"They are sold in huge numbers here, but many new owners do not realise that they can grow into extremely large adults [1.52 metres], making them almost impossible to keep in Hong Kong," Blanshard says. "They also require temperatures up to 40 degrees Celsius, large arboreal set-ups, and have specific nutritional requirements."
Instead, his recommendations for a pet lizard are either a leopard gecko or a bearded dragon, both of which, he says, are great for families, and much easier to keep.
Bearded dragons grow to about 50cm from nose to tail tip and come in a variety of colours, usually in shades of yellow and orange. "They are very friendly and adapt well to handling. If kept well, they can easily live for eight to 10 years," Blanshard says.
Leopard geckos are smaller, usually measuring about 20cm. "There is a huge variety of colours. They can live for 15 to 20 years if well cared for, and are an easy species to start with," the vet says.
In terms of basic housing needs and diet, Blanshard says bearded dragons require a large tank, although it doesn't need to be too high. "A lot of people use a large aquarium tank, which works reasonably well but ventilation is not great. There are a few reptile specific tank brands available in Hong Kong that work well."