Blue-throated agama (Acanthocercus cyanogaster)

Short answers

Blue-throated agama: How big does the enclosure need to be?

120×60×90 cm for a group.

Blue-throated agama: What temperature does it need?

Daytime 25–31 °C, basking spot Basking spot 40–45 °C, at night 16–20 °C.

Blue-throated agama: Does it need UVB lighting?

UVB: Essential (UVB 12.0).

Blue-throated agama: How long do they live?

Life expectancy: 6–12 years.

Blue-throated agama: Is it suitable for beginners?

Rather not – it is considered an intermediate species (difficulty: Intermediate).

Climate

Daytime temperature

25–31 °C

Night temperature

16–20 °C

Basking spot

Basking spot 40–45 °C

Humidity

45–65 %

UVB

Essential (UVB 12.0)

Enclosure

Minimum size

120×60×90 cm for a group

Substrate

A sand-loam mix with sturdy climbing branches

Feeding

Food

Crickets, locusts, roaches and house crickets, dusted regularly with calcium and vitamins

Feeding interval

adults 3×/week

Key facts

Adult size

25–33 cm

Life expectancy

6–12 years

Origin

Ethiopia and Eritrea

Protection status

Not listed under CITES

Brumation

A cooler rest of 6–8 weeks at 14–18 °C

Cohabitation

Harem (one male with several females); never house two males together. The reason: males fight over territory and rank until one is injured or spends its life in a corner. In the closely related tree agama A. atricollis, animals in the wild form fixed groups of one dominant male with several females; each female needs her own perching and basking spots.

Notes

An arboreal species from the highlands, cooler than the lowland agamas.

Do you keep this species?

Add your animal to Reptoria – Reptoria reminds you about feeding and shedding. Add your animal for free →

Look for Blue-throated agama (Acanthocercus cyanogaster) in the marketplace →

Related species

• Blue-headed tree agama (Acanthocercus atricollis) – Intermediate
• Oriental garden lizard (Calotes versicolor) – Intermediate
• Spotted butterfly lizard (Leiolepis guttata) – Intermediate
• Painted dragon (Ctenophorus pictus) – Intermediate
• Common flying dragon (Draco volans) – Expert
• Green crested lizard (Bronchocela cristatella) – Intermediate
• Himalayan agama (Paralaudakia himalayana) – Intermediate
• Horsfield's salea (Salea horsfieldii) – Expert

All species in the care wiki →

What you need to start

To keep Blue-throated agama (Acanthocercus cyanogaster) you typically need: a suitable enclosure (120×60×90 cm for a group), substrate (A sand-loam mix with sturdy climbing branches), a heat source with a thermostat, UVB lighting, thermometer and hygrometer, a water dish and hides. You will find equipment in the Reptoria marketplace.