Hernández’s Casque-Headed Lizard (Corytophanes hernandezii) Care Sheet
Hernández’s Casque-Headed Lizard (Corytophanes hernandezii) is a highly distinctive arboreal lizard from the tropical forests of Mexico and northern Central America. Like its relative the Helmeted Iguana (Corytophanes cristatus), it possesses a prominent helmet-like casque, laterally compressed body and remarkable cryptic colouration.
This is primarily a forest-understory ambush predator. Rather than continually running around an enclosure searching for food, it commonly remains motionless on a trunk or branch for extended periods, relying on camouflage while waiting for suitable prey.
Its sedentary appearance should not be mistaken for simple husbandry requirements.
Corytophanes hernandezii requires:
- A tall arboreal enclosure
- Dense vegetation
- Numerous vertical and diagonal branches
- Moderate tropical temperatures
- A gentle basking opportunity
- Appropriate UVB
- Bright but heavily shaded lighting
- High, fluctuating humidity
- Excellent ventilation
- Reliable drinking opportunities
- A varied live-invertebrate diet
- Minimal handling
- Quiet surroundings
This species remains relatively uncommon in captivity and should be considered an:
intermediate-to-advanced specialist species.
Documented captive-bred animals should be strongly preferred whenever available.
Quick facts
Scientific name: Corytophanes hernandezii
Common names: Hernández’s Casque-Headed Lizard, Hernández’s Helmeted Basilisk, Smooth-Helmeted Iguana
Family: Corytophanidae
Distribution: Southern and eastern Mexico through Belize, Guatemala and Honduras
Lifestyle: Arboreal
Activity: Diurnal
Adult size: Approximately 25–35 cm (10–14 in) total length
Snout-to-vent length: Commonly approximately 10–14 cm (4–5½ in)
Diet: Primarily insectivorous
Day ambient temperature: Approximately 23–27°C (73–81°F)
Warm/basking area: Approximately 29–32°C (84–90°F)
Cool area: Approximately 21–24°C (70–75°F)
Night temperature: Approximately 18–22°C (64–72°F)
General humidity: Approximately 65–85%, with higher nighttime/post-misting peaks
UVB: Recommended for high-quality long-term husbandry
Suggested basking UVI: Approximately 2–3
Adult enclosure: At least approximately 90 × 60 × 120 cm (3 × 2 × 4 ft) for one adult; 120 × 60 × 150 cm (4 × 2 × 5 ft) or larger preferred
Housing: Individual housing safest
Reproduction: Egg-laying
Handling: Minimal
Experience level: Intermediate to advanced
Taxonomy
The accepted scientific name is:
Corytophanes hernandezii
It belongs to:
Family: Corytophanidae
Genus: Corytophanes
The genus contains three recognised species:
- Corytophanes cristatus
- Corytophanes hernandezii
- Corytophanes percarinatus
Corytophanidae
The family Corytophanidae also contains:
- Basilisks (Basiliscus)
- Casque-headed lizards (Laemanctus)
Despite some common names containing the word:
“iguana”,
Corytophanes does not belong to the family Iguanidae.
Similarity to Corytophanes cristatus
Corytophanes hernandezii and C. cristatus have broadly similar ecological lifestyles.
Both are:
- Arboreal
- Cryptic
- Forest-dwelling
- Primarily insectivorous
- Sit-and-wait predators
However, they should remain:
separate species-specific care sheets.
Identification
Hernández’s Casque-Headed Lizard has:
- Prominent cranial casque
- Laterally compressed body
- Long slender limbs
- Long digits
- Long tail
- Cryptic colouration
Casque
The casque produces a distinctive:
helmeted profile.
It also helps disrupt the outline of the head when the animal is resting against:
- Bark
- Vines
- Vegetation
Colouration
Colour may include:
- Green
- Olive
- Brown
- Grey
- Tan
- Rust
Colour change
Individuals can change shade considerably according to:
- Temperature
- Stress
- Background
- Physiological state
- Time of day
Camouflage
When stationary on:
- Bark
- Branches
- Vines
the species can be remarkably difficult to detect.
