Reptile & Amphibian Forums

Currently I have two juvenile femals basilisks in a 55 gal and a juvenile male in a 40 gal....I need a bigger cage I know....but once I put them all together what should be the minimum for 3 adults??? (for when all three get bigger)

Someone told me a 400 gal minimum but that sounds a bit overboard...I want to give them a good home but I don't want to give them a whole room either...any suggestions? I can get a 150 gal tank or even 200 if that would do....if worse comes to worse I'll build something big.....any suggestions would be great.

No,
please beleive me. 400g is everything but outragoues but the bare minimum. I do not know which books you have, but they are clearly outdated. If I go to current literature (I do have mainly geran stuff). most recommend >400g. Maybe I convince you if I direct you to the probably most reputated herpetologist in the iguanide field: Gunther Koehler. Read his book on basiliks (to which I did vcontribute a bit ) or email him personally.

Also think twice: These are extremely agile jumpers and runners with a SVL of up to 10 " and a total length of up to 3 ft.
To live in a cage of 400g already is a severe restriction for these animals.
Maybe you should look into the old forums for my caresheet on basilisks (see link)
I do breed these beauties now in F5 and I really can´t understand how one may think, a 100g tank is OK for an adult.
Also 200 g are still way too small.

If you want big agile lizards, you need giant tanks. Theres no way out. There are many lizards vailable which do well in a 100 or 200g. But NOT basilisks. Why don´t you go for a species which CAN be housed in your tank?
Thats much more satisfying for you AND the lizards.

Ci@o

Ingo
My caresheet

in the post below about catfood he said he has had them for 3 years.. as i added to the bottom of your beardie post (cv768)i will also add it here ..

.... i think ingo is right.. i wouldn't go any smaller than 250 for the two females... NOTHING.. smaller than that.. and a trio should be in a 400 gallon tank.. that isn't that big 60x36x48 is 448 gallons.. and that isn't a whole room.. basilisks get big and are very active... i also agree that the books are very outdated...i have dealt with basilisks before .. but have never had the pleasure of them living in my own home.. i know some about them .. and enough to know that ingo is right

alissa

The basilisks that I have on a diet of dog food, crickets and vegetables I have had for three years in a custom built enclosure...it takes up almost a whole room.
The other juveniles are in the smaller tanks and I didn't want to give them a room too.
But as it seems I might have to go that way...I only ask because I get different answers from all different people.

Thanks for the info though...

One 30 inch WD in a 5' x 5' x 2.5'D. Need I say more.