Reptile vs birds

[Abigal7]

I never owned a repitle but for those that own both which one do you think requires more space?

 

[Kiwibird]

It really depends on the species your interested in keeping. For example, my leopard gecko has a roughly 10 gallon enclosure and a jar to keep his crickets in, and my newt has a 5 gallon enclosure. Neither of my reptiles have toys or other accessories that need storage, since they don't have quite as in depth care needs as a bird does. Combined, their space needs definitely take up far less room than our BFA's cage, play tree, toy basket and emergency cage does. However, before she passed away, my bearded dragons 50 gallon enclosure took up far more room than say, a set up for a single parakeet would. Because her enclosure was so long and had to be on a stand, plus the need for bigger lights than my smaller reptiles and a 5 gallon emergency enclosure for her, her space took up about the same room as Kiwi's cage area does. In general, a set up for larger parrots will need a bit more room than a larger reptile (since parrots need so many accessories that have to be stored that reptiles do not), but a smaller parrot will take up less room than a larger reptile.

Do you know what kind of reptile your interested in vs what kind of parrot? If you had some idea, I could probably give you a more accurate idea of what size cage/enclosure each would need.

 

[melanie1985]

I have a leopard gecko that takes barely no space and I barely have to take care of him he kinda does his own thing....I feed him 3 crickets a day, change his water and I also clean his tank once a week that it,,,,he sleeps all day and hunts at night....

I also have a chameleon and he is more work, his tank always has to be humid and monitored , I feed him crickets and meal worms daily, I have a light system that goes on in the day time and off at night ..alot more work and as they get bigger then need lots of space...I started with a terrarium 28X10X10 inches and now he is full grown and I got a special cage made that is over 6 feet hight, with real plants, lots and lots or work....

I also had snakes that barely took space but again they need heat....

really depends what you want for a reptile!
hope this helps!

 

[Abigal7]

Thanks, for the answer. The way you put it makes sense. And thinking about it my green cheek conure does have alot of extra things extra toys and extra perches that I can switch around (for example). I do not know if I would ever get a reptile ( I have only had birds and never had a pet reptile ). But I have heard good things about bearded dragons. I am working on getting a hahns macaw. Of course my dream bird would be a macaw I was curious since reading about reptiles gave me the impression they needed a good amount of space

 

[Kiwibird]

Melanie brings up a good point about certain species of reptiles needing a lot of attention to keeping their environment at very precise climate conditions. This tends to be more with tropical species than desert species. I haven't ever messed with those species, though. They can also live much much longer than you would ever guess. My gecko, Leo, will be 19 years old in August. My parents got him for me as a "first pet" assuming he would no longer be with us by the time I was a teen. I am grown and married, and he's still perfectly healthy. He eats about 10 crickets and 5 waxworms once a week, though he seems to be blind now, so I have to give the crickets a thump on the head so he can catch them My dearly loved beardie, Tiffany, lived for about 13 years, but got a tumor on her spine and died :-( My fire bellied newt only had a life expectancy (according to the pet store) of 2-3 years, and is now 6 years old. He gets a cube of bloodworms 2x a week, and lives in the closet since they like the cool and dark. I absolutely love reptiles, and hope to have more in the future. Not as exciting of pets as parrots, but much less messy/noisy/bitey lol.

Edit- beardies are awesome! Since they aren't nocturnal reptiles, they are awake and active when you are, and can be hand tamed when they are juveniles so when they get bigger, they become amazing companions. Tiffany was my buddy for many years (I "adopted" her when she was about 8 years old and she lived another 7). She was enormous for a beardie, and loved curling around the back of my neck and just hanging out there. She was also harnessed trained, so she came with me almost everywhere in warm weather (hiking, walks, outdoor events ect...). She's been gone for almost 6 years, and I still dearly miss her. She was just such a sweet spirited, beautiful animal. I love Leo and Mr. Newt too, but neither are terribly exciting pets like Tiff was. Mr. newt can't be handled, but Leo likes sitting in your warm hands on occasion (he is nocturnal though, so he's sleeps pretty much all day).

 

[Abigal7]

It is interesting how reptiles live as long or even longer then parrots. If I got a reptile I know I would not get anything like a burmese python, monitor lizards or iguanas. However, I always heard how great bearded dragons are. I know a coworker who said their son had a iguana who was mean when hormonal. Her son was able to get rid of it and got a bearded dragon. She said the bearded dragon has not been mean and the lizard has currently been with him for three years. I also noticed alot of captive bred reptiles are pretty colorful.