Natural distribution
Corytophanes hernandezii occurs primarily through portions of:
- Mexico
- Belize
- Guatemala
- Honduras
Mexican distribution
The species occurs in tropical regions of southern and eastern Mexico, including areas associated with the:
- Gulf slope
- Yucatán region
- Southern tropical forests
Natural habitat
Habitats include:
- Tropical evergreen forest
- Moist forest
- Tropical semi-deciduous forest
- Forest understory
- Secondary woodland
Forest dependency
The species depends heavily upon structurally complex environments containing:
- Trees
- Saplings
- Vines
- Dense foliage
- Leaf litter
Arboreal lifestyle
Most activity takes place on:
- Tree trunks
- Branches
- Vines
- Shrubby vegetation
Height above ground
Individuals frequently remain relatively low within the forest understory rather than occupying the highest canopy.
Captive housing should therefore reproduce:
dense understory structure rather than an empty tall enclosure.
Sit-and-wait hunting
Corytophanes hernandezii is primarily an:
ambush predator.
It may remain stationary for long periods before striking rapidly at nearby prey.
Low movement is not necessarily illness
A healthy animal may spend substantial periods:
motionless.
Health should therefore be judged using:
- Body condition
- Weight
- Feeding
- Eyes
- Hydration
- Grip strength
rather than activity alone.
Temperament
The species is generally:
shy and secretive.
Stress sensitivity
Persistent disturbance may cause:
- Dark colouration
- Refusal to feed
- Excessive hiding
- Escape attempts
- Weight loss
Handling
Handling should be:
minimal.
Appropriate handling
Restrict handling to:
- Health examinations
- Weighing
- Transfers
- Veterinary treatment
Enclosure placement
Place the enclosure in a relatively:
quiet location.
Avoid constant:
- Foot traffic
- Loud vibration
- Repeated disturbance
Adult enclosure size
For one adult, provide at least approximately:
90 × 60 × 120 cm (3 × 2 × 4 ft).
Preferred enclosure
Approximately:
120 × 60 × 150 cm (4 × 2 × 5 ft)
or larger is strongly preferred.
Height
Vertical space is essential because this is an:
arboreal species.
Usable space
An empty 150 cm tall enclosure is not genuinely useful.
The entire volume should contain:
- Branches
- Vines
- Foliage
- Perches
Enclosure type
Suitable options include:
- Large glass terraria
- PVC enclosures
- Custom wooden vivaria
- Hybrid glass/screen tropical enclosures
Ventilation
Provide:
excellent ventilation.
Humidity versus ventilation
High humidity does not mean sealing the enclosure.
The goal is:
humid, fresh air rather than stagnant wet air.
Cross ventilation
Low and high ventilation points can encourage:
natural air exchange.
Furnishings
Provide a dense network of:
- Vertical branches
- Diagonal branches
- Horizontal perches
- Cork bark
- Vines
- Live or artificial foliage
Vertical trunks
Vertical and near-vertical trunks are especially important because they closely reproduce natural:
resting positions.
Branch diameter
Offer several diameters.
The animal should be able to:
- Grip securely
- Rest against broad trunks
- Move onto narrow branches
Upper basking perch
Provide a secure exposed perch beneath:
- Gentle basking heat
- UVB
Mid-level cover
The middle of the enclosure should contain substantial:
foliage and shade.
Lower cover
Provide:
- Leaf litter
- Plants
- Cork
- Low branches
near the enclosure floor.
Visual security
At least part of the enclosure should allow the animal to:
completely disappear from view.
Live plants
Suitable plants may include:
- Pothos
- Philodendron
- Schefflera
- Ficus
- Bromeliads
provided they are non-toxic and free from:
- Pesticides
- Fertiliser residues
Plant preparation
Commercial houseplants should be thoroughly cleaned and ideally repotted into:
reptile-safe substrate.
