hand, comes from West Africa. They have the innate ability to withstand their time in captivity rather well and could live well past 20 years if you give them the right care. They are one of the easiest to take care of with any skill level, much like the crested gecko, the gold-dust day gecko, and others.

#1 Bearded Dragons

One of the best pet lizards for beginners and experienced handlers alike is the bearded dragon. It is one of the easiest pets to find in stores and with breeders because they are among the easiest to take care of and are quite friendly and playful. With the right training and exposure, they can even walk on a leash as they get a little social time with their owners. They are well-behaved and sweet, living to be about 15 years old with the right care. Bearded dragons are also very attractive lizards, coming in multiple color options like white, yellow, purple, and red. They come in interesting morphs as well. Another interesting fact is that, unlike most reptile pets, the bearded dragon is odorless, which is a definite plus when housing it indoors. The average cost of one is $25-$75.

One thing to be aware of with bearded dragons or many other reptile species is that they can carry salmonella in their skin. When handling one, you should wash your hands before and after to protect them from germs as well as yourself.

Like many other pet lizard varieties, the bearded dragon will need a roomy terrarium, a basking spot heated up to 100 degrees Fahrenheit, and cooler areas at around 75-80 degrees. A sandy substrate will work, with accessories like rocks, vegetation, and other things to hide in or sit on. They feed on live insects, mostly crickets, but also mealworms and king worms. Appropriate vegetables would be sweet potato and leafy greens like kale or parsley.