Care Sheet - Black-Necked Agama (Acanthocercus

atricollis)

Common names: Black-Necked Agama, Blue Headed Tree Agama, Southern

Tree Agama
Habitat: They live in a wide range of habitats, from forest to savannah, even
living in built up areas. This species can often be found scaling the sides of trees.
In studies they were found to inhabit mainly Acacia Karroo and occasionally
found in Protea Caffra and dead trees.
They range across most of central Africa down into South Africa including
Ethiopia, Kenya, Congo, Angola and Namibia. You can find 12 different species
of Agama in South Africa and inhabiting the North of the country, Acanthocercus
Atricollis being one of these.
Normally a male displaying his colours wont be far away from several females.
These lizards tend to live in colonies with one dominant male and a group of
females and other subordinate males.
Dry to semi-arid habitats, diurnal and primarily arboreal
Size: up to 36 cm
Life Expectancy: over 10 years

Reproduction: The species lays between 8-15 eggs. The incubation period at
30 C is about 80 days.
Temperature: Air temperature should be between 28-32C, local heating up to
over 40 C. A basking spot should be a Halogen or spot bulb on a thermostat.
Otherwise, you can also use a ceramic heater, which can also be controlled by
the use of the appropriate thermostat. At Night set the thermostat to 21-25C.
Humidity: 60-70% by daily spraying
Lighting: Lighting by Daylight Sun T5 in combination with the Light Strip Power.
As heat, UV and sun light source similar to exo Terra Repti sun 5.
We recommend the use of metal halide lamp Bright Sun Desert by Lucky reptile
or similar
Substrate: As substrate use desert sand, youngsters should be kept on
newspaper until 12 months.
Dcor: Sufficient climbing branches some vertical, shelters/hides, stones and
water bowls are the basic equipment of the tank.
Terrarium/Vivarium Size: 100x50x100 cm
Food: Live insects such as Crickets, locusts, cockroaches. Some
Vegetarian food or the sweet fruit based puree. Regular addition of minerals and
vitamins is recommended. Beware of living plants, which may be toxic, because
the animals eat them occasionally.
Comments: Very active lizards, Very large, spacious terrarium is essential for
successfully keeping these lizards.
Adult males are incompatible with each other, one male one or more females.
John Gamesby