Substrate
A tropical soil mixture can include:
- Organic topsoil
- Coco fibre
- Orchid bark
- Leaf litter
Substrate depth
Provide approximately:
10–15 cm (4–6 in)
for ordinary adult housing.
Female nesting substrate
Mature females should have access to at least:
20–25 cm (8–10 in)
of diggable substrate.
Drainage
In heavily misted enclosures, ensure excess water can:
drain away.
Waterlogging
Substrate should not become permanently:
swamp-like.
Leaf litter
Provide a generous surface layer of:
leaf litter.
Bioactive enclosure
The species is well suited to carefully designed bioactive housing.
Clean-up crew
Suitable organisms may include:
- Springtails
- Appropriate tropical isopods
Bioactive maintenance
Bioactive does not mean maintenance-free.
Continue to:
- Spot clean
- Remove spoiled food
- Clean water containers
- Monitor drainage
- Maintain plants
Temperature philosophy
This is a tropical forest lizard, not an extreme-heat basking species.
Day ambient temperature
Maintain most of the enclosure around:
23–27°C (73–81°F).
Warm upper area
The warm upper zone can reach approximately:
27–29°C (81–84°F).
Basking area
Provide a gentle local basking area around:
29–32°C (84–90°F).
Avoid excessive heat
Do not provide routine basking surfaces of:
40°C+ (104°F+).
Heat sensitivity
A densely forested tropical lizard may suffer rapidly if trapped in an enclosure that becomes uniformly hot.
Cool area
Maintain shaded lower sections around:
21–24°C (70–75°F).
Thermal choice
The animal must be able to move freely between:
- Warm exposed perches
- Moderate forest-like areas
- Cool shaded retreats
Night temperature
Allow temperatures to fall toward:
18–22°C (64–72°F).
Night cooling
A clear nighttime reduction is appropriate.
Heating
Use:
overhead heating.
Basking lamp
A low-output halogen flood is generally suitable.
Broad gentle warmth
Avoid a tiny intense hotspot.
The basking area should warm the animal:
gently and evenly.
Thermostat
Use suitable thermostatic or independent safety control.
Temperature monitoring
Use:
- Digital thermometers
- Infrared thermometer
Measure temperatures at:
actual perch level.
Lighting
Provide a clear bright:
day/night cycle.
Visible-spectrum lighting
Quality daylight LEDs can provide excellent general illumination.
Forest light gradient
The enclosure should contain:
- Bright upper areas
- Moderate mid-level light
- Deep shade
Photoperiod
Approximately:
12 hours light / 12 hours dark
provides a suitable general baseline.
Night lighting
Provide:
complete darkness at night.
UVB
Appropriate UVB should be provided.
Suggested UV Index
Aim for approximately:
UVI 2–3
at the principal exposed basking perch.
Partially shaded areas
Provide approximately:
UVI 1–2
across less exposed branches.
Deep shade
Dense foliage should create areas approaching:
UVI 0.
What this means in practice
Use a quality:
linear T5 UVB lamp
over part of the enclosure.
Lamp choice
Required lamp strength depends upon:
- Enclosure height
- Mesh
- Reflector
- Lamp model
- Perch distance
UV meter
Measurement with an appropriate UV meter is strongly recommended where possible.
Humidity
Corytophanes hernandezii requires:
moderate-to-high tropical humidity.
General humidity
Maintain approximately:
65–85%.
Post-misting humidity
Humidity may temporarily rise toward:
85–95%.
Daytime drying
Allow humidity to decline between misting sessions.
Night humidity
Humidity may naturally remain around:
80–90% or higher
during portions of the night.
Humidity fluctuations
Natural fluctuations are preferable to maintaining exactly the same percentage:
24 hours a day.
Ventilation
High humidity must always be balanced by:
fresh air exchange.
Misting
Mist approximately:
once or twice daily
as a starting point.
