Thursday, August 18, 2011

Mwanza Flat-headed Agama





The Mwanza Flat-headed Agama or Mwanza Flat-headed Rock Agama (Agama mwanzae) is a species of lizard from the Agamidae family, found in Tanzania, Rwanda, and Kenya.

It can often be seen in the heat of the day basking on rocks or kopjes. The male's head, neck and shoulders are bright red or violet, while the body dark blue. The female is mostly brown and is difficult to distinguish from other female agamas.
This species is often confused with the Red-headed Rock Agama (Agama agama).

The species has become a fashionable pet due to its coloration which resembles the comic book superhero Spider-Man.

Agama species are widely spread throughout areas of Africa. Agamas are most often found in semi -dessert or scrubland environments. The Spiderman agama is relatively new in the U.S. pet trade and is proving to be very popular due to its intense red and blue coloration and overly active personality.


Scientific name : Agama mwanzae

Common name : Mwanza Flat-headed Agama

Housing Size : 36 inches x 18 inches x 18 inches bare minimum

Housing Type : semi -dessert or scrubland

Adult Size : Up to 6 - 9 inches

Level Of Difficulty : Moderate to Difficult

Life Span : Up to 15 years

Diet : Insectivores


Housing

House Spiderman agamas in groups of 1.3 and during breeding season should introduce a second male to see if a roll of dominance helps with the captive breeding of this species . It seems that the dominant male will color up intensely and to this interaction seems to help stimulate breeding. House agamas in a terrarium measuring 36 x 18 x 18.Use lots of branches for climbing and basking as well as cork hollows to escape from the heat and for hiding spaces .


Diet and nutrition

Feed a wide variety of insects including crickets mealworms and roaches .Dust insects several times a week with a calcium and multivitamin. Use reptile cal calcium w d3 and reptile cal herptavite as supplements. Make sure to feed your crickets a high quality cricket feed such as nature zones cricket total bites to ensure proper gut loading of your insects.


Water and humidity

Provide a clean shallow water bowl at all times. Although considered a dessert animal we have found that my Spiderman Agamas drink an unusual amount of water in comparison to other dessert lizards. Mist agamas enclosure each morning simulating morning dew allowing the agamas to lap up water off the glass enclosure and cage furnishings.


Size and longevity

Spiderman agamas reach an average length of 6 - 9 inches with females usually being smaller. Agama species have been known to be kept in captivity for as long as fifteen years if housed and maintained properly.


Handling

Due to the fact that these are extremely quick lizards only minimal handling is recommended. Use caution when cleaning the cage to prevent animals from escaping!! They are fast!!!


Sexing

Like most agama species the males are vividly colored with reds blues and violets giving this amazing creature its common name. Females are usually smaller and not as vibrantly colored which make it difficult to determine from other species of female agamas.


article source :














Male







Female





No comments:

Post a Comment