Frilled lizard care sheet

The frilled lizard, or frilled dragon as it's sometimes known, is one of the more interesting looking lizards.

When startled, the frilled has a defense mechanism whereby it fans out -or displays its large frill on its neck. It's other unique talent is its ability to sprint very fast, usually while displaying its frill.

The interesting thing is, in captivity, you'll rarely see either of these talents. For one thing, it will not have the room to run, unless you provide an entire room in the house for its cage. The other talent will probably lie dormant because your frilled lizard well hopefully become tame, not needing its frill to appear bigger, so as to scare you.

Cage

A male frilled can reach a length of 36 inches, and a female frilled can top out at around 24 inches. A bare minimum cage size should be 48 inches long, 24 inches deep, by 48 inches tall.

A frilled lizard enjoys basking on large branches. You should provide several branches for basking, which will also be used for hiding. They also enjoy a basking rock or two, or create your own fake rock wall.

As far as substrate -sand, newspaper, or for a more natural look -Coconut bark is a popular bedding. Cage should be spot cleaned on a daily basis. The entire cage should be cleaned out at least once a month. Humidity levels need to be maintained with a frilled lizard. A humidity measuring device needs to be purchased to make sure the cage is falling in the range of 45% to 65% humidity level.

Food

Frilled lizards eat mainly insects, with the occasional veggie salad and the occasional pinky mouse.

Silkworms are probably one of the more nutritious items you can provide -a little expensive. Crickets, superworms, and roaches should be gut loaded with nutritious foods 24 to 48 hours before they're Fed to your frilled. Babies and juveniles should be fed every day until they get their fill, while adults should be fed around four times a week.

The insect or salad item you feed to your frilled lizard should be considerably smaller than the width of your lizard's mouth.

Greens such as turnip greens, dandelion greens, mustard greens and collard greens should be shredded and offered daily. Other veggies such as shredded carrots, peas, and squash(cooked and allowed to cool) can be offered in relatively small quantities.

Fruits, also in small quantities, can be offered -such as berries and banana.

A fairly large water dish or container should be provided, changed and cleaned on a daily basis. Frilled's occasionally like to soak in their water dish. The cage should also be misted on a daily basis, which will provide water and a way for you to maintain the humidity level.

Frilled's also need a vitamin and calcium supplement. For babies and juveniles you want to provide this every other day. Adults need twice a week. The vitamins and calcium powder can be incorporated with the insects or salad, best way being -to coat the insects, or sprinkle on the salad.

Lighting

As with most lizards, the frilled needs a full spectrum of lighting. They need a UVB bulb, and a heat bulb. A mercury vapor bulb produces both.

Most lizards need a UVB source(Sun rays) to produce vitamin D3 in which to absorb calcium. Follow the directions on the bulb you purchase as to how far away the bulb should be from your frilled lizard.

You need to create a temperature gradient in your frilled's cage. This enables them to self regulate their temperature. The best way of doing this is to have your heat bulb on one far end of the cage.

A frilled's basking spot should reach 100°, while the cooler side of the cage can fall between a range of 75° to 85°.

Brumation

Brumation is the reptile equivalent of hibernation. In a frilled's natural habitat, food becomes less and less plentiful during the winter months.

Often times, around November a frilled will slow down and sleep through February or March. You want to make sure your frilled lizard's stomach is empty before he enters Brumation. If not, the leftover food begins to rot because he is unable to digest it due to the temperature drop.

It's best to contact a vet to make sure your frilled is not slowing down due to illness.

Before you purchase a frilled lizard be sure and read several different care sheets and books about your pet lizard; as well as attempt to find other frilled owners to get advice from.

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