Serrated casquehead iguana (Laemanctus serratus)

Short answers

Serrated casquehead iguana: How big does the enclosure need to be?

80×60×120 cm (height).

Serrated casquehead iguana: What temperature does it need?

Daytime 26–32 °C, basking spot 35 °C, at night 20–23 °C.

Serrated casquehead iguana: Does it need UVB lighting?

UVB: Essential (UVB 5.0–10.0).

Serrated casquehead iguana: How long do they live?

Life expectancy: 6–10 years.

Serrated casquehead iguana: Is it suitable for beginners?

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

Climate

Daytime temperature

26–32 °C

Night temperature

20–23 °C

Basking spot

35 °C

Humidity

70–85 %

UVB

Essential (UVB 5.0–10.0)

Enclosure

Minimum size

80×60×120 cm (height)

Substrate

Coco humus, thin to medium branches, dense planting, a rain system

Feeding

Food

House crickets, crickets, roaches, wax moths

Feeding interval

3–4×/week

Key facts

Adult size

60–70 cm total length (the tail three quarters)

Life expectancy

6–10 years

Origin

Mexico, Guatemala, Belize

Protection status

Not listed under CITES

Brumation

None

Cohabitation

A pair or 1.2. Two males will not work together — they fight over territory and the warm spot until one is seriously injured or spends its life in a corner. One male with several females, on the other hand, works reliably. What matters is several warm spots and hides so that subordinate animals can get out of the way, and separate feeding as soon as the animals differ in size.

Notes

Extremely slender and long-tailed, with a serrated casque crest. It moves slowly and chameleon-like – it needs height, fine branches and daily misting. Very sensitive to draughts.

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Related species

• Eastern casquehead iguana (Laemanctus longipes) – Intermediate
• Brown basilisk (Basiliscus vittatus) – Intermediate
• Plumed basilisk (Basiliscus plumifrons) – Intermediate
• Common basilisk (Basiliscus basiliscus) – Intermediate
• Hernandez's helmeted basilisk (Corytophanes hernandesii) – Expert
• Red-headed basilisk (Basiliscus galeritus) – Expert
• Ghost anole (Anolis lemurinus) – Intermediate
• Aguero's false chameleon (Chamaeleolis agueroi) – Intermediate

All species in the care wiki →

What you need to start

To keep Serrated casquehead iguana (Laemanctus serratus) you typically need: a suitable enclosure (80×60×120 cm (height)), substrate (Coco humus, thin to medium branches, dense planting, a rain system), a heat source with a thermostat, UVB lighting, thermometer and hygrometer, a water dish and hides. You will find equipment in the Reptoria marketplace.