Reptile & Amphibian Forums

hey ive decided to get a green basilisk i have a 55 gallon tank that i would like to setup for them, i would like to house live plants in the tank, i would also like to know any tips on how i can tame them i already know i have to hold them everyday, how deep of water should i have for them im planning on getting juv.s or babies and am i best of to start with just one basilisk or get a partner for it because ive heard that you really shouldnt house them alone is this true, and any other info. would be appreciated? thanks

Hi,

before you start thinking about basilisks, you have to accept, that 55g is way too small. A minimum size for adult green basilisk is about tenfold this volume.
Please read my old caresheet:
my basilisk caresheet

i know its to small for an adult i plan on using it for the babys etc.

psttttttttttttttt it says in the Water Dragon,Basilisk and Anoles book written by the Barletts,that a Wd or a bassie can housed in a minimum 55g but a 100g is better.

Good luck!
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Tarentolas@hotmail.com
groups.msn.com/KevinsReptiles
Geckos
1.1.0 Gekko gecko
1.1.0 Eublepharis macularius(ghost and normal)
2.0.0 Hemitheconyx caudicinctus(normal and striped)
1.0.0 Tarentola mauritanica
1.0.0 Hemidactylus turcicus
Other Lizards
0.1.0 Basiliscus vittaus
1.0.0 Physignathus cocincinus
0.1.0 Anolis carolinensis
1.0.0 Chamaeleo calyptratus calyptratus
1.0.0 Iguana iguana
Boidaes
1.1.0 Python regius(Lenny and Elizabeth)
0.0.1 Boa constrictor imperator(Carl)
Turtle
0.1.0 Chrysemys picta

1.1.0 Elaphe guttata guttata soon!
1.1.0 Lampropeltis triangulum campbelli soon!

Dont believe what you read in books. A 55 gallon tank is way to small for an adult bassie or dragon, and a 100 gallon is also to small. Bassies love to run and jump and are very active, and keeping them in a small cage is cruel. Not to mention the problems they can have from running into the glass, not being able to climb, and breaking their tails from turning around and hitting the glass.
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Actually you should belive books,and not belive the Internet.Really the only reason I am on this forum is to give the correct info and knowledge I have learned in books.
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Tarentolas@hotmail.com
groups.msn.com/KevinsReptiles
Geckos
1.1.0 Gekko gecko
1.1.0 Eublepharis macularius(ghost and normal)
2.0.0 Hemitheconyx caudicinctus(normal and striped)
1.0.0 Tarentola mauritanica
1.0.0 Hemidactylus turcicus
Other Lizards
0.1.0 Basiliscus vittaus
1.0.0 Physignathus cocincinus
0.1.0 Anolis carolinensis
1.0.0 Chamaeleo calyptratus calyptratus
1.0.0 Iguana iguana
Boidaes
1.1.0 Python regius(Lenny and Elizabeth)
0.0.1 Boa constrictor imperator(Carl)
Turtle
0.1.0 Chrysemys picta

1.1.0 Elaphe guttata guttata soon!
1.1.0 Lampropeltis triangulum campbelli soon!

Than you should leave this forum.
Theres a lot of **** out ther ein the internet (including your last advice) as well as theres a lot of **** out ther ein the literature.
Simultaneously theres a lot of good advice present in the internet as well as in books.
The task is, to be able to select the good stuff.
I ´d suggest, you´d pratice that for a whle before you give any advice.
I do breed basilisks now in F4 and I guarantee you that 400g is the bare minimum.
Also there ARE books aout there which second that.
Last not least I am the author of a (germen) book on green basilisks myself.
And I repeat 55, 100 or 200 gallon are WAY too small!

Ci@o

Ingo

_____

Removed unacceptable language.

Edited on June 6, 2004 at 18:49:03 by phwyvern.

Actually you should belive books,and not belive the Internet.Really the only reason I am on this forum is to give the correct info and knowledge I have learned in books.

Here is my Cool Little Northern Brown Basilisk

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Tarentolas@hotmail.com
groups.msn.com/KevinsReptiles
Geckos
1.1.0 Gekko gecko
1.1.0 Eublepharis macularius(ghost and normal)
2.0.0 Hemitheconyx caudicinctus(normal and striped)
1.0.0 Tarentola mauritanica
1.0.0 Hemidactylus turcicus
Other Lizards
0.1.0 Basiliscus vittaus
1.0.0 Physignathus cocincinus
0.1.0 Anolis carolinensis
1.0.0 Chamaeleo calyptratus calyptratus
1.0.0 Iguana iguana
Boidaes
1.1.0 Python regius(Lenny and Elizabeth)
0.0.1 Boa constrictor imperator(Carl)
Turtle
0.1.0 Chrysemys picta

