Reptile & Amphibian Forums

Hi Everyone,
First post here on the kingsnake forums.
My name is Austin, lifelong reptile lover and proud owner of a couple awesome reptiles and dart frogs.

Just picked up this little Arabian Toadhead Agama (Phrynocephalus arabicus) at a show a few weeks ago. This little lizard has a few extremely unique and bizarre behaviors so I thought I would get em on video.

He seems to be flourishing nicely and is feeding very well. There is almost zero information about keeping these guys and I have only been able to find minimal suggestions from distributors. I have been experimenting with different housing setups trying to find what works best for him.
Check this little guy out, any suggestions are appreciated!

He's adorable! Your set up is nice, but I do have a suggestion. He could bask better if you move that spot light over a rock. Have you ever kept bearded dragons or desert lizards before? Most desert and semi desert critters need to bask on surfaces that retain heat. I would set up a basking spot with a flat surface and possibly a cave under it. Make sure the surface temperature of that basking spot is at least 105 up to 110f.

Have you seen this care sheet?
http://www.anapsid.org/toadhead.html

Very cute lizard.

Thanks for the rock suggestion, moved a couple under the spotlight for him.
Have kept beardies and many other desert species for over 15 years, this little guy requires a bit more care and knowledge than most.

Yes, I have seen that link, that is about the only caresheet on them. Unfortunately its pretty generic and doesn't really say anything about the Arabian Toadheads specifically. They are extremely adapted for living in open sand/scrubland, and are very different from the beardies with the exception of living in the desert. After looking at many photos of their habitat as well as researching and a bit of experimentation, I can hopefully give him a comfortable and healthy life.

Anyone kept these little guys before?

Hi, I picked one of these guys up from the NARBC show last month in Anaheim. Fun lizard with a interesting personality. Not a lot of info on how to keep him but set him up with a desert feel and he seems to be doing great.

You are right there is virtually no information out there on this particular species. It is a real experiment in keeping this species.

I have had "Pugsley" going since August and he is fat and thriving.
Only this last few weeks has he started to spend more time relaxing than he has clawing against the glass. Its great to see him taming down more. I am not positive, but I get the impression that most of these Arabian Toad head Agamas are wild caught imports and that is why they take so long to mellow down.

I am dying to get Pugsley a mate, but no one wants to sell single females.

How do you have yours set up?
Here is a recent photo of my toadhead agama "Pugsley":

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