Beginner Herp/invert List

[The_Dude]

I'm just going to lay this one down even though this is a aquaculture site. Since they have a household pets forum, I'm putting this on here, hoping that they'll pin it. Members are welcome to add their suggestions too.

Beginner List: For the kids

Reptiles:
Leopard Gecko
African Fat-Tailed Gecko
Bearded Dragon
Anthill Python
Ball Python
Children's Python
California Kingsnake (can be aggressive)
Cornsnake

Amphibians:
African Dwarf Frog
African Clawed Frog
White's Treefrog
Fire Belly Toads
Fire Belly Newt (C. orientalis and C.pyrrhogaster)
Tiger Salamander
American Green Treefrog

Invertebrates:
Chilean Rose Tarantula
Mexican Redknee Tarantula
Mexican Redrump Tarantula
Emperor Scorpion
Asian Forest Scorpion
African Giant Millipede
Giant Desert Millipede
Madagascan Hissing Cockroach
Death's Head Cockroach
Grant's Rhinoceres Beetle
Darkling Beetle
Tanzanian Giant Tailless Whipscorpion

Intermediate List: The ones who require a good deal of your attention or tend to be a bit nippy.

Reptiles:
House Gecko
Golden Gecko
Flying Gecko
Desert Banded Gecko
Tokay Gecko (can deliver a fairly painful bite)
Cuban Knight Anole (can deliver a fairly painful bite)
Collared Lizard
Frilled Dragon
Spiny Tailed Iguana
Nile Monitor
Chuckwalla
Hognose Snake
Kenyan Sand Boa
Rainbow Boa
Rough/Smooth Green Snake (diet not fully understood, tend to be thin and fragile)
Scarlet Kingsnake (small and flinchy)
Milksnakes in general
Garter/Ribbon Snakes
Turtles
Water snake

Amphibians:
Red Eyed Treefrog
Pacman Frog
Bullfrogs (American and African)
Rough Skinned Newt
Fire Salamander
Amphiumas (1, 2, and 3 toed varieties)

Invertebrates:
Widow Spiders
Chilean Black Tarantula
Green Bottle Blue Tarantula
Cobalt Tarantula
Giant Desert Hairy Scorpion
Flat Rock Scorpion
Giant Desert Centipede (don't handle this one)
Tropical Millipedes
Huntsman Spiders (quick and nervous)

Advanced:These are a bit above intermediate

Reptiles:
Veiled Chameleon
Panther Chameleon
Jackson's Chameleon
Yemen Chameleon
Dwarf Chameleon
Venomous Lizards (Mexican Beaded Lizard, Gila Monster)
Green/ Bahaman Anole
Green Iguana
Green/Brown Basilisks (if they get away from you, you'll never see them again)
Chinese Water Dragon
Mountain Horned Dragon
Uromastyx of any kind
Redtail Boa
Pine, Bull, and Gopher Snakes
Burmese Python (get really really big)
African Rock Python (big and grumpy)
Dumerill's Boa (expensive, big, and can be picky)

Amphibians:
Waterdog
Poison Dart Frogs (fairly difficult to keep alive in captive environments)
Mantella Frogs
Cuban Treefrog

Inverts:
Violin Spiders
Tropical Giant Centipedes
Tarantulas of Aviculara
Cave Cockroaches

Expert: These are the ones that are mostly highly agressive, you usually have to have a license to own, only found in zoos or the private collections of professional Herpitologists or Entomologists. These are usually highly dangerous and I do not recommend anyone without extensive training in their care to even consider them as pets.

Reptiles:
Savannah Monitor
Komodo Dragon (strictly zoo material)
Vipers (got to have a liscence)
Elapids (Cobras, Sea Crates)
Venomous Colubrids (Coral Snakes)

Amphibians:
Goliath Frog (just really big and active)
Golden Dart Frog
Cane Toad

Inverts:
Funnel Web Spiders (particularly Atrax)
Brazilian Wandering Spider
Scorpions of Buthidae
Peruvian Giant Centipede

Ok. Again if anyone has any to add PM me and I will add them. If there is anything wrong on the list, notify me and I will correct it.

 

[AQUAKING]

I dont agree with the sections because if a Beginner researches enough and plans it out, they could get any reptile they wish. But still a good list

 

[The_Dude]

I set them more like guidelines anyway. Just doing what I can for the kids. I agree completely with you. I mean there's no way that I could know the skill level of every individual. In fact, this whole thing is based on a ballpark estimate of the average beginner's ability. Again, ther's no way I could possibly know but I'm just giving people a safety net to fall back on if they need to.

 

[Morquinn]

Both Cuban Knight Anoles and Tokay Geckos are pretty much unhandeable... both are a very aggressive species and probably should be on the next list....

I agree with most things on the beginner list, as long as they have done research.

 

[AQUAKING]

I set them more like guidelines anyway. Just doing what I can for the kids. I agree completely with you. I mean there's no way that I could know the skill level of every individual. In fact, this whole thing is based on a ballpark estimate of the average beginner's ability. Again, ther's no way I could possibly know but I'm just giving people a safety net to fall back on if they need to.