Adjust according to:
- Enclosure size
- Ventilation
- Plant density
- Season
Morning misting
Morning misting is particularly useful for stimulating:
drinking.
Evening misting
A lighter evening mist can help reproduce natural:
overnight humidity increases.
Automatic misting
Automatic systems can provide greater consistency.
Drainage
Automatic misting requires reliable:
drainage.
Drinking behaviour
The species may preferentially drink:
droplets from foliage and branches.
Water dish
Still provide a shallow container of:
clean fresh water.
Dripper
A slow dripper can provide additional hydration opportunities.
Dehydration
Never assume that high atmospheric humidity means the animal is automatically hydrated.
Diet
Hernández’s Casque-Headed Lizard is primarily:
insectivorous.
Natural prey
Wild prey is likely to include a broad range of:
- Orthopterans
- Beetles
- Caterpillars
- Spiders
- Cockroaches
- Other arthropods
Sit-and-wait feeding
Prey presentation should encourage natural:
ambush hunting.
Suitable captive feeders
Offer:
- Crickets
- Locusts
- Appropriate roaches
- Black soldier fly larvae
- Silkworms
Additional variety
Occasionally offer:
- Hornworms
- Mealworms
- Beetle larvae
- Other safe captive-produced arthropods
Waxworms
Waxworms should be:
occasional treats only.
Vertebrate prey
Routine feeding of vertebrate prey is:
unnecessary.
Prey size
Offer insects small enough to be swallowed comfortably.
Elevated feeding
Some prey can be presented from:
- Branch-mounted cups
- Elevated ledges
- Feeding tongs
Free-ranging prey
Controlled release of suitable insects can encourage:
natural hunting.
Loose crickets
Do not leave excessive numbers of crickets loose overnight.
Adult feeding
Healthy adults can generally be fed:
3–4 times weekly.
Juvenile feeding
Juveniles should receive appropriately sized prey:
daily or almost daily.
Gut loading
Feeder insects should be:
properly gut loaded.
Calcium
Dust appropriate prey regularly with:
calcium.
Multivitamin
Use a quality reptile multivitamin on a conservative schedule.
Vitamin D3
Supplemental D3 should be considered alongside actual:
UVB exposure.
Body condition
Monitor:
- Weight
- Tail base
- Limbs
- Overall musculature
Regular weighing
Because the animal may remain motionless even when healthy, objective weight records are particularly useful.
Social housing
Individual housing is:
the safest general approach.
Adult males
Adult males should not routinely be housed together.
Pair housing
Permanent male/female housing may result in:
- Persistent courtship
- Chasing
- Feeding suppression
- Chronic stress
Breeding introductions
Controlled breeding introductions may therefore be preferable.
Group housing
Group housing should only be considered by experienced keepers using:
substantially larger enclosures.
Reproduction
Corytophanes hernandezii is:
oviparous — egg-laying.
Reproductive information
Detailed captive reproductive information is considerably more limited than for many mainstream pet lizards.
Breeding should therefore be approached conservatively and observations carefully documented.
Seasonal cues
Reproduction is likely influenced by:
- Rainfall
- Humidity
- Temperature
- Food abundance
- Photoperiod
Female condition
Females should not be bred unless they have:
- Excellent body condition
- Strong calcium reserves
- Appropriate UVB exposure
- Reliable hydration
Gravid females
Possible signs include:
- Abdominal enlargement
- Increased time near the ground
- Restlessness
- Digging
Nesting behaviour
Although arboreal, females descend to the substrate to:
lay eggs.
Nesting substrate
Provide mature females with at least:
20–25 cm (8–10 in)
of suitable substrate.
Nest mixture
A useful mixture includes:
- Topsoil
- Sand
- Coco fibre
Nest moisture
The substrate should be:
slightly moist rather than saturated.
It should hold an excavated tunnel without collapsing.
Clutch size
Species-specific published information is limited.
Small-to-moderate clutches should be expected rather than the very large clutches produced by many larger iguanian lizards.
