Frilled Lizard Care Sheet

Scientific Name

Chlamydosaurus kingii

Size

60-90cm (24-36 inches)

Lifespan

15 years

Natural Distribution

Australia

Frilled Lizards love to eat brown crickets. In the wild they regularly feed on these insects.


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We believe Reptisun bulbs are the best UVB tubes around. Perfect for basking animals like Frilled Lizards.

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Frilled Lizards also enjoy the occasional locust. They love chasing this bouncing snack.


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We always suggest sprinkling Nutrobal on your lizard's food to ensure they're getting the right balance of vitamins and minerals.

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We advise using wooden vivariums rather than glass as they retain heat more efficiently keeping your pet nice and warm. As Frilled Lizards can grow to adult size within a year or two, it is advised to buy an adult vivarium from day one. We would recommend a vivarium of 120x60x90cm (48"x24"x36"). This will ensure your Frilled Lizard has enough room to explore and run around. It also has plenty of room for climbing which they enjoy.

Beech woodchip is a good substrate as the Frilled Lizards generally do not swallow it whilst feeding on live insects. Bark chippings are also a good substrate as they are great at absorbing any splashes of water. Sands, such as calcisands can be ingested easily, building up inside the animal potentially causing health problems and distress to your pet. Frilled Lizards are not shy and will be out basking during the day. Wood, rocks and artificial plants should be used to create a basking area as well as areas to climb and lounge around.

Night time heating is provided by a ceramic bulb one end of the vivarium controlled by a thermostat, about 80oF is fine. The cermacic bulb should be installed using a ceramic bulb holder and covered with a ceramic heater guard to prevent the lizards from getting burnt. During the day two spot bulbs are used to raise the temperature to about 100oF. These should be at the same end of the vivarium as the ceramic heater to create a hot end and a cooler end. The spot bulbs will also provide a day and night cycle. Temperatures should always be checked by a reliable thermometer.

Day light is provided by the spot bulbs used to raise the day temperate. All day time basking lizards require additional UVB lighting. This must be at least 10% UVB. Frilled Lizards require UVB light in order to synthesise vitamin D. Without vitamin D (in particular D3) Frilled Lizards are not able to metabolise calcium properly causing problems with bone growth. This can lead to serious disease problems such as metabolic bone disease, which kills many Frilled Lizards. The UVB light should be turned on and off with the spot bulbs and placed no further than 30cm (12 inches) from the animals. The UVB tube should be replaced every 6 months, as the UVB output is not effective after that time. Ensure you get the right size starter unit for your UV.

Frilled Lizards are carnivorous meaning they eat live food. Crickets are particularly nutritious, locusts, mealworms and wax worms can also be used to supplement their diet and add variety. Your pet deserves the best foods possible so look after your live foods. Keep your crickets and locusts fresh, plump and full of vitamins by feeding them with Bug Grub and fresh vegetation. Remember, your Frilled Lizard also eats whatever is in your live food's stomach. Also, don't allow your live food to dehydrate, you don't want to give your animals dried up half dead insects for dinner! Hydrate them with Bug Gel to keep them alive longer and mouth wateringly juicy. Care for your live food in their own enclosure, such as a Cricket Keeper. Live foods should be coated in a vitamin and mineral supplement such as Nutrobal to ensure the Frilled Lizard is getting the best nutrition possible.

Frilled Lizards love to be around water. This can be achieved by using a large, deep water bowl. Or, you could incorporate a filtered aquarium into the vivarium. Frilled Lizards also require a humid environment, it is therefore important to mist the vivarium one daily using a water sprayer.

Frilled Lizards are not really that keen on being handled. If you do attempt to handle them and they become aggitated, carefully put them back into their vivarium.

Males do not get on with each other as adults and will fight so only keep one per enclosure. Males can be kept with a harem of females providing the vivarium is large enough to accommodate them. Females are ok to be kept as a colony.

Maintenance

Regular spot cleaning of the vivarium should be performed to keep it hygienic for both the animal and the keeper. Dead live foods and the Frilled Lizard's faeces should be removed when noticed. Change the substrate once a month or as required and clean the vivarium with a reptile disinfectant.

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