Its still a very helpful list so thanks for that.
Sean

 

[grahamsokel]

TBH you say on the beginners list For Kids
If a kid totaly new to reps got a hoggie and it started its bluff striking and hissing like they nearly always do it could put a kid off snakes for life lol
same with Kings you can get some nice kings but some are also evil will tag you at every chance they get and will musk
I have kept reptiles for over 30 years and i think if you are planning on getting a reptile do plenty of research on the species you like and then when ready go for it.
It annoys me when people say Chameleons are only for the experianced keepers what makes a keeper experianced?Even the biggest cham breeders had to start at the beginning with 1 cham

 

[-cAtFiSh-]

Huntsman spiders in expert?
I have them living in my house haha.

 

[The_Dude]

Oh, I wasn't thinking about what I was typing, I'll fix it right up. An the Chameleons, I don't recommend them for *MOST* children as they require a lot of time, effort and cash. Most little kids are impatient lazy and broke, so that's why I put them where I did.

 

[t1tanrush]

I'll add my 2 cents on this.... My thoughts in red:

I'm just going to lay this one down even though this is a aquaculture site. Since they have a household pets forum, I'm putting this on here, hoping that they'll pin it. Members are welcome to add their suggestions too.

Beginner List: For the kids

Reptiles:
Leopard Gecko
African Fat-Tailed Gecko
Bearded Dragon
Ball Python
Children's Python
California Kingsnake (can be aggressive)
Cornsnake
Hognose snake (can puff up and hiss) NO, many are very hard to get to switch from frogs onto pinkie mice, a more intermediate should handle these.

Amphibians:
African Clawed Frog
White's Treefrog
Fire Belly Toads
Fire Belly Newt (C. orientalis and C.pyrrhogaster)
Tiger Salamander
American Green Treefrog

Invertebrates:
Chilean Rose Tarantula
Mexican Redknee Tarantula
Mexican Redrump Tarantula
Emperor Scorpion
Asian Forest Scorpion
African Giant Millipede
Giant Desert Millipede
Madagascan Hissing Cockroach
Death's Head Cockroach
Grant's Rhinoceres Beetle
Darkling Beetle
Tanzanian Giant Tailless Whipscorpion

Intermediate List: The ones who require a good deal of your attention or tend to be a bit nippy.

Reptiles:
House Gecko
Golden Gecko
Flying Gecko
Desert Banded Gecko
Tokay Gecko (can deliver a fairly painful bite)
Green/Bahama Anole Advanced, they require a ton of equiptment and are a pain in captivity since they are mostly wild caught, expect to pay lots on meds/cage for a 5$ lizard.
Cuban Knight Anole (can deliver a fairly painful bite)
Collared Lizard
Frilled Dragon
Spiny Tailed Iguana
Chuckwalla
Redtail Boa (they get BIG!!! 8 - 12 ft) I'd disagree with this one, I'd say they are more advanced with that large size, not recommended for a kid thats kept only a few animals his life..
Kenyan Sand Boa
Rainbow Boa
Rough/Smooth Green Snake (diet not fully understood, tend to be thin and fragile)
Pine, Bull, and Gopher Snakes (can get big and hiss loudly) Advanced, large bulls can be very aggressive if not handled since they where young, even then I wouldn't trust one 100% as many may never tame down, they also can reach 7ft.
Scarlet Kingsnake (small and flinchy)
Milksnakes in general
Garter/Ribbon Snakes
Turtles
Water snake

Amphibians:
Red Eyed Treefrog
Pacman Frog
Bullfrogs (American and African)
Rough Skinned Newt
Fire Salamander
African Dwarf Frog Beginner, extremely easy and common, don't require much.
Amphiumas (1, 2, and 3 toed varieties)

Invertebrates:
Chilean Black Tarantula
Green Bottle Blue Tarantula
Cobalt Tarantula
Giant Desert Hairy Scorpion
Flat Rock Scorpion
Giant Desert Centipede (don't handle this one)
Tropical Millipedes
Huntsman Spiders (quick and nervous)

Advanced:These are a bit above intermediate

Reptiles:
Veiled Chameleon
Panther Chameleon
Jackson's Chameleon
Yemen Chameleon
Dwarf Chameleon
Green Iguana
Savannah Monitor (get really big and can deliver an extremely devastating bite) To be honest not many should be keeping these, if you want a nice monitor, get a tegu.. I'd put this as expert, although if you tame sav's down they become friendly/personable and you most likely won't ever get bit.
Green/Brown Basilisks (if they get away from you, you'll never see them again)
Chinese Water Dragon
Mountain Horned Dragon
Uromastyx of any kind
Burmese Python (get really really big)
African Rock Python (big and grumpy)
Dumerill's Boa (expensive, big, and can be picky)

Amphibians:
Waterdog
Poison Dart Frogs (fairly difficult to keep alive in captive environments)
Mantella Frogs
Cuban Treefrog