A cautious practical expectation is approximately:
4–10 eggs.
Individual clutches may fall outside this range.
Egg handling
If eggs are removed for artificial incubation:
- Handle gently
- Avoid rotation
- Maintain original orientation
- Prevent dehydration
Incubation medium
Suitable media include:
- Vermiculite
- Perlite
maintained:
moist but not saturated.
Incubation temperature
Until more species-specific captive data are available, a conservative working range is approximately:
24–27°C (75–81°F).
Avoid excessive incubation temperatures
Do not attempt to accelerate development with high incubation temperatures.
Incubation duration
A cautious expectation is approximately:
70–110 days,
depending on:
- Temperature
- Moisture
- Individual clutch
Because species-specific data are limited, breeders should carefully record actual results rather than treating this as an absolute range.
Hatchlings
Hatchlings should be raised separately from adults.
Hatchling enclosure
Provide a small but structurally complex arboreal enclosure with:
- Fine branches
- Cork
- Dense foliage
- UVB
- Bright lighting
- Misting
- Excellent ventilation
Initial enclosure size
Approximately:
45 × 45 × 60 cm (18 × 18 × 24 in)
can be used initially for a single young animal.
Upgrade as growth demands.
Hatchling temperature
Maintain daytime ambient temperatures around:
23–26°C (73–79°F).
Hatchling warm area
Provide approximately:
27–29°C (81–84°F).
Hatchling cool area
Maintain approximately:
21–23°C (70–73°F).
Hatchling night temperature
Allow temperatures to fall toward:
19–21°C (66–70°F).
Hatchling UVB
Provide approximately:
UVI 1.5–2.5
at exposed upper perches.
Hatchling humidity
Maintain approximately:
70–85%
with regular fluctuations and excellent ventilation.
Hatchling diet
Offer tiny prey including:
- Pinhead crickets
- Tiny roach nymphs
- Flightless fruit flies
- Small black soldier fly larvae
- Other tiny captive-produced arthropods
Hatchling feeding
Feed:
daily.
Hatchling hydration
Mist foliage regularly so hatchlings can drink:
small droplets.
Hatchling supplementation
Provide:
- Gut-loaded prey
- Calcium
- Appropriate multivitamin
- Correct UVB
Quarantine
All newly acquired animals should undergo quarantine.
At least:
90 days
is a sensible minimum.
Quarantine still requires cover
Do not quarantine this species in a completely bare enclosure.
Provide:
- Sterilisable branches
- Artificial foliage
- Hides
- Visual barriers
Wild-caught animals
Wild-origin Corytophanes may be particularly challenging.
Potential problems include:
- Dehydration
- Parasites
- Poor body condition
- Feeding refusal
- Chronic stress
Veterinary assessment
A newly acquired wild-origin animal should ideally receive:
- Physical examination
- Weight assessment
- Faecal parasite testing
Captive-bred preference
Documented:
captive-bred animals are strongly preferred.
Common health concerns
Potential problems include:
- Chronic stress
- Dehydration
- Parasites
- Metabolic bone disease
- Respiratory disease
- Skin infections
- Burns
- Hyperthermia
- Rostral trauma
- Retained shed
- Reproductive complications
Chronic stress
Signs may include:
- Persistent hiding
- Feeding refusal
- Dark colouration
- Escape behaviour
- Weight loss
Stress reduction
Provide:
- Dense cover
- Quiet surroundings
- Minimal handling
- Correct temperatures
- Appropriate enclosure size
Dehydration
Possible signs include:
- Sunken eyes
- Weakness
- Reduced feeding
- Weight loss
Preventing dehydration
Provide:
- Regular misting
- Drinking droplets
- Fresh water
- Correct humidity
Metabolic bone disease
Possible signs include:
- Weakness
- Tremors
- Soft jaw
- Limb deformity
- Fractures
Preventing MBD
Provide:
- Appropriate UVB
- Correct calcium supplementation
- Nutritious gut-loaded prey
- Correct temperatures
Respiratory disease
Risk increases with:
- Stagnant air
- Persistently wet surfaces
- Inappropriate temperatures
- Poor hygiene
Respiratory warning signs
Watch for:
- Wheezing
- Clicking
- Nasal discharge
- Excess mucus
- Increased breathing effort
Skin disease
Persistently wet conditions can encourage:
- Bacterial dermatitis
- Fungal disease
Burns
Prevent access to:
- Exposed bulbs
- Hot fittings
- Heating elements
Hyperthermia
This species should never be trapped in an enclosure maintained entirely at:
30°C+ (86°F+).
