Things You'll Need
- 55 gallon aquarium
- Aquarium lid
- Climbing decorations
- Cage substrate
- Aquarium liners
- Water dish
- Misting spray bottle
- Vitamin and mineral supplement
- Thermometer
- Heat lamp
- Full spectrum lamp
Instructions
Provide your new pet with an appropriately sized living space. A pair of adults should have a 55 gallon aquarium. Also provide a secure top for your tank.
Add an easily cleaned substrate to the tank. Reptile sand is a good choice because it can be scooped easily to remove your basilisks' droppings. The bedding should be cleaned on a daily basis and fully replaced once a month.
Create a thermal gradient inside the tank for your lizard by heating one end of the tank to about 95 degrees Fahrenheit and the other end to only 80 degrees Fahrenheit.
Fill the cage with large climbing branches and areas to hang out off of the ground since the basilisk is arboreal.
Mist the cage on a daily basis with a spray bottle to maintain humidity levels around 60 percent.
Light the cage with a full spectrum lamp because this is necessary for the basilisk to synthesize vitamins properly.
Place a large water dish that allows the lizard to fully submerge in the aquarium. Keep it filled with clean and non-chlorinated water at all times.
Feed the basilisk feeder insects like crickets, mealworms and wax worms purchased from your local pet store. You should also provide some dark leafy greens for your lizard. They should be fed daily.