Butterfly Agama Care Sheet
Lizard
12 - 15 inches long
8 - 12 years
Omnivore
Diet & Nutrition
Butterfly Agamas are omnivores, although they primarily eat insects. Offer a variety of live insects including crickets, mealworms, waxworms, superworms, and cockroaches. Vegetation includes turnip greens, collard greens, mustard greens, flower blossoms, and some fruits in small amounts.
Adult and baby Butterfly Agamas should eat daily. Dust food with calcium powder daily & a multivitamin once a week. Feed them the amount they will eat in 10 minutes.
Housing & Habitat
Butterfly Agamas are from Southeast Asia in open dry warm environments. An arid habitat with plenty of basking surfaces and hiding places should be provided. Butterfly Agamas are semi arboreal and do appreciate some climbing surfaces. Butterfly Agamas may be kept alone or in pairs. If housed together Butterfly Agamas should be of similar size to avoid injury. Never house two males together in the same tank. Two females generally get along well. A male and female will likely breed if housed together.
Enclosure Size
An adult must have a minimum cage size of 30" Long x 12" Deep x 12" High.
A larger cage size of 36" Long x 18" Deep x 16" High is recommended to prevent stunted growth and allows ample room to explore and accommodate their active lifestyle.
Substrate
Acceptable substrates include ground walnut shell, sand, or cage carpet. The concern with loose substrate is the possibility of impaction. If the
Butterfly Agama consumes large amounts of the substrate, it could cause intestinal blockage. Cage carpet is the safest option; however, it is difficult to clean easily. Ground walnut is the preferred substrate of The Tye-Dyed Iguana.
Temperature & Lighting
Temperature
A Butterfly Agama's basking spot should be 95°F. The cool end of the tank can be as cool as 70°F.
Lighting
Since this is a diurnal species, it requires two light bulbs. One is the heat lamp which also emits UVA. The second is a UVB lamp. The UVB lamp will specifically say UVB on the box. If the box doesn't say UVB, it's not UVB.
Plant and Fish bulbs are not UVB bulbs.
Humidity & Watering
Humidity
Supplemental spraying is generally not necessary unless conditions are very dry. Humidity levels should be between 30% - 50%.
Watering
Always provide a bowl of fresh drinking water. Size the bowl appropriately to the animal. Butterfly Agamas benefit from weekly soaking in lukewarm dechlorinated water for approximately 20 minutes.
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Frequently Asked Questions
What do Butterfly Agamas eat?
Butterfly Agamas are omnivores, although they primarily eat insects. Offer a variety of live insects including crickets, mealworms, waxworms, superworms, and cockroaches. Vegetation includes turnip greens, collard greens, mustard greens, flower blossoms, and some fruits in small amounts. Never Feed Lettuce! It contains no nutrition, only water and cellulose. Adult and baby Butterfly Agamas should eat daily. Dust food with calcium powder daily & a multivitamin once a week. Feed them the amount...
What size enclosure does a Butterfly Agama need?
Butterfly Agamas are from Southeast Asia in open dry warm environments. An arid habitat with plenty of basking surfaces and hiding places should be provided. Butterfly Agamas are semi arboreal and do appreciate some climbing surfaces. Butterfly Agamas may be kept alone or in pairs. If housed together Butterfly Agamas should be of similar size to avoid injury. Never house two males together in the same tank. Two females generally get along well. A male and female will likely breed if housed to...
What temperature and lighting does a Butterfly Agama need?
A Butterfly Agama's basking spot should be 95°F. The cool end of the tank can be as cool as 70°F. Since this is a diurnal species, it requires two light bulbs. One is the heat lamp which also emits UVA. The second is a UVB lamp. The UVB lamp will specifically say UVB on the box. If the box doesn't say UVB, it's not UVB. Plant and Fish bulbs are not UVB bulbs. Humidity: Supplemental spraying is generally not necessary unless conditions are very dry. Humidity levels should be between 30% - 50%.