Cool shaded areas are essential.
Rostral trauma
A stressed animal may repeatedly rub against:
- Glass
- Mesh
- Doors
Preventing rostral trauma
Use:
- Dense planting
- Visual barriers
- Quiet enclosure placement
- Adequate space
Retained shed
Inspect:
- Toes
- Tail tip
- Around the casque
Reproductive complications
Females may experience:
- Calcium depletion
- Egg retention
- Dystocia
Possible dystocia
Seek veterinary attention for:
- Repeated unsuccessful digging
- Persistent straining
- Severe weakness
- Lethargy
- Continued abdominal enlargement
Veterinary red flags
Consult a suitably experienced reptile veterinarian for:
- Persistent anorexia
- Significant weight loss
- Severe dehydration
- Tremors
- Weakness
- Abnormal breathing
- Serious skin lesions
- Prolapse
- Suspected egg retention
Cleaning
Spot-clean:
- Faeces
- Shed skin
- Dead insects
- Spoiled organic material
promptly.
Water maintenance
Clean water containers:
daily.
Branch maintenance
Inspect branches regularly for:
- Mould
- Rot
- Faecal contamination
Substrate maintenance
Remove heavily contaminated substrate as necessary.
Bioactive systems
Even mature bioactive systems require:
- Monitoring
- Spot cleaning
- Plant maintenance
- Drainage checks
Seasonal husbandry
Natural environments experience seasonal changes in:
- Rainfall
- Humidity
- Temperature
- Food availability
Wet season simulation
During wetter periods:
- Increase misting modestly
- Increase prey availability
- Maintain excellent ventilation
Drier period
During naturally drier periods:
- Reduce misting somewhat
- Continue drinking opportunities
- Prevent dehydration
Outdoor exposure
Temporary outdoor exposure may be beneficial during suitable warm weather.
Natural sunlight
Unfiltered sunlight provides excellent:
- UVB
- Visible-spectrum light
Outdoor shade
Always provide:
substantial deep shade.
Ireland and UK
The climate of Ireland and the UK means permanent outdoor housing is:
not appropriate.
Any outdoor exposure must be closely supervised and weather-dependent.
Conservation
Corytophanes hernandezii has a reasonably broad distribution, but forest reptiles can still be affected locally by:
- Deforestation
- Habitat fragmentation
- Agricultural expansion
- Pesticides
- Wild collection
CITES
Corytophanes hernandezii is not generally treated as a CITES-listed species.
However, CITES status does not determine all:
national or international legal requirements.
Legal sourcing
Always verify current rules concerning:
- Acquisition
- Import
- Export
- Transport
- Sale
Wild collection
Do not assume that a non-CITES species can legally be collected or exported from its country of origin.
Captive breeding
Responsible captive breeding is particularly valuable for species that remain:
uncommon in established captive populations.
Provenance
Retain:
- Breeder information
- Purchase receipt
- Hatch date
- Parentage
- Locality information where known
- Import/export documentation where applicable
Never release captive animals
Never release captive Corytophanes.
