What Reptile is Smartest?

[Ethan D]

What do you guys think is a better pet? Bearded dragons, or tortoises.

i don't have a tort, but i do have 3 beardies, never been bit, maybe a little skittish as babies, but super chill as adults man, mine just hang on my shirt for as long as i let them lol, got amazing personalities too, probably the best lizard to begin with

 

[tortadise]

Im gonna say torts. I started with snakes lots of them when I was very young, moved to crocodillians, then monitors, then back to snakes, then to tortoises. I have always found the best peace and most enjoyable with the tortoises and made it a non-profit and will stick with it. Depends on what your personal likings are and which animal is right for you. Some people have all of them. My votes definitely tortoise.

 

[alben909]

1. Do beardies actually "like" being held?
2. Are they easy to tame?
3. Do they know their owner?
4. Do they interact with their owner with kindness?

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BTW, I will never stop loving torts. I was just wondering if a beardie was right for me

 

[tortadise]

Yes 1-4.

1 with a grain of salt however. they like to feel secure, so placing them on your should they have a sense of security just out right holding them they might get a little squirmy. They are very docile and a wonderful pet to have. Extremely easy going.

 

[ascott]

Beardies rock solid....They are awesome but I would not see any basis for comparison to a tortoise....two totally different creatures....each having their own endearing character.....

They are relatively handy to care for.
I have never even been concerned ever, never popped in my mind, about being bitten by them.
They do recognize humans, but not in the same way as torts appear to.
They do need a correct set up, just as a tort does.
Of course, they are a bit faster that a tort....

 

[Ethan D]

1. Do beardies actually "like" being held?
2. Are they easy to tame?
3. Do they know their owner?
4. Do they interact with their owner with kindness?

1. Yes i would actually rate them with tegus in the sense that they enjoy human interaction.

2. Yes, very easy, which is why it is the best beginner lizard, and not to mention there are hundreds of color morphs to choose from, most under 100$, and they get around 24" as an adult, most usually top out around 18" though. Some babies are skittish, which is to be expected with all animals, for instance, you are this huge "thing" trying to pick up this little 4" baby, and what they think is, they are going to get eaten, so their natural reaction is to run, and for the 6 years i have had beardies, i have never once been bit.

3. Yes, i believe mine do, my big male is called Spike, and every time i come into my room, he always looks at me and cocks his head, if i say his name he usually comes to the glass and i get him out, and give him a nice warm bath, dry him, and he hangs out on my shirt. sometimes i let him run around my house and he plays with my moms cat .

4. If by kindness you mean licking and rubbing, then no. They react to their owners with intrest and are generally always looking at you when you are in the room, the only problem i have ever had with beardies is water lol, and its not bad, but mine always play in their water and make a mess, but they are on repti-carpet so its not a big deal . I love them, and have breed them once, and the way they mate is interesting to say the least lol. Amazing animals man.

 

[Eweezyfosheezy]

For me it goes tortoise, beardie, iguana. For pet wise.

 

[alben909]

Ok ill have to try to talk my mom and dad into getting one!!!. Wish me luck

 

[Ethan D]

Ok ill have to try to talk my mom and dad into getting one!!!. Wish me luck

dude don't even sweat it, all you have to do is show them how easy they are to care for, and a few videos on youtube of adults, they will get sucked right in lol

 

[wellington]

I loved my bear die. The best lizard I ever had. I think it is a great lizard to start with. Never been bitten, either. Would put mine on a log in the window sill for some sunshine. He would stay there for hours. I went to a Uro after he died. They aren't as happy being held. Would go back to a beardie in a heart beat. If staying with reptiles I would pick the tort as first though, then the beardie.

 

[alben909]

Oh and two more question.
1. If I get an adult, will he be chill within a week or will he be skittish.
2. Also, If I take my beardie outside and he is on my shoulder, will he try to escape?

 

[Ethan D]

Oh and two more question.
1. If I get an adult, will he be chill within a week or will he be skittish.
2. Also, If I take my beardie outside and he is on my shoulder, will he try to escape?

1. Adults are by far easier to care for, and that is really a gamble, it depends if he has been worked with, but work with him anyway, not within a week if he hasn't been worked with, maybe a few months, it is cheaper to get a baby, and better to get one, just remember they are fragile as babies.

