Reptile & Amphibian Forums

I haven't posted pics on this forum in a long time, if anyone remembers, I usually post about AWD as I've been working with them for several years.

But this past year I also decided to work with green bassies. These guys are still shy and hide alot in the plants. The cage Is 4 feet long, 30 inches high, 30 inches wide. The waterfall is 24 inches long and moves 350GPH, there is are also two submersibe filters in the 20 gallon water area. There is a hole in the floor where the water basin has a drain that is plumbed right into my sump pump. Water changes are easy, turn a lever and watch it drain, clean it, fill it.

So far the plants a doing well, I always use live plantswith my reptiles. For the bassies they are great, I haven't seen or heard one single nose rub/bump. I hope you enjoy. ( I know its time for a new camera)
Paul kemes

sorry, that clearly is not a cage!

Hi,
that tank is OK for raising Babie for a few months. Once they have reached a TL of a foot or so, they have to move into asth bigger.
I guess you are aware that even for such babies, its height is a strong compromise.
But for a few months its still acceptable.
If you want to obtrain nicely green and not turqouise adult basilisks, you have to significantly upgrade lights in the tank.
In comparison to nature that tank is extremely dimly lit. I would recommend to add two 70 W metall halide of the HCI or CDM-T type.
Metal halide are a must for any kind of heliophile lizards and the best way to allow basilisks to reach the same brilliant green as their wild collegues.
You will see the difference in illumination and basilisk behaviour immediately and the babies will grow into nicely green basilisks.

Best regards

Ingo

There is more lighting present than may be seen in the pictures. Although your right and there is no metal halide light available, I don't find it necessary as I've raised many lizards of similar husbandry requirments under these same conditions.

As far as a bigger cage, check this is their home when they get big enough. 10 feet long, 6 feet wide, 6.5 feet tall. Think it'll do?
Paul

Of course that´ll do

I stressed themetal halides, because to my experience using these is the only way to make plumiforns reach about the same colours as their wild counterpaerts do.
Also only with these you can provide basking spot light intensities ranging from 10000 to 100000 lux and thus being pretty close to nature.
Giving the influence light intensitry has on physiology of many animals and knowing about natural behaviour of heliophile lizard species, I think we are obliges to use them
Also you do see a differenc einm behaviour and colour for many species -its about the same differenc eyou see if you live in a nice climate and move your herps to an outside cage.

Best regards

Ingo

So Paul, you got rid of your AWDs?

wow, i must say you really seem to take a lot of care with your retiles. I am currently looking into water dragons and I know that they require LARGE habitats but I guess it did not dawn on me just how large until now.
But, rest assured I am more then willing to provide whatever they need. Thank you for sharing your pictures
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Tammy, Doug, Skylar, Andrew, Aaron, Lessley
2 cats (azul & chester)
2 parakeets
2 hampsters (oreo and Ritz)
3 RES (Big mama, Quazimoto, Rustus)
Crab, newt, and numerous fish
1 Mini Shnauzer (Nacho)