Reptile enthusiasts or breeders?

Get a hermit crab. They are kind of shy but once they come out of their "shell" they become more interesting. Always keep a variety of larger shells whenever these critters grow big enough for the change.

Do you mean like this one?

http://houston.craigslist.org/for/5755335961.html Originally Posted by Mr Willy

Yes, he sounds awesome! I wish the owner was selling just him. I love to create my owe set-ups, plus his choice of wood doesn't match anything at my house, as well as that tank would never fit in my car. I think I will email the guy though and see if he'll consider selling just the lizard.

I have had a lizard before so I am very comfortable handling and caring for them.

Get a hermit crab. They are kind of shy but once they come out of their "shell" they become more interesting. Always keep a variety of larger shells whenever these critters grow big enough for the change. Originally Posted by WolfWhistle

A hermit crab is not a pet, like a fish is not a pet. I also can't handle seeing those little fuckers outside of their shell. One of the few things in life that genuinely freak me out.

I'd say: don't get a chameleon; they require a semi-tropical or tropical environment with lots of rainfall; kinda hard to maintain.
Iguanas are fun, but they can get huge - up to 6ft long! . . . and, those tails hurt when ya get slapped by them; even with the smaller ones.

For a child, I'd recommend a bearded dragon. They are laid back with cute little quirks, and they tolerate being handled very well.

But, I don't know any breeders 'round here . . . Originally Posted by Lilli Reznor

Thank you. The type I had before was a mountain horned dragon. He was awesome, but after my son was born my SO and I took a road trip across the country and left him with a friend of mine with a son and when we returned home a few months later her little boy was so attached to him and I was really impressed with how well he took care of him so I just let him keep him.

Adopt a George Bush. What else is David Icke right about. HAHA!

A hermit crab is not a pet, like a fish is not a pet. I also can't handle seeing those little fuckers outside of their shell. One of the few things in life that genuinely freak me out. Originally Posted by Brooke Wilde

They are pets. But a different kind of pet. Hermit crabs have distinct personalities. They come out of their shell only to change shells so it's not as if you are going to see that everyday. In fact, it's cool to see that happen in person. It's like giving a gift to a pet and it accepting the gift with all the thanks in the world because it treats the shell like a brand new tux. Kids will like hermit crabs better than the lizards because they are low maintenance.

Kids will like hermit crabs better than the lizards because they are low maintenance. Originally Posted by WolfWhistle

LOL ... He's a toddler, he can't take care of anything yet. And I actually don't mind the maintenance, I am a nurturing person so anything that's "mine" pretty much has it made, lol.

I did like your outlook on their shell change though, very touching and as for their distinct personalities, you must mean like sometimes they eat and sometimes they don't. I've never seen hermit crabs play. Or do anything remotely interesting. Ever.

They are pets. But a different kind of pet. Hermit crabs have distinct personalities. They come out of their shell only to change shells so it's not as if you are going to see that everyday. In fact, it's cool to see that happen in person. It's like giving a gift to a pet and it accepting the gift with all the thanks in the world because it treats the shell like a brand new tux. Kids will like hermit crabs better than the lizards because they are low maintenance. Originally Posted by WolfWhistle

You've got me seriously considering some for the munchkins. Thanks!

Hermit crabs are sneaky little shits. They will not hesitate to escape. They also have distinct personalities.

Which sounds awesome lol!

They also feed on taint

LOL ... He's a toddler, he can't take care of anything yet. And I actually don't mind the maintenance, I am a nurturing person so anything that's "mine" pretty much has it made, lol.

I did like your outlook on their shell change though, very touching and as for their distinct personalities, you must mean like sometimes they eat and sometimes they don't. I've never seen hermit crabs play. Or do anything remotely interesting. Ever. Originally Posted by Brooke Wilde

The point is that most kids don't like to take care of things because in their minds they have other things to do. Having a low maintenance pet will make it easier on you when the kid reneges on his promise to take care of his pet.

Some crabs are gregarious and like to check out their environment. Some don't hide in their shells if you pick them up. Some crawl all over your with ease. Other crabs are shy but are still curious; it just takes more time to open them up. A few other crabs like to fight with other crabs. However, hermit crabs generally like to be around their own kind and thrive better in such an environment. Hermit crabs like to play in their natural environment; put toys and off-beat shelters that enable climbing in their aquarium. You can sometimes hide their food and see how they go about scouring the aquarium in search of their next dinner. You can have a pair or more compete with one another in a race to the finish in some kind of creative obstacle course. Hermit crabs can get curious enough that sometimes they put themselves in awkward positions that are comedic.

Do you mean like this one?

http://houston.craigslist.org/for/5755335961.html Originally Posted by Mr Willy

Yes, and they are super cool to watch feed...

Brooke, I wish I would have known, I practically gave away a pinstripe morph ball python and terrarium a month or so ago

don't get turtles