Starred agama (Laudakia stellio)

Short answers

Starred agama: What temperature does it need?

Daytime 30–40 °C, basking spot 50–60 °C, at night 18–22 °C.

Starred agama: Does it need UVB lighting?

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

Starred agama: How long do they live?

Life expectancy: approx. 10–15 years.

Starred agama: Is it suitable for beginners?

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

Starred agama: Can several be kept together?

Single housing.

Climate

Daytime temperature

30–40 °C

Night temperature

18–22 °C

Basking spot

50–60 °C

Humidity

30–50 %

UVB

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

Enclosure

Minimum size

100×50×80 cm für 1 Tier (kletterfreudig, Höhe wichtig); Paar ab 120×60×100 cm

Substrate

8–10 cm of sand (diggable), plenty of stones and rock structures, roots, caves and crevices as hides

Feeding

Food

Omnivorous: insects (crickets, locusts, roaches) plus greens, flowers and a little fruit; calcium and vitamins

Feeding interval

adults 3×/week, juveniles daily

Key facts

Adult size

approx. 30–35 cm total length

Life expectancy

approx. 10–15 years

Origin

South-eastern Europe (Greece) to the Near East and Egypt – the only agama native to Europe (the hardun or starred agama; syn. Stellagama stellio)

Protection status

Not listed under CITES; European populations (e.g. in Greece) are protected under national law – only captive-bred animals or legal proof of origin

Brumation

A winter rest is needed: several weeks up to ~2 months of cooler conditions (~10–15 °C; Mediterranean origin)

Cohabitation

Single housing. The lower-stress option is one animal per enclosure: males must never be kept together because they fight. According to care sheets, groups only work as a small group of equally sized females, which is considered the safest form, or as one male with several females as in the wild (one dominant male, several females); the drawback is that the enclosure must be much larger and the male may harass the females.

Notes

Fond of both climbing and digging – plenty of rock and climbing structure AND deep sandy ground are needed, plus a very hot basking spot (up to 60 °C) with a marked gradient and plenty of hides. The subspecies L. s. picea = the "black hardun". It needs strong warmth plus UV.

Do you keep this species?

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Related species

• Painted agama (Laudakia melanura) – Intermediate
• Red-bellied rock agama (Laudakia erythrogastra) – Expert
• 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
• Large-eared rock agama (Paralaudakia nupta) – Intermediate
• Roughtail rock agama (Stellagama stellio) – Intermediate

All species in the care wiki →

What you need to start

To keep Starred agama (Laudakia stellio) you typically need: a suitable enclosure (100×50×80 cm für 1 Tier (kletterfreudig, Höhe wichtig); Paar ab 120×60×100 cm), substrate (8–10 cm of sand (diggable), plenty of stones and rock structures, roots, caves and crevices as hides), a heat source with a thermostat, UVB lighting, thermometer and hygrometer, a water dish and hides. You will find equipment in the Reptoria marketplace.