Caucasian agama (Paralaudakia caucasia)

Short answers

Caucasian agama: How big does the enclosure need to be?

120×60×80 cm (rock structures, some height); the German minimum for a pair is ~75×45×60 cm, larger is recommended.

Caucasian agama: What temperature does it need?

Daytime 28–35 °C, basking spot 45–55 °C, at night 15–20 °C.

Caucasian agama: Does it need UVB lighting?

UVB: UVB needed (Ferguson zone 3–4, UV index 4–6).

Caucasian agama: How long do they live?

Life expectancy: approx. 10–15 years.

Caucasian agama: Is it suitable for beginners?

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

Climate

Daytime temperature

28–35 °C

Night temperature

15–20 °C

Basking spot

45–55 °C

Humidity

30–50 %

UVB

UVB needed (Ferguson zone 3–4, UV index 4–6)

Enclosure

Minimum size

120×60×80 cm (rock structures, some height); the German minimum for a pair is ~75×45×60 cm, larger is recommended

Substrate

A sand-loam mix, solid rock structures with crevices and caves, climbing rocks

Feeding

Food

Insects (beetles, locusts, crickets, hymenopterans) plus a little plant food; calcium and vitamins

Feeding interval

adults 3×/week, juveniles daily

Key facts

Adult size

up to approx. 35 cm total length (SVL under 15 cm)

Life expectancy

approx. 10–15 years

Origin

The Caucasus to Central Asia (Georgia, Armenia, Azerbaijan, eastern Turkey, northern Iran, Turkmenistan, Afghanistan, Pakistan); rocky slopes at 300–3,370 m

Protection status

IUCN "Least Concern"; not listed under CITES

Brumation

A pronounced winter rest is needed: about 3–4 months at ~8–12 °C (in the wild they are active from late March to October)

Cohabitation

Keep them singly (territorial, rock-dwelling); one male plus females is possible in a large facility with visual barriers. NEVER keep males together.

Notes

A montane rock agama – a strong basking gradient, plenty of crevices and hides, and a marked day-night and seasonal rhythm (a winter rest!). Species-specific care sheets are scarce; some husbandry figures are derived from related rock agamas (Laudakia, Stellagama).

Do you keep this species?

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Related species

• Large-eared rock agama (Paralaudakia nupta) – Intermediate
• Himalayan agama (Paralaudakia himalayana) – Intermediate
• Red-bellied rock agama (Paralaudakia erythrogastra) – Intermediate
• Blue-headed tree agama (Acanthocercus atricollis) – Intermediate
• Common agama – red-headed (Agama agama) – Intermediate
• Variegated toad-headed agama (Phrynocephalus versicolor) – Expert
• Common butterfly lizard (Leiolepis belliana) – Intermediate
• Roughtail rock agama (Stellagama stellio) – Intermediate

All species in the care wiki →

What you need to start

To keep Caucasian agama (Paralaudakia caucasia) you typically need: a suitable enclosure (120×60×80 cm (rock structures, some height); the German minimum for a pair is ~75×45×60 cm, larger is recommended), substrate (A sand-loam mix, solid rock structures with crevices and caves, climbing rocks), a heat source with a thermostat, UVB lighting, thermometer and hygrometer, a water dish and hides. You will find equipment in the Reptoria marketplace.