Inverts:
Tropical Giant Centipedes
Tarantulas of Aviculara
Cave Cockroaches

Expert: These are the ones you usually have to have a license to own, only found
in zoos or the private collections of professional Herpitologists or Entomologists. These are usually
highly dangerous and I do not recommend anyone without extensive training in their care to even consider them as pets.
Uh, you can have many of these animals without liscences. I know niles are in stores sometimes etc.
Reptiles:
Nile Monitor (highly aggressive) Do tame down, your giving it a bad rep saying they are all mean, get them young and get them used to handleing, and its not a big deal.
Komodo Dragon (strictly zoo material)
Vipers (got to have a liscence) No I'm pretty sure you don't have to have a liscence in every state, don't disagree with " expert ".
Elapids (Cobras, Sea Crates)
Venomous Lizards (Gila Monsters, Mexican Beaded Lizard) Lol, bites easily treatalbe I don't even consider them deadly, they are sluggish and beatiful, as long as you don't let yourself get bit your fine- advanced.
Venomous Colubrids (Copperheads, Coral Snakes) Copperhead is a viper btw..

Amphibians:
Goliath Frog (just really big and active)
Golden Dart Frog
Cane Toad

Inverts:
Funnel Web Spiders (particularly Atrax)
Brazilian Wandering Spider
Widow Spiders - Many Many people keep these as a first spider, interesting and its honestly not deadly, only very young or very hold have a high risk of death if untreated. Easy to keep and care for and if your healthy your most likely going to get some slight pain/numbness for a fw hours nothing more. - Intermediate or advanced.
Violin Spiders (brown recluse) Fast and they can cause decay, but if your careful during feeding your fine, if you get bit, just go to the hospital and you'll recover. Advanced
Scorpions of Buthidae
Peruvian Giant Centipede

Ok. Again if anyone has any to add PM me and I will add them. If there is anything wrong on the list, notify me and I will correct it.

Just my opinions. I've kept many spiders ranging from small jumping spiders, to large burrowing wolves, to black widdow mimicks, its not a big deal. Also, I think your a little too scarred of the big monitors/constrictors. Only time you really are in danger is with wild caught adults or very aggressive adults, which even then can tame down. don't be afraid of us venomous spiders... they wont hurt you that much lol.

 

[grahamsokel]

The theory of this list is good but unless you have experiance of reps it can be disasterous for someone looking at this list thinking of getting a reptile.
At 15 years old your heart is in the right place but you really do need to research before you do give advice like this

 

[FBTgirl]

Thankyou for the advise. But I would think Chameleons could be for kids. Just not money wise for smaller kids because at some IPS around me They sell them for $100.00. LOL To many pets for my house

 

[mommyof2bettas]

Thankyou for the advise. But I would think Chameleons could be for kids. Just not money wise for smaller kids because at some IPS around me They sell them for $100.00. LOL.To many pets for my house

I dunno, I would love to have a cham, but it sounds like they're kinda hard to keep for kids.
...
I don't know much about these animals except for the frogs... I'd put the dwarf frog in beginner, it is verrry easy to keep! I'd put a little warning beside the clawed frog though, they get kinda big, and will eat anything that moves and will fit into their mouths

 

[Synirr]

Chams are NOT for kids, PERIOD. I would never trust a cham in the hands of a child unless care was constantly supervised by an adult. I mean, these are animals that require a moving water feature (which needs to be cleaned every couple of days to avoid contamination) or a drip system to keep them hydrated because they won't drink from a dish! This among other dietary concerns... then there's the lighting, ventilation, etc. Sure, the cham probably isn't going to hurt the kid, but as much care as they require and as quickly as 99% of kids lose interest, that cham is as good as dead. I think they are definitely in the right place on the list.

The list is a good guideline, nice job. I agree with all t1tanrush's points as well. As always, one should thoroughly research any new pet before purchasing, but this should give folks some good ideas

FYI, you don't have to have a license for venomous in Texas... period. So there you go.

 

[grahamsokel]

Now in the UK all the cham people are dead set against moving water features in our cham vivs,they harbour bacteria and over here we just dont use them.
I spray mine morning and night and i have a dripper on that drips for around 4 hrs during the day and that works great for my lot.
Not sure what the Dietry concerns are though because i have never had a problem with any of my 11 chams diet wise.
lighting is no different to any other lizard that needs heat and UV
ventilation is very easy with all the vivs available for chams
I disagree with the 99% of kids loose interest aswell they maybe do over there but i know hundreds that started with reptiles when they where around the 12/13 age group like me and 90% of them still have them and they are now in their 40s
You would be suprised how many rescues i hear about where reptiles are being neglected by adults

 

[The_Dude]

Not only are these guidelines, but experience is also a factor. I've kept about half the animals on this list, especially large Monitors and constrictors, but when I moved I had to sell them all because of the size of my new home. I'm rebuilding my collection because my sister moved out, she had the big room, and now It's empty.