Release can:
- Spread disease
- Introduce non-native species
- Violate wildlife legislation
Common husbandry mistakes
Common mistakes include:
- Treating the species like a Green Iguana
- Using an enclosure that is too short
- Providing insufficient branches
- Leaving large empty spaces without foliage
- Providing inadequate visual security
- Keeping temperatures too high
- Using desert-lizard basking temperatures
- Providing no cool retreat
- Keeping nights excessively warm
- Keeping the enclosure permanently saturated
- Providing high humidity with poor ventilation
- Keeping conditions excessively dry
- Providing no drinking droplets
- Keeping the enclosure dim
- Providing inadequate UVB
- Feeding only one insect species
- Poor gut loading
- Inadequate calcium supplementation
- Excessive handling
- Leaving large numbers of crickets overnight
- Permanent pair housing without monitoring
- Providing females with inadequate nesting substrate
- Failing to quarantine
- Buying stressed wild-caught animals when captive-bred animals are available
Responsible ownership
Before obtaining Hernández’s Casque-Headed Lizard, ensure you can provide:
- Legally documented provenance
- At least approximately 90 × 60 × 120 cm (3 × 2 × 4 ft) adult housing
- Preferably 120 × 60 × 150 cm (4 × 2 × 5 ft) or larger
- Dense vertical and diagonal branches
- Extensive foliage
- Strong visual security
- Tropical soil substrate
- Good drainage
- Excellent ventilation
- Day temperatures around 23–27°C (73–81°F)
- Gentle basking temperatures around 29–32°C (84–90°F)
- Cooler areas around 21–24°C (70–75°F)
- Nighttime cooling
- Humidity around 65–85%
- Regular misting
- Reliable drinking opportunities
- Bright visible lighting
- Appropriate UVB
- UVI approximately 2–3 at exposed basking perches
- A varied live-invertebrate diet
- Correct gut loading
- Appropriate calcium and vitamin supplementation
- Minimal handling
- Individual housing where appropriate
- Deep nesting substrate for mature females
- Quarantine facilities
- Access to specialist reptile veterinary care
Summary
Hernández’s Casque-Headed Lizard (Corytophanes hernandezii) is a cryptic arboreal predator from the tropical forests of Mexico and northern Central America.
It is not a high-temperature desert lizard and should instead be provided with a:
cooler, humid, heavily vegetated forest environment.
For one adult, provide at least approximately:
90 × 60 × 120 cm (3 × 2 × 4 ft),
with:
120 × 60 × 150 cm (4 × 2 × 5 ft)
or larger preferred.
Fill the enclosure with:
- Vertical trunks
- Diagonal branches
- Vines
- Dense foliage
- Visual barriers
Maintain daytime ambient temperatures around:
23–27°C (73–81°F)
with a gentle basking area around:
29–32°C (84–90°F).
Provide cooler areas around:
21–24°C (70–75°F)
and nighttime temperatures around:
18–22°C (64–72°F).
Maintain humidity around:
65–85%
with higher peaks after misting and overnight, while ensuring:
excellent ventilation and regular surface drying.
Provide appropriate UVB with approximately:
UVI 2–3
at the principal exposed basking perch.
Feed a varied insect diet including:
- Crickets
- Locusts
- Roaches
- Black soldier fly larvae
- Silkworms
- Other suitable arthropods
with appropriate gut loading and supplementation.
The species is:
egg-laying.
Captive reproductive information remains relatively limited, making careful record keeping especially important for breeders.
Corytophanes hernandezii should primarily be regarded as a:
low-disturbance specialist display species.
With correct temperatures, high but fluctuating humidity, dense vegetation, excellent ventilation, suitable UVB, appropriate hydration and a varied live-invertebrate diet, it can be a fascinating species for experienced keepers interested in unusual Central American forest lizards.
IMPORTANT INFORMATION:
This care sheet provides general husbandry guidance and does not replace species-specific research or veterinary advice. Individual requirements may vary.
Always check current legislation governing the acquisition, collection, import, transport, keeping, breeding or sale of reptiles in your jurisdiction.
If you have concerns about an animal’s health or care, consult a suitably experienced exotic or reptile veterinarian.
Information correct at the date of publication.
reptilecommunity.com | Revised: August 2026