Butterfly agama

[alex_33]

hello everyone

i saw one of these beautiful reptiles at my local pet store and was thinking of purchasing it. But i am having a hard time finding info on them. So i was wondering if anyone kept these lizards and could tell me some important things to know about them (besides the facts that they need heat and water and crickets)

Also i was wondering if aspen shaving would be a suitable substrate?

Thanks in advance

Alex

[Tim and Julie B]

Hey there, I have some great info for you, hopefully all you'll need to know. I also love these beautiful, not too common lizards. Okay, they prefer an arid set-up with plenty of open space to move. This is very important to keep them healthy. They do like to burrow so provide a deep layer of substrate and to better accomodate their need to dig add some small pieces of pvc buried half-way into the substrate.. The overall temperature should be in the mid 80's with a basking area that is around 95 degrees, and lower the temperature at night by 10-15 degrees. Be sure that they always have access to fresh, clean water. Their diet should consist of 90% crickets dusted once a week with a good multivitamin, a few newly molted mealworms, and very occasionally waxworms. Some will take plant matter such as sweet ripe fruits and tender greens and be sure that if these items are not consumed daily to discard leftovers, but continue to offer them at least twice a week. These reptiles are monogamous and so they are best suited to one mate for life not several. Good luck with your new pet. Julie. And please do not use aspen. While it may be okay for other reptiles there is no need to use it with Leiolepis lizards, a simple mixture of peat and sand will suffice. They are not messy and it will be very easy to maintain a natural substrate. Again, good luck!:)

[alex_33]

Wow, thanks for all the great help!

[Tim and Julie B]

Hey, whatever I can do to help, anytime. Let me know how it goes with him.

[alex_33]

I went to the pet store that was selling the butterfly agama a few days ago to put it on hold for a few days and thay had already sold him :( oh well, i know a guy that cna order me one in a few months :D

[Tim and Julie B]

That's too bad! I'm glad that you can get one anyway. Good luck and let me know when you do get one.