The Green Basilisk is an arboreal lizard found in the rainforests of Guatemala, Nicaragua, Costa Rica, Columbia, and Panama.

Male Green Basilisks may become territorial and should be separated from other males. Males will almost certainly fight one another if housed in the same enclosure. They tend to be nervous and flighty and usually do not become accostomed to handling easily.

Named for their bright green skin, the Green Basilisk has distinctive crests on its head and along its back and tail. Its tail makes up nearly 2/3 of its body length. At maturity, Green Basilisks will usually grow to a length of 2 to 2 1/2 feet. These lizards are able to run across the surface of water for short distances, earning them the name "Jesus Lizard." They are also excellent swimmers, able to stay under water for nearly half an hour. Excellent runners, they can reach speeds up to 7 miles per hour on land.

Green Basilisks need relatively large enclosures. A single adult basilisk should be kept in an terrarium of at least 55 gallons. Use full spectrum UV lighting for about 13 hours a day. Use plenty of imitation plants for hiding places and a few climbing branches, as well. Keep the ambient daytime temperature at about 85 degrees Fahrenheit, with the coolest end 80 degrees and a warmer basking area about 95 degrees. At night, cool the enclosure down to the low to mid 70s. Keep the humidity high at all times and supply a bowl for drinking. Mist the vivarium every day. They are omnivorous, so they should be fed dark leafy greens and smaller amounts of other vegetables and insects such as earthworms, crickets, roaches and mealworms. You can also add some fruit to their diet. It is advisable to dust all insects and fruits with a calcium supplement . It is recommended that a multivitamin supplement also be used about twice a week.

Successful breeding of the Green Basilisk will require maintaining proper humidity, temperature, and light. It will also require healthy lizards and the proper procedure for incubation. They will need a high relative humidity to necessitate breeding (about 80%) and temperatures in the mid- to upper 80s are optimal. 12 hours of light to 12 hours of dark, seems to work well. Separating females from males prior to breeding will increase the chances of them successfully mating. The male will grab the female by the skin on the back of her head and mating may last as long as 20 minutes. Pregnant females should get noticeably fatter after a week or two, and by week three, they will look for a place to bury eggs. For ground material, use a slightly damp mixture of peat moss, soil, and sand.

Clutch sizes vary from 8-18 eggs and they may lay multiple clutches per season, sometimes up to four or five. Incubate the eggs at about 84 degrees Fahrenheit in a 1:1 (by weight) mixture of water and vermiculite. The eggs will hatch in between eight to ten weeks later, and the hatching usually takes one to two days to complete. They should reach sexual maturity at about 1.5 to 2 years of age.