Vivariums;reptiles;Basiliscus vittatus

4- The brown basilisk or striped basilisk (Basiliscus vittatus )

The brown basilisk or striped basilisk (Basiliscus vittatus; in some areas referred to as "common basilisk") is one species of basilisk lizard. They are native to Mexico, Central America and adjacent northwestern Colombia,[1][2] but have been introduced into the U.S. state of Florida as a feral species.[3]

Basilisks actually have large hind feet with flaps of skin between each toe. The fact that they move quickly across the water, aided by their web-like feet, gives them the appearance of "walking on water".

Male Brown Basilisks can reach 61 centimetres (24 in) in length and females are somewhat smaller. Their three crests are on the head, along the body and along the tail. They usually appear in brown or olive brown with black stripes. The stripes are usually only on the flanks and on the dorsal crest. They also have a white stripe, which extends from the eyes to the rear legs. The males have a larger crest than the females.

Brown Basilisk

Striped or Brown Basilisk

Scientific classification:

Kingdom:Animalia

Phylum:Chordata

Class:Reptilia

Order:Squamata

Suborder:Iguania

Family:Corytophanidae

Genus:Basiliscus

Species:B. vittatus

Binomial name :

Basiliscus vittatus
Wiegmann, 1828

Taxonomy and etymology :

The Brown Basilisk's generic name basiliscus is taken from the creature of Greek mythology made up of parts of a rooster, snake, and lion that could turn a man to stone by its gaze: the Basilisk. This name derives from the Greek basilískos (βασιλίσκος) meaning "little king". This epithet was given in Carl Linnaeus' 10th edition of Systema Naturae.

Smaller basilisks can run about 10–20 metres on the water without sinking. Young basilisks can usually run farther than older ones. If the animal faces danger, it starts to run very fast on the surface of a river or a lake. Then the flaps on its hind feet are opened and thus more surface area is provided for it to run on water.

Costa Rica

They are in the same infraorder as the iguanid family. Like most reptiles, basilisks are active during the day. They have long toes and sharp claws. Most are under a foot in length, but some may grow up to two feet. Basilisks usually weigh between 200–600 grams. Their maximum lifespan is probably around 7–8 years. In the wild, most die much sooner. Females lay about 2–18 eggs, five to eight times a year. Eggs hatch after about three months and the babies weigh about 2 grams. Their outstanding camouflage allows them to remain motionless and very hard to detect.

Gallery :

Juvenile before developing crests

Closeup of face

In Florida, United States

For the external links , refrences click here to read the full wikipedia article

Video :

Brown basilisk or Striped basilisk (Basiliscus vittatus)

Care :

1- BROWN BASILISK (STRIPED OR COMMON)

courtesy to : www.reptilesmagazine.com/Lizard-Species/Brown-Basilisk-(Striped-or-Common)/

Basiliscus vittatus :

Family: Iguanidae
Adult Size: 12 to 17 inches
Range: Central America, and now introduced to parts of southern Florida.
Habitat: Utilizes a broad range of terrain from brushy fields to jungle, often near water.
Captive Lifespan: 5 to 8 Years
Dangerous:
Care Level: Intermediate

Overview :

A swift, agile runner, the brown basilisk relies on lightning fast bursts of speed to attack and surprise its prey. Small lizards and invertebrates make up the bulk of its diet. Most food items are seized in jaws and swallowed whole after being subdued by several bites.

Give brown basilisks some extra space in captivity so they have room to maneuver in chasing their prey. A heavy branch angled across the cage diagonally so the uppermost end is under a basking lamp will allow the brown basilisk a place to warm up and survey the expanse of their cage. Mist the cage with water several times per week, while also providing a small bowl of fresh water.

Brown basilisks are flighty, nervous creatures that don’t like to be handled, but older, acclimated individuals will eventually settle down to the routines of captivity. Still, this is a pet best observed rather than being a hands-on pet. Most brown basilisks available as pets are wild-caught in Florida.

2- Brown Basilisk care sheet

courtesy to : www.reptilecentre.com/info-brown-basilisk-care-sheet

Housing: a wooden vivarium of at least 46" in length and 36'' in height

Heating: basking temperature of 100oF, cool end of 80oF

UVB Lighting: desert strength 10%-12% UVB fluorescent tube during the day

Diet: insectivorous diet of live food

Decoration: damp substrate to raise humidity levels

Housing :

A brown basilik is best kept in a large wooden vivarium. This is because wood is an excellent insulator of heat and so a wooden vivarium will make it easier to control the crucial temperatures required inside the habitat. Other enclosures such as glass terrariums are far too efficient at releasing heat making it difficult to get up to temperature and keep this temperature consistent throughout the year. The wooden vivarium should have good ventilation to help remove humidity and replenish the air in the enclosure.

