How to Care for a Red Head Agama / Care Sheet for a Red Head Agama

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How to Care for a Red Head Agama / Care Sheet for a Red Head Agama

How to Care for a Red Head Agama / Care Sheet for a Red Head Agama
Maximum length: 15-20 inches
Approximate life span: 10-15years

General Information on the Red Head Agama
Red Head Agamas are closely related to the Bearded Dragons. They can be a little fearful of humans but they clam down with a little work. Males should not be housed together due to territory disputes.

Enclosure for a Red Head Agama
A 15 gallon tank is ideal for one but to house multiples 20 gallons and larger is recommended. The bigger the better! They do require a lot of hiding places which can be created with hides, logs and foliage in the tank. They also appreciate branches for climbing.

Substrate for a Red Head Agama
Reptile desert sand or Reptile large chunk bark with a depth of at least 1.5 inches is required. Do not use silica sand.

Temperature and Humidity for a Red Head Agama
Day temperatures should 80-90 degrees F in the basking spots with a night time temperature of 75- 80 degrees F. Use a full spectrum Fluorescent light to provide the required UVA and UVB on a 12 hour cycle. The humidity levels should be around 10% to 20%. They are from dry deserts where humidity is not a factor.

Heating for a Red Head Agama
An UTH (Under tank heater) or an infrared heat bulb/lamp must be used to maintain temperatures in the enclosure over the dragon’s basking area. The heaters are to remain on at all times.

Lighting for a Red Head Agama
UVB & UVA 10.0 full spectrum lighting is a necessity for the Agama. It is required to synthesize essential vitamins and nutrients. Provide a regular photo period of 12 hours day and 12 hours night. The use pf a plug-in timer is recommended (for lights only, not heating devices.)

Food and Water for a Red Head Agama
Crickets, wax worms, and mealworms. Juveniles should be fed daily with food dusted with a vitamin/ mineral supplement. Do not feed large crickets to the young, only small crickets. Adults can be fed live food every 2-3 days, dusted with a supplement. Always provide fresh water in a clean, shallow dish. Mist them in the morning for about 5-10 seconds daily.

Recommended Items for a Red Head Agama
Appropriately sized cage
Reptile carpet, sand, or large bark
10.0 full spectrum UVB/UVA light and fixture
UTH (Under tank heater) or infrared bulb with domed heat lamp
Shallow, heavy water dish
Vitamin/ mineral powder supplement
Grape vines, branches and hiding logs
Thermometer/ humidity gauge
Timer for lights
Artificial plants

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By dandevarona on 5/12/2009 |

Pet Care Sheets | 6451 View(s) | 5 Comment(s)

Comments

By Claire 'agamaTebow' Piccirillo @ 4/4/2012 11:13 AM

I just recently got one of these, and it died a few days later. I got him from a reptile convention, and the guy who sold him to me apparently had no idea how sick he was. I have a few questions to ask before I get another one. I do not want to make the same mistake twice.
Are they prone to any serious health problems?
Are you supposed to get them checked by a vet?
How many crickets should I pit in the tank at one time?
How active are these lizards?
What is their normal behavior like?
How can I tell if my agama is sick?
Please answer my questions if you can. Your care sheet does not. Neither do any of the others I've read.
Thanks

By Claire 'agamaTebow' Piccirillo @ 4/4/2012 11:14 AM

By Gia 'gia_marie' Fowler @ 5/25/2012 1:23 PM

I know this is a little late, but better than never. I have red headed agamas, and they have a VERY high death rate. The animals are wild caught from Africa and treated horribly. Typically what happens to them is that children are paid from 1 penny to 5 cents to go out and catch the agamas. Once caught they are carried around in a pillow case. The unlucky ones that get caught first are crushed by the weight of the others. After the pillow case, they are transferred to deep pits where they are kept until a distributer from the US or where ever places an order. During their time in the pit they are deprived of food and water. Next they are shipped to a distributor, and who knows if they get water there. Then they eventually wind up in pet shops or reptile shows ect for sale. Most reptiles will not show you that they are sick. As far as health problems, a lot of them end up getting over run with their normal flora of bacteria from the high amounts of stress and lack of proper care. I've also read that the herpes virus is high in the red headed agamas. I put about 12-15 crickets that have been dusted in calcium powder (with vitamin D) per agama in the cage every other day. I also always have meal worms in there daily for them. They are very active and skittish. I've read that they can be tamed with time. Mine dont even like seeing people yet. Normal behavior is that they like to climb, they are arboreal in the wild. Having a tank high enough for them to climb on sticks and some kind of a back ground substrate is great for them. You will not be able to tell if your agama is sick more likely than not because they try to hide any issues as a natural instinct to avoid predation. What you can look for is if the animals ribs are showing and that the fat reserves on the tail are depleted. Also the activity level. My agamas like to sit in their hiding spot then they are running all over their cage. I dont work for this company, I just happened to come across your post as I was doing more research of my own. Hope this helps. Take care.

By Toby 'tpierce47' Pierce @ 12/15/2012 7:21 AM

I have a lot of lizards and all and I have noticed that these lizards are energetic, fun to have, but i have also noticed when they are sick the lizards i's and they will turn darker than normal

By Toby 'tpierce47' Pierce @ 12/15/2012 7:23 AM

the i's will sink