1.1.0 Elaphe guttata guttata soon!
1.1.0 Lampropeltis triangulum campbelli soon!

Have you ever owned an adult bassie? I have, and believe me, you couldn't keep her happy in a 55 gallon tank. Or ask Ingo, he has rasied hundreds of them, he recommends an even bigger cage size than I do.
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I would rather listen too the Barletts who have raised and bred multiple species of reptiles,Ingo has recomended super big cages for all the species he keeps
-----

Tarentolas@hotmail.com
groups.msn.com/KevinsReptiles
Geckos
1.1.0 Gekko gecko
1.1.0 Eublepharis macularius(ghost and normal)
2.0.0 Hemitheconyx caudicinctus(normal and striped)
1.0.0 Tarentola mauritanica
1.0.0 Hemidactylus turcicus
Other Lizards
0.1.0 Basiliscus vittaus
1.0.0 Physignathus cocincinus
0.1.0 Anolis carolinensis
1.0.0 Chamaeleo calyptratus calyptratus
1.0.0 Iguana iguana
Boidaes
1.1.0 Python regius(Lenny and Elizabeth)
0.0.1 Boa constrictor imperator(Carl)
Turtle
0.1.0 Chrysemys picta

1.1.0 Elaphe guttata guttata soon!
0.0.1 Lampropeltis triangulum campbelli soon!

YES, and I stick to that.
Look across the big pond and study herping in Europe. You will soon find out, that I am not alone with my opinion.
There are even laws in many european countries,which prescribe minimum sizes for lizard tanks, which do largely exceed those many of you use!
Do not forget, that you force animals which do have a certain territory in the wild to spend their whole live in a very restricted enclosure.
Occasional free roaming is not a substitute, since this in most caes is pure stress for the animals and they do by no means benefit from that.
So you have to rebuilt a natural habitat in a comparatively small enclosure.
You have to provide temp and light gradients as well as basking, sleeping, hunting etc areas.
That always needs space.
And to cramp an agile lizard which easily jumps a distance of 3 ft into a 100g tank IS torture. If you want it or not.
That gives munition to those guys who want to abolish herpetoculture as such!
Look at basilisk enclosures at zoos. Do they use 100g tanks?
And I hate to repeat this: My advice stems from 30 years of herping.
As too many others I had my period with small, too small tanks and believe me, I KNOW the difference in behaviour, health and longevity of lizards in those tanks and in enclosures of apt size.
And i DO have lizards with me which are older than 20 years and I DO produce hundreds of cb lizards which include but are not restricted to basiliks. I DO write papers and books on the subject which DO find acception.
And I HATE people who want to have beautiful animals but who are NOT willing to spend the bare essentials on their apt care.
Those people of course do not admit that-its alsways easier to argue that the animal in question just does not NEED space, special lights etc.

Last word

Ingo

BTW From your posts, Tarentola, its easily to conclude that you have very limited herpetological knowledge and experience.
I never mentioned that, but looking at the advices you are starting to spread, I think people should be warned!

Hello Everyone:
It's good to be back. I've been away too long. In answer to the cage size dilemma, many (most probably) Europeans believe in very large enclosures that mimic the habitat as close as possible. It is a common theme over across the pond. The same attention to detail is also extended to tropical fish as well. In this country we really are just now (the last 5-7 years anyway) beginning to appreciate the value of large enclosures for the critters in our care. Large , natural caging is both Aesthetically appealing and better for the animals as well. Why do you think there are so many first time breedings of difficult species in Europe.
I will also say that if one cannot provide large terraria for animals in their care they can at least set it up as natural as possible. Every piece of cage furniture creates another obstacle, hiding place and sight barrier. A well planted terrarium creates incredible amounts of new terrain for the occupants to explore thus creating a large amount of habitat and areas to explore in a relatively confined space. It also allows multiple specimens a chance to stay out of sight of each other.
Oh, and by the way, many of Dick and Patty Bartletts outdoor enclosures over the years were very large and well laid out.
I hope this helps. I hope all of you have a Great Day!!!

yeah 55 should be fine for a juvie( for a little while anyway) You should consider bulding a custom made screen cage asap. I'd stay away from glass aquariums because of small size and expense, for the cost a 55g you could build something WAY bigger.
All you need for tools are a drill, saw of some type(sawzall are the most versitle),tape measure, and a staple gun or similar fastening device.
stuff like t-sqares(or speed) and yardstick or chalk line are helpfull of course.
If you don't have good carpentry skills, it doesnt matter. Just find some premade plans on the internet, and borrow a relatives or friends tools.

sawzall = name brand of a reciporcating saw(millwaukee tools i think)