Green Basilisk Care Guide

LIFE SPAN

 8-10 years

AVERAGE ADULT SIZE

18-35 inches. Males are larger than females

CAGE TEMPS

Basking Temps – 105-1150 F

Day Temps – 80-860 F

Night Temps – Not to fall below 700 F  

HUMIDITY

60-75% humidity levels 

NORMAL BEHAVIOR & INTERACTION

Green Basilisks are generally flighty and shy lizards that prefer not to be handled. They are excellent swimmers and should be kept with plenty of access to water to do so. Never keep two adult males together, since they will invariably fight, pairs or females can be kept together successfully. 

FEEDING

Green Basilisks are omnivorous. Offering a wide variety of prey items such as gut loaded crickets, roaches, wax worms, superworms and vegetable matter such as leafy greens, berries and melons are essential for a complete diet. 

SUPPLEMENTS

Dust food with calcium supplement and vitamin supplements. As a rule, a growing juvenile’s food should be dusted more often than an adult’s.

WATER

A large bowl of clean fresh chlorine-free water must always be available. Providing water features for your Green Basilisk like a waterfall or small swimming reservoir will help simulate their natural environment.

ENCLOSURE

The Green Basilisk is an arboreal species, therefor require a vertical space opposed to a horizontal. A terrarium no smaller than 3x3x4’ tall is needed for 1-3 Adult Lizards.

SUBSTRATE

We recommend a loose coconut fiber, sphagnum moss or forest floor mulch substrate for your Green Basilisk.

BRANCHES & PLANTS 

Green Basilisks must be provided with plenty of climbing branches and vines. Provide enough branches to offer sleeping spots, basking spots and perches. Live plants can help increase the humidity in your lizard’s enclosure and offer cover for hiding.

UVB LIGHT

Green Basilisks MUST be exposed to UVB lighting 8-12 hours a day. This exposure is CRITICAL in allowing the animal to synthesize vitamin D3 and absorb calcium.

DAY/NIGHT CYCLES & HEATING

All reptiles must have distinct day and night periods in their enclosure. Green Basilisks need 8-12 hours of daytime and 8-12 hours of nighttime. 

HABITAT MAINTENANCE

Daily maintenance should consist of spot cleaning by removing soiled substrate, cleaning water bowl thoroughly and wiping glass clean. The entire tank should be cleaned thoroughly at least once every month.

RECOMMENDED SUPPLIES

• Terrarium at least 3x3x4 ft tall with secure mesh lid 
• Large dome and appropriately sized heat bulb
• Temperature / humidity gauge
• Coconut fiber or Mulch substrate 
• Fluorescent UVB Bulb and housing 
• Large water bowl or water feature – large enough to soak in 
• Dripper or fog system + Multiple vines and branches for climbing +
• Calcium and Vitamin supplements 
• Water Dechlorinate drops 
• Food dish 
• Spray bottle 
• Artificial or Live Plants (reptile safe)

Vet Approved

Our Care Guides are designed to assist in general knowledge and requirements for the care of your new family member. We strongly encourage further research and consultation with your veterinarian on the complete and proper care of any new pet.

For more information visit petsuppliesplus.com, cdc.gov/healthypets or contact your veterinarian.

Always wash your hands before and after handling your pet or cleaning its habitat, and remember that any pet can scratch, bite or transmit disease to humans.

For pregnant women, persons with compromised immune systems, or if you have children under the age of 5, we strongly recommend contacting your physician prior to purchasing or caring for a new pet.

Please see the Centers for Disease Control website at www.cdc.gov/healthypets for more information.