Uros vs Beardies

Question
QUESTION: I'm looking to get a new pet and can't decide between a Uro, a Bearded Dragon, and a Blue tounged skink. Can you give me the pros and cons of each species?
Thanks
Omar

ANSWER: Hi Omar,

Pros and Cons are more of an opinion of the good and bad then facts. Like I can say that the Uromastyx eating only veggies is a positive thing. But some other people may see this as a negative. But I will lest them this way in my opinion and you can decifer which ones are negative and positive for yourself.


They all require about the same size enclosure so that wont be listed

UROMASTYX:
Pro---
1) Vegetarian diet
2) Somewhat tolerates handling
3)

Con---
1) Requires a lot of heat (can be difficutl to maintain)
2) Not common can be difficult to get one
3) Lizard can be expensive itself (not counting habitat and food)


BEARDED DRAGON:
Pro---
1) Tolerates being handled and friendly
2) one of the hardiest lizards
3) Common and easy to find
4) good beginner for somebody who has never kept a lizard
5) Omniverous (eats veggies and insects/worms)
6) Fairly inexpensive (comparing)

Con--
1) Also requires a lot of heat
2) Babies require A LOT of food
3)


BLUE TONGUE SKINK:
Pro---
1) Docile and tolerate being handled
2) Also common and easy to find
3) Also fairly inexpensive
4)

Con---
1) Can burry themselves for long periods of time (not being able to see them often)
2)


To be honest I have never really compared lizards this way with Pros and Cons so I couldnt go over everything and not sure what you are looking for but I do know that the Bearded Dragon makes a great pet and is probably one of the easiest, and hardiest lizards. They make great pets.

Best of luck
Yexalen

---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------

QUESTION: First of all thanks for your help. I have decided against a bearded dragon for the sole reason of I hate keeping hundreds of crickets in my house. But I'm going to a reptile show in June and i'll see whats there. If there is a BTS there i'll get it, if not then who knows what i'll get. In my area uros are pretty cheap, around $85 for a CB specimen. What should I expect to pay at a reptile show for a BTS? And do they require UVB lighting?
Thanks Again
Omar

Answer
Hello Omar, crickets can be a downside of keeping reptiles the Blue Tongue Skink also eats crickets about the same amount as an adult Bearded Dragon however baby Bearded Dragons can eat up to 50 in a day. So I  understand your reasoning.
Uromastyx however do not eat any insects or worms and are strictly herbiverous.

That is a very good price for the Uromastyx around here your lucky to pay under $150. Because Blue Tongue Skinks are so common their price is usually cheap. Every reptile show and seller is different though. I have seen prices range anywhere from $90-$250. Depending of course on the age, gender, and health. Those are local prices of what I have found on the west coast United States. Elsewhere could be different. Reptile Expos are usually better on prices then pet stores.

Yes the BTS, the Uro, and the Bearded Dragon require 12 hours of UVB lighting a day, every day.