#1 - Leopard Gecko

The leopard gecko, Eublepharis macularius, is probably the most popular pet reptile in captivity today. These small lizards are available in a variety of pleasing colors and patterns. Their care requirements are very simple and they are generally docile and easily tamed.

Because they are nocturnal, they have no special lighting requirements which are common for other lizards. Babies must be fed daily but adults can be fed every other day and left alone for a few days at a time without issue. These hardy, long-lived little lizards make an ideal first reptilian pet.

#2 - Red Ackie

Varanus acanthuras, or the "ackie" as it is more commonly called, is also known as the ridge-tailed lizard and spiny-tailed lizard. This small monitor is a true dwarf and is an ideal captive with very straightforward care requirements. If you are looking for a pet monitor this lizard is for you!

Beautifully colored and with the look of little dragons, these active lizards are fun to watch and care for. Ackies can be held on a daily basis and usually tame very well. Ackies can be fed every other day and will accept a variety of foods including crickets and pinky mice

#3 - Bearded Dragon

Bearded dragons, or "beardies" as they are affectionately known, are a great first pet lizard. Their docile demeanor, relatively small size, and straightforward care requirements have earned them a high rank on our best pet list.

Bearded dragons are active during the day and make great display animals. Their trusting, laid back nature allows for easy handling and a great introduction to reptiles even for those who are hesitant or afraid of snakes and lizards.

#4 - Crested Gecko

The crested gecko, Rhacodactylus ciliatus, is quickly gaining popularity in the pet trade, for good reason. So called "cresties" have some of the most simple care requirements of any lizards. They need no special heating or lighting; in fact, temperatures above 80 degrees F will stress them. They can be fed simple, packaged, fruit-based powders mixed with water; meaning no insects or difficult diets to worry about!

Crested geckos come in a variety of colors and patterns, from stripes to spots to everything in between. They are handleable and can be easily tamed but are small and more delicate than the larger lizards. They are prone to the accidental loss of their tails which will not harm them but will not regrow.

#5 - Argentine Black and White Tegu

The Argentine black and white tegu, Tupinambis merianae, is the largest lizard on our best pet list. It is important to note that adult tegus require more space than the average owner is willing to provide, but if that isn't an issue for you then a tegu might be a great choice as a pet lizard.

Tegus are one of the smartest reptiles, able to learn simple tricks and to respond to the sound of their names. Typically calm, tegus properly socialized from a young age can learn to walk on a harness and be handled with great frequency.

It should be noted that there are multiple tegu species; Columbian tegus are NOT recommended as a good pet lizard. These black and white cousins are often aggressive and difficult to care for.

Iguana

Green iguanas are one of the most common and inexpensive reptiles available on the market today, which is a shame. These beautiful lizards are intelligent and sociable but they get BIG. 5-6 feet of razor sharp spikes, talons, and teeth big. Even tame iguanas can cause nasty cuts and slashes by accident and should only be handled by adults.

Iguanas require caging half the size of a standard bedroom and specialized heating/lighting. The cute, small babies grow fast and planning to "upgrade someday" does not work for them. Because of the huge requirement for time and space that iguanas require, they are at the top of our "bad pet" choices.

Savannah Monitor

The savannah monitor, Varanus exanthematicus, is available readily and inexpensively, with many babies $25 or less. This is truly unfortunate because they grow into large, powerful lizards capable of inflicting a nasty bite and even breaking bones with a tail whip and the low cost creates a lot of uninformed impulse buys and abandoned adult lizards. They are one of the better pet monitors but are not for the beginning keeper.

Savannah monitors require huge cage spaces and experienced handling. The eat a lot and have to be cleaned up after daily, not a pleasant task. They are intelligent escape artists and can cause immense amounts of property damage. Keeping a large monitor is a huge commitment of time and resources and should not be taken lightly.

Green Anole

The green anole is extremely common and very inexpensive to purchase. This price is misleading, however; they have care requirements including expensive lighting and controlled environments that can cost dozens of times the initial purchase price of the lizard itself.

Though pretty, anoles are easily stressed and should not be handled on a regular basis. They are carnivorous and need daily insect feedings as juveniles and every other day as adults. They can be easily kept with a proper setup, but because of their flighty nature and specific care requirements please think twice before picking one up as a "cheap pet".

Chameleon

Chameleons can do well in captivity but their very specific, generally unforgiving, care requirements place them on our list of lizards best kept for more advanced handlers. Chameleons available in pet stores are often wild caught and difficult to care for, carrying a variety of parasites and diseases. Captive bred animals are a must.

Though chameleons are beautiful, they are best not being handled unless it is an absolutely necessary as they are easily stressed or hurt. They need very high humidity and a specially set up terrarium with natural or fake plants and ideally with an automatic misting system. Chameleons can make wonderful, fascinating pets but they require much more research, commitment and care than many other lizard species.

Other Monitors

There are a variety of commonly available monitor species including nile monitors, asian water monitors, green tree monitors, and others. Almost all of these make poor captives, getting to overly large sizes or being very delicate in their environmental needs.

If you are interested in a pet monitor, please do thorough research on your species of interest. Monitors are intelligent, long lived lizards and that inexpensive baby may cause thousands of dollars to house properly. Large monitors also eat large prey and produce large feces. Many are at least as time consuming to properly care for as a dog. Wild-caught imports are most common in pet stores and often carry parasites that can be expensive to treat. Don't be swayed by cheap price tags and small, cute babies!