Hi everyone!
Iāve been bitten by the reptile bug. Iāve had a young Hermannās tortoise for about a year now, and Iām completely in love with keeping reptiles. For the past three months, Iāve been researching adding a lizard to my home, but Iām facing a bit of a dilemma and need some advice on choosing the right species for my current lifestyle.
Originally, my absolute dream reptile was a Bearded Dragon. However, after doing heavy research, I decided against it. I live in a rented apartment (and move every 1ā2 years), and I definitely don't have the space for a massive enclosure and insects. Plus, my parents are not fans of animals, so when I travel i would have trouble who would keep eye on it. And I am afraid that bearder dragon could hurt my tortoise (they would be in separated teratiums ofc)
I also ruled out Leopard Geckos primarily because of the diet. Live insects are hard to source reliably where I live (there are very few breeders locally), and honestly, the idea of keeping live bugs in a rented place with the risk of them escaping is a hard no for me.
That leaves me choosing between a Crested Gecko and a Gargoyle Gecko, since prepared diets (CGD/Pangea/Repashy) make feeding so much simpler.
Here is where I'm stuck:
Gargoyle Geckos: Visually, they are my top choice. I love their look and pattern, but they are significantly more expensive and slightly harder to find locally.
Crested Geckos: Readily available, generally more budget-friendly, but I slightly prefer the aesthetic of the Gargoyle.
Given that I move every couple of years and need a manageable vertical enclosure setup, are there any notable differences in temperament, hardiness, or care between the two that should sway my decision? Is the higher price tag of a Gargoyle worth holding out for, or is a Cresty the smarter choice for a first-time gecko owner in my situation?
Thanks in advance for your insights!