2. i have takes mine outside all the time, and he is still chill and just lays one me, but they do change to super dark colors in natural sunlight, which is really cool. Would i risk it with a baby, not at all, maybe a 2 year old, but make sure if you take him out, he is secure, or he will get nervous

 

[acrantophis]

I my vote for smartest reptile goes, hands down, to monitors. They are crafty, sly, ornery(sometimes), moody, chill, hyper, sweet, and they will look you in the eye! Few reptiles do that. Beardies do. In fact most of the agamids will. Iguanas do as well. Even smaller iguanas, like desert iguanas look you in the face. Snakes are very predictable and rarely surprise me with anything I would call "intelligent". Chelonians have an awareness of their surroundings that is unique to them. Even their fellow archosaurs, crocodilians, aren't as self aware. Chelonians will look out over their pen or pond and turn their heads back and forth. They slowly look around checking things out. Probably to see if it's edible. But sometimes it seems they are just taking it all in. Like humans do when we look out at a beach or a lake, or a vista of something like the grand canyon. They look so peaceful and serene. You couldn't teach it a trick but they seem to know what's going on. My Chloe will in investigate something like a shovel if I leave it in her enclosure. Not to eat it. Just check it out. Too deep?

 

[bigred]

Our buddy Ghamara, the CDT that is quick as lightning and can spin like a top and create his own dirt devil which he uses as a distraction and when the dust clears he has disappeared....

But then again, Humphry the CDT , he can run and then say Ali up --and do a summersault in mid air and land on the truck seat....now, that is fricken smart and sweet at the same time.....

hmmmmm? but then again the RESs they use to be the team leaders of their junior synchronized swim team---they can do a perfectly timed back stroke followed by a couple beautiful Water Wheels...then a powerful Boost out of the water finished by a full summersault and a lovely splash back into the water...absolutely unbelievable....

However, we can not forget about the Redfoot tort babies---they have mastered the hide the dandelion and cucumber salad----one will quickly walk out and look up at you and smile big then wink and all the while his partner is scarfing down the goods...bam...all gone in a wink of an eye...

So, I have to say---the posse here at the house, absolutely hands down, are the smartest reptiles round...

ASCOTT do you happen to have any pics of these things you talk of
Was it very late on a friday or saturday night

 

[cljohnson]

I don't know about smarter but my beardies certainly show more interest in me than my torts. When I walk into the room they follow my every move. I don't know that they enjoy my company but they will put up with me. Sitting on my chest for hours watching tv soaking up my heat.
Yes they do bite. Not from aggression but by mistake and it HURTS ALOT.
I was hand feeding Allira my big female and she got hold of my fingertip. It was all I could do to "calmly" distract her with a bug in my other hand until she let go. Actually blackened my nail for weeks. They have amazingly powerful jaws.

 

[Ethan D]

I don't know about smarter but my beardies certainly show more interest in me than my torts. When I walk into the room they follow my every move. I don't know that they enjoy my company but they will put up with me. Sitting on my chest for hours watching tv soaking up my heat.
Yes they do bite. Not from aggression but by mistake and it HURTS ALOT.
I was hand feeding Allira my big female and she got hold of my fingertip. It was all I could do to "calmly" distract her with a bug in my other hand until she let go. Actually blackened my nail for weeks. They have amazingly powerful jaws.

lol a beardie bite is nothing compared to a hungry red tailed boas feeding response lol

 

[ascott]

ASCOTT do you happen to have any pics of these things you talk of
Was it very late on a friday or saturday night

Oh heavens no, they would never let me take incriminating photos of their skills, they would never want to end up on a weird talk show...or worse....youtube freak show....

I can not recall if these events took place before or after a few margaritas....but regardless, the show is epic....lol...maybe I will invite your beautiful Mom over for a margarita or two and we can sit on the front porch waiting for the show...then she will tell you for herself....

By the way, the 2 baby redfoot torts did come from your place....so, who knows what other tricks they will display as they get older....lol...

 

[cljohnson]

lol a beardie bite is nothing compared to a hungry red tailed boas feeding response lol

Yah I've been bit by hundreds of snakes. You bleed instantly from those sharp little teeth. Pound for pound I was surprised by the power of her bite.

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Yah I've been bit by hundreds of snakes. You bleed instantly from those sharp little teeth. Pound for pound I was surprised by the power of her bite.

 

[bigred]

ASCOTT do you happen to have any pics of these things you talk of
Was it very late on a friday or saturday night

Oh heavens no, they would never let me take incriminating photos of their skills, they would never want to end up on a weird talk show...or worse....youtube freak show....

I can not recall if these events took place before or after a few margaritas....but regardless, the show is epic....lol...maybe I will invite your beautiful Mom over for a margarita or two and we can sit on the front porch waiting for the show...then she will tell you for herself....

By the way, the 2 baby redfoot torts did come from your place....so, who knows what other tricks they will display as they get older....lol...

Yep those redfoots might be bankrobbers and bring you bags of money home to the hide!!! My moms moves pretty slow so you might need to help her walk after all the festivities

 

[dmmj]

One eyed trouser snakes.
I guess it depends on how you judge intelligence. You place a slider for instance on a table top and they will jump right over the edge, is it because it is dumb or is it because in the wild that is how it escape into the water?