Q: My 10-year-old son wants a pet iguana. I've done enough research to know we're not going to go that route. I don't want to be left with a 6-foot lizard when my son goes off to college. But I'm getting conflicting information on what would be better. What do you recommend in the "scaly, slimy" pet group that's appropriate for a kid and a busy mom? -- T.W., via e-mail
A: You're right: Iguanas are popular but are not really suitable for any but the most dedicated of owners. These reptiles have care requirements that can be difficult to meet, and if they are cared for properly, dealing with a 6-foot lizard will present another set of challenges.
The Pet Connec-tion staff has previously polled a panel of experts to get a list of low-maintenance reptiles and amphibians for the first-time owner. The consensus picks:
Bearded dragon: Best overall. While young bearded dragons can be reactive, as adults these pets will calm down with appropriate handling and become gentle pets that never get too large to handle.
Leopard gecko: Geckos are smaller than bearded dragons and less scary-looking (which may be a plus or minus, depending on your child). They're easy to care for and are entertaining to watch.
Corn snake: Captive breeding has produced wonderful colors and color variations in these calm snakes. Corn snakes are easy to care for and aren't usually inclined to bite.
Ball python: Bigger than corn snakes, these pets mature at about 4 feet in length. They love wrapping themselves around their owners, though, so at the very least your son will need a tolerance for that behavior and an education on how to unwind his pet.
Pac-Man frog and White's tree frog: Two of the larger species of frogs available in the pet trade, these pets are colorful and vocal. Neither will get exceptionally large, and unlike the other pets, frogs shouldn't be handled.
Once you've chosen a pet, have your son check out the reptile and amphibian resources at www.pethobbyist.com, which includes one of the oldest communities of reptile and amphibian fans on the Internet.
Do you have a pet question? Send it to petconnection@gmail.com.