 

[MarciaLove]

Bearded Dragons are greta they are very sweet and love to be petted I had two a long time ago but they get BIG 2 feet long and need a large enclosure they arent really climbers so its mainly floor space but they do like a little bit of height. It really depends on species I have two Iguanas right now and they EACH require a 6'x8'x10' size cage with a pond in the middle and lots of vines/branches and they are total brats!!! One lets me pet him but doesn't like to be held and the other is very aggressive they are probably the most aggressive lizard. If you get a Bearded Dragon they need a couple branches to climb on and a rock shelter to hide under water dish (no pond required as they are desert species) and of course lots of crickets, mealworms, and some fresh veggies also they are omnivores. I really LOVE Monitors they are my favorite lizard cause they are the friendliest I used to have a Savannah Monitor and he loved to climb on your lap and be scratched and would follow me around the house only downfall of monitors is they need lots of space do some research on different kinds of lizards and I am sure you will find the right fit for you!

 

[Abigal7]

Bearded Dragons are greta they are very sweet and love to be petted I had two a long time ago but they get BIG 2 feet long and need a large enclosure they arent really climbers so its mainly floor space but they do like a little bit of height. It really depends on species I have two Iguanas right now and they EACH require a 6'x8'x10' size cage with a pond in the middle and lots of vines/branches and they are total brats!!! One lets me pet him but doesn't like to be held and the other is very aggressive they are probably the most aggressive lizard. If you get a Bearded Dragon they need a couple branches to climb on and a rock shelter to hide under water dish (no pond required as they are desert species) and of course lots of crickets, mealworms, and some fresh veggies also they are omnivores. I really LOVE Monitors they are my favorite lizard cause they are the friendliest I used to have a Savannah Monitor and he loved to climb on your lap and be scratched and would follow me around the house only downfall of monitors is they need lots of space do some research on different kinds of lizards and I am sure you will find the right fit for you!

Interesting to hear monitors can be friendly. I have been reading and seeing pictures of the bite damage they can do. I hate to see how much space they would need since they get real big. If a bearded dragon as a adult lives in a 40 to 50 gallon takan what measurements would that be when compared to a bird cage?

 

[Featheredsamurai]

I agree that it depends on the species. Nocturnal species like many types of snakes, leopard geckos, and crested geckos do not require special lighting. Crested geckos often can go without a heat source unless you live in a cold climate.

Nocturnal snakes, such as ball pythons and corn snakes, can easily be kept in racks.

This example isn't too good, the good racks won't have open sides or backs. And it's better when the tubs go further back. You just need a reptile thermostat, some good bedding, hides, and water dishes and your ready to go.

This is a better example. Shipped to your door free, already fully assembled and with heating. All you need is a reptile thermostat to control the heat. Without one your pets can over heat. This is a great way to safe space, a terrarium is more for decoration and for us to look at, a big rack can be decorated as well.

 

[MarciaLove]

hmm Im not sure about the gallon to bird cage size.

 

[cthulhus_minion]

Depends on what you keep, my boa will require a huge cage, but my CAG will require a huge cage as well when I get one. I'd say they are about the same depending on the animal

 

[Sasha2]

I had a friend who got a bearded dragon and that thing grew huge, I mean iguana size minus the tail. So fitting in a 40 gal might work for some bearded dragons but hers wouldnt have been able to hardly move in one.Maybe thats the exception though.
Oh and it stunk like nasty when it pooped.UGH!! She fed it veggies and insects and stuff.

I have ball pythons and several species of gecko.I have to say I love leopard geckos the best.I just love those cute little faces.I also have a Savannah monitor and she is a major handful.Poor thing came to me missing almost all her toes and part of her tail and had burns on her back.She has neurological damage from being kept in super high heat.
Ball pythons are nice but rather a boring pet, really a pet rock in most cases but very low maintance.Of all the snakes Ive kept over the years my favorites were Gopher snakes. super active and rather intelligent too.
I disagree with keeping cornsnakes in racks.They are smart and duirnal, very active and keeping them in racks is cruel, simply put. Ball pythons and maybe a few other shy and reclusive species only.
Racks are for collectors who want numbers on their Signatures or for breeders.

 

[KatherineI]

I have 3 reptiles, all different species. I have 3 birds, also all different species. The "amount of space" is very different. Birds require cages, which takes up floor space. If you put a reptile in a terrarium or reptile aquarium, they take up surface space. My daughters Russian Tortoise is in a 40 gallon reptile tank. It takes up almost as much floor space, length-wise, as her twin bed. Finding surfaces, unless you also buy an actual stand for one, can be a challenge. Our corn snake needs a larger tank, but we're still unsure of exactly how we're going to pull that off due to lack of surface space that can hold it, and a lack of floor space to put something with it's own stand. Not to mention that you need multiple lights, and something is always on with a reptile, so you are usually unable to place anything above them.

I also agree that racks are not meant for the pet reptile. Those are meant for breeding purposes. My best friends husband is a reptile breeder and he only uses racks for incubating eggs. Even his breeders are in tanks.

 

[Greenwing]

I keep Sulcata Tortoises... Tina 139lbs , Tiny 146lbs and Tony 87lbs.. All are teenagers.. I have well over an acre of land and I could use more as they eat everything growing.... At night they sleep in a heated 10x10 Shed.

So my birds don't take up or need nearly as much room as my reptiles..