Butterfly Agamas (L. gutata)

"Monarch"   Male Trio of Male Giant Butterflies

Male Belly-Side Pattern Female Head Profile

Butterfly agamas (Leiolepis species) are the closest relatives of the Uromastyx but are rarely kept in herpetoculture due to a terrible survival record in captivity.  The group as a whole is insectivorous but are noted as eating vegetation as well. While listed as several species (some quite distinct looking) many of the various species tend to blend into each other as you move your way across China, Malaysia, Vietnam, Laos and many types likely interbreed where the populations touch.  One oddity of this interbreeding is the production of  triploid specimens where species with different chromosome counts interbreed.  One of their claims to fame is the occurrence of several populations of  parthenogenetic populations in which only females exist.  No true breeding can occur but the females appear to produce eggs which initiate normal embryo development anyway.  To my knowledge none of these races are currently in herpetoculture, but as Asian exports are expanding, they may show up some day.

 The Giant Butterfly agama (L. gutata) is the largest species currently known and is considered the most vegetarian of the group.  It is truly one of the most beautiful of a beautiful genus.  We've always found the Butterfly Agamas stunning and when we were given the opportunity to handpick from a group of the rarely imported Giant Butterfly, we decided to try a group.  Our largest male, "Monarch" shown in some of the photos above, is over 21 inches long (almost 2/3rds of  that being tail however).  Their build is very similar to the Indian Uromastyx, being very reminiscent of a walking bratwurst!  The skin is very smooth, almost silky to the touch with just a hint of spikiness along the tail.  The tail is thick and full and does not naturally break off. 

Sexing is relatively easy, with the males being the much brighter colored of the sexes, often displaying  a rose to orange blushing along the head, neck, and  hips on a pale gray to almost silver ground color.  They also display various shades of blue, black, and white irregular barring along their sides with narrow light pinkish-orange upper sides. The chest on mature males is often a faded bluish black with white circles reminiscent of a perente monitor.   Our photos do not do them justice!  The colors are more of a bright pastel, almost water-color like effect that our digital camera just can't capture.  Females often have light yellowish to tan stripes running along their upper sides, but otherwise are various shades of light brown with unpatterned sides. Both sexes have faint to moderate ocellations along their backs, similar to the Spotted Butterfly Agama, but usually fewer, smaller, and less distinct.  They both also have distinct yellow reticulations along the side of the face as well as possessing femoral pores.  Only the males  however develop the small but distinct hemipenal bulges.  So far, no sexual or territorial aggression has been observed, however the general literature suggests multiple males per cage will result in fights.  A few stray reports also suggest they are generally monogamous and multiple pairs may peacefully cohabitate.   

Their temperament is initially very shy and flighty, so care should be given to let them settle in with as little disturbance as possible.  Like Uromastyx, however, once they realize you're not a predator and in fact are supplying the food, many settle down and some will almost eat from your hand.  They do not like handling and are really too fast to let loose or carry around (note they can run bipedally!).  Oddly though, once acclimated to a specific cage, most don't overly panic once caught and actually often sit calmly in our open photo box and let us shoot away while they sit and watch.  While they seemed to do well in 4 foot Vision cages, they did terrible in glass tanks, never quite figuring out the glass and constantly darting into the sides.  Odds are tanks with all but the front solid will be necessary to properly house them. We'd suggest no smaller cage than a 55 gallon tank and, if glass, cover the back and sides so as to provide a visual barrier so they don't injure themselves running inadvertently into the glass if startled.  They are fast and can jump exceptionally well, so great care must be given to making their cage escape proof, especially when opening the cage to feed.  A two-piece lid is advisable, so you only have to open one side of the top at any one time. We hope that once we hatch some in captivity and start them in tanks, they'll do much better in more typical housing. 

Since we specialize in Uromastyx, and Butterfly Agamas are essentially smooth-tailed Uromastyx, we chose to set them up under comparable conditions as our Uros.  Water is supplied daily in a relatively large bowl and each pen has a 3 gallon or larger nest box / hide box containing slightly moist Aspen bedding or Bed-a-Beast coconut fibers.  So far, this has proven to be very satisfactory to our Butterflies but only time will tell if it needs further tweaking.  As a safety net, we've placed a large water bowl and  nest boxes with damp coconut (Bed-a-Beast) and Aspen fibers in each pen.  Otherwise we're keeping them hot and dry and feeding mostly warmed frozen mixed vegetables (peas, carrots, corn, etc.)a few small blooms and leafy veggies and the occasional superworm.

Unfortunately, we initially were only able to locate males so we have not  had the opportunity to produce any nor get in any more.  We're still looking for  more but nothing has shown up as of yet. We don't expect to have any available any time soon, but if and when we do, we'll post the information here. 

We keep a "Wanted" list and fill it as specimens become available so please e-mail or call us (360 435-2679) if you're looking  to add a Butterfly Agama to your family.   Odds are these will be around $125 each plus shipping if and when  they show up. 

 

We are avid supporters of captive breeding  and are always looking to support fellow breeders by purchasing healthy captively produced clutches of Uromastyx.   Please let us know if you have an interest in wholesaling your clutches.   We hold all purchased specimens for several weeks after being shipped to us so we can verify their condition and to let them settle in before being offered to the public.   So you can rest assured your hatchlings will be well cared for.   We occasionally buy exceptional adults as well.  E-mail us photos  if you wish us to consider your specimens.

   

    Email: douglasdix@deerfernfarms.com

Copyright © 1992-2008 by  Douglas Dix. All rights reserved for all photos and text