The brown basilisk vivarium should be at least 1150mm (46") in length and 36" in height. There are 2 main reasons for this; firstly brown basilisks are not small lizards and can easily grow to 600mm-800mm in length. They require a proportionate amount of space to live happily. Secondly, the vivarium needs to have a sufficient length to allow for the creation of a temperature gradient. The enclosure needs to be intensely hot at one end, but have enough distance for the temperature to drop at the cool end. With brown basilisks we also provide enough height for the animal to get off of the ground.

Heating :

During the day, brown basilisks require a very hot basking temperature. This is achieved by using clear spot bulbs at one end of the vivarium. To accomplish the required basking temperature of 100oF- 110oF we use 2x basking bulbs (50w in a large arboreal Vivexotic vivarium). A narrower basking area can be achieved by using one higher wattage bulb instead. Basking bulbs should be on for 10- 12 hours per day.

At night brown basilisks require a drop in temperature and darkness. The basking lights should be switched off. A night time temperature of 80oF is created by using a ceramic night bulb. These radiate heat but produce no light. This bulb should be protected with a bulb guardand controlled by a good quality thermostat. The thermostat will automatically turn on the ceramic heat bulb at night when the temperature in the vivarium drops. Temperatures should be monitored daily using a thermometer.

UVB Lighting :

Brown Basilisks are reptiles from a region with intense UV exposure. Animals that actively bask in hot climates naturally receive a high dose of UVB from the sun. Their UVB tube should reflect that. A fluorescent UVB tube should be used inside the vivarium with a reflectorso no UVB is wasted. The tube should be at least 10% UVB for desert species. There are 2 different types of fluorescent tube, T8 and T5. T5 tubes are the new technology providing double the range (24'') and lasting twice as long (12 months) so if possible we would recommend the upgrade.

These lizards require UVB in order to synthesise vitamin D3 inside their skin. The vitamin D3 helps the basilisk to absorb calcium which crucial for bone structure and growth. Without the UVB the basilisk may not be able to use the calcium in it's diet.

It is recommended that T8 bulbs are replaced every 6 months and T5 bulbs every 12 months.

Decoration :

Brown basilisks should be kept on a slightly moist substrate to increase the humidity inside the vivarium. Whilst any loose substrate has the potential to be accidentally swallowed, we have found this to not be a problem with coarse orchid bark and that is what we keep our brown basilisks on. It is also very easy to clean.

Brown basilisks are a semi-arboreal lizard and they do like to climb on top of things to survey their surroundings. The vivarium should be decorated with various pieces of wood or rock to enable them to do this.

The brown basiliskvivarium can be decorated with artificial plants for a more natural look. Natural wood ornaments look very effective and also provide further perches for the basilisk. Trailing plants are very good at disguising electrical wires and equipment, as well as providing cover for young lizards.

Diet & Water :

Brown basilisks are insectivorous and have a diet consisting of mainly livefoods. The core of the diet should be high in protien and relatively easy to digest. We have found that brown crickets are the most readily accepted, but you can also use black crickets, dubia cockroaches or locusts (hoppers). On occasion, for variation you can offer other bugs such as mealworms, waxworms or calciworms.

The vivarium should be misted with water every morning to provide hydration. A water bowlmay also be introduced as a source of freshwater.

Supplements :

To provide brown basilisks with optimal nutrition and to keep them in the best of health, they will require diet supplementaion in the form of calcium, vitamins and minerals. These are most commonly available as powders

Calcium should be provided daily and dusted directly onto the basilisk's food. Vitamins may be added daily for young basilisks, but adults will only require them every other day.

Any livefood for the basilisk should also be 'gut-loaded' with an insect food. This basically involves feeding the livefood a nutrient rich diet before they are fed to the basilisk. Our livefood is delivered to you already gut-loaded but this should be continued at home.

Breeding :

If you keep a male and female together, they may breed. You do not need to do anything to encourage this, providing they are healthy and the conditions are good, it will happen naturally. You need to consider whether you want this to happen. What will you do with the babies if you incubate the eggs?

A gravid female should have access to a nesting box to lay her eggs. The box should be large enough that she can fully turn-around inside it. We use a soil mix in there that is wet enough to clump but no more. We have found that Spider Life substrate is ideal.

The eggs should be incubated in an incubator at 84oF. We incubate our eggs in sealed boxes on a moisture rich substrate (such as Hatchrite) to trap the humidity around the eggs. After approximately 60 days the eggs will start to hatch, the first babies to emerge will encourage the rest of the eggs to hatch.

Other websites :

- reptile-database.reptarium.cz/species?genus=Basiliscus&species=vittatus

- reptiles.paradais-sphynx.com/lacertilios/basiliscus-vittatus.htm

- www.wildherps.com/species/B.vittatus.html

- www.exotic-pets.co.uk/brown-basilisk.html

- www.lizardsarchive.com/care-sheets/brown-basilisk.php

- reptile-database.reptarium.cz/species?genus=Basiliscus&species=vittatus

- animaldiversity.org/accounts/Basiliscus_vittatus/

- www.iucnredlist.org/details/197460/0

Videos :