Knowing what a Green Basilisk’s full size is before purchasing one is something you should do when planning to get this lizard as a pet. Spoiler alert: they’re big!
Green Basilisks will catch anyone’s eye with their beauty, but their cold demeanor might scare you off. These lizards are known for challenging their owners, and you have to be ready to put a lot of effort in to get on your Green Basilisk’s good side.
If you’re up for it, one of the first things you should know to prepare for your lizard is how big they get. Green Basilisks are relatively large when they reach their full size, and in this article, I share what you need to know to prepare for yours!
Green Basilisk Full Size: Birth To Adult
To set up a proper enclosure for your Green Basilisk, you need to know how big they’ll get. Here’s a breakdown of their size by age:
Baby Green Basilisk Size
When these reptiles hatch, they’re pretty small. You’ll probably buy your Green Basilisk lizard when they’re approximately 6 to 12 inches long from head to tail.
Juvenile Green Basilisk Size
Between 12 and 18 months, your Green Basilisk will be a juvenile. By this age, they’ll measure in at about 1 foot.
Adult Green Basilisk Size
An adult Green Basilisk is between 2.5 and 3 feet in length, with females being slightly shorter than males. Your lizard will reach maturity between 18 and 24 months.
Learn more about How Big Do Basilisk Lizards Get? The Facts!
How To Set Up A Green Basilisk Enclosure
The full size of a Green Basilisk plays an important role in setting up an excellent enclosure for them. Your lizard will be much happier in a tank that imitates its natural habitat. Green Basilisks live close to the water in tropical rainforests and wetlands.
Green Basilisk Enclosure Size
Your Green Basilisks hatchling will be happy in an enclosure of about 20 gallons. You shouldn’t give them too much space to avoid causing them stress.
As they grow, you’ll need to upgrade their enclosure. Mature Green Basilisks need a tank no smaller than 55 gallons. You should choose an even bigger one if you plan to add branches or a large water bowl.
You can keep two or more Green Basilisks in one habitat, but you should double the size of their enclosure for each one you add.
Green Basilisk Water Needs
Your Green Basilisk needs clean water for bathing and drinking. In the wild, they live near water sources. If you place a large bathing bowl in their enclosure, your Basilisk will feel more at home!
You should freshen their drinking water every day. This is crucial to keep them healthy. If your Basilisks’ water starts to look dirty throughout the day, replace it immediately.
Green Basilisk Enclosure Decor
Your Green Basilisk will enjoy an enclosure with enough branches to climb and a large enough bathing bowl to swim in. They’re fast climbers and advanced swimmers.
You should buy a big enough tank to comfortably fit branches and space for swimming without taking general movement space away from your pet lizard. They still need to walk around on the clear ground.
The Best Diet For A Green Basilisk
Green Basilisks like to eat insects and vegetables in the wild. You should feed your captive lizard the same. Their diet influences how well and big they grow, so keeping it balanced is essential for their health.
Insects
- Calciworms
- Cockroaches
- Crickets
- Locust
- Mealworms
- Waxworks
Vegetables
- Celery
- Collard Greens
- Dark Green Lettuce
- Kale
- Spinach
- Yellow Squash
Read more about Chinese Water Dragon Foods: The Do’s and Don’ts
Green Basilisk Feeding Guide
You can feed your Green Basilisk daily from birth. To keep their portions controlled, you should serve them as much as they can eat in about ten minutes.
Cockroaches and mealworms are more challenging to digest, so only feed these to your Basilisk once they reach maturity.
0 – 3 months: Serve your Basilisk a variety of insects daily. They don’t need any greens at this age.
3 – 18 months: You can start introducing greens to your lizard. Feed them insects every day and salad every other day.
18+ months: By 18 months, your Green Basilisk is mature and only needs a portion of insects every 2 to 3 days. You should feed them salads daily.
Remember to add a variety of insects and greens to your Green Basilisks’ diet. This way, their meals are balanced, and they get all the vitamins, minerals, proteins, and healthy fats they need to grow.
If you keep their diet balanced, you won’t need to add supplements to their food.
Final Words
Green Basilisks aren’t easy to tame, but they’ll make a good pet if you handle them with care. You should always feed them a proper diet, keep their water clean, and ensure that they have more than enough space to move around in their enclosure. These lizards get big, and a small enclosure will leave them stressed and agitated.
I hope this article gave you the information you need! Now you can decide if a Green Basilisks’ size is what you had in mind for a pet lizard and which enclosure would suit them best.
If you have any more questions about this species and their needs as pets, ask them in the comments, and I’ll happily share more information with you!
Are Green Basilisks good pets?
Green Basilisks aren't friendly or easy to have as a pet, but if you're up for a challenge, you'll love having one!
How big of a tank does a Green Basilisk need?
A full-grown Green Basilisk needs an enclosure of at least 55 gallons or more to live comfortably.
How long does it take for a Green Basilisk to grow?
Green Basilisks typically reach their full-grown size by 18 to 24 months.
What do Green Basilisk lizards need to survive?
For a Green Basilisk lizard to survive in captivity, they need an appropriately sized terrarium that's heated and humidified to their specific needs, a healthy diet, and an owner who adores them!