When I first laid eyes on the frill-necked lizard, I thought of the terrifying scene in the original Jurassic Park movie involving the Dilophosaurus. Fortunately, the 20 ft carnivore is not related to the frill-necked lizard! Today, frill-necked reptiles actually make great pets with a 15-year lifespan. Frill necks may be rare but make great pets for novice and seasoned reptile keepers. To learn more about these fascinating creatures, this guide explores the five things you need to know about keeping a pet frill-necked lizard.
1. Their Frill Changes Color
It goes without saying that the frill-necked lizard’s name comes from the trim adorning their heads and necks. While it certainly adds to their curious appearance, these frills tend to change color based on what this reptile eats. In fact, researchers have found that the color of the frill is affected by the lizard’s daily diet and geographical location. This is due to the high number of pigments in their blood and frills.
If you have a frill-necked dragon that consumes a large amount of carotenoids, you’ll notice orange tinges in their head adornment. As they are omnivores, you can feed them a varied diet of mealworms, vegetables, and other types of insects that reptiles can’t resist.
2. Frill-Necked Lizards Are Arboreal
If there’s one activity that these exotic and arboreal lizards enjoy, it’s climbing trees. In captivity, not only will adding a few branches to their enclosure mimic their habitats, but it also provides a fun source of enrichment. Keeping a frill-necked dragon as a pet means creating an environment that is stimulating with leafy or well-covered areas as hiding spots. Take the time to thoroughly plan the decor in the tank by incorporating branches and rocks the reptiles can crawl onto during the day.
Because they are diurnal, they are more active when the sun is up. Providing a decorative enclosure in which they feel comfortable will keep them happy and can reduce the incidence of stress and diseases in reptiles.
3. Frill-Necked Lizards Rely on UVB Rays
Frill-necked lizards hail from Australia where there’s plenty of sunshine and warm temperatures. To keep them balanced and healthy, you must install a UVB light. Remember that a basking light does not equal UVB. Ultraviolet light is meant to replicate the sun’s rays and is a special product that you can find at a reptile store. A frill-neck lizard needs regular UVB to synthesize vitamin D3 and absorb calcium. This will protect your pet from illnesses such as metabolic bone disease that can cause fragility and poor longevity.
In addition to lighting, these lizards require consistent temperatures of 90℉ to 100℉. The cooler side of the tank should be 90℉ while the warmer end and basking area can reach 100℉. You can lower the temperature at night, but it should remain above 80℉. Following these practices will protect your pet reptiles from improper temperature regulation, which is detrimental to their health.
4. Frill-Necked Lizards Need High Humidity
While temperature and lighting are crucial for the happiness of frill-necked lizards, they also rely on high humidity. These reptiles will tolerate humidity of between 50% and 65%. To guarantee that your pets are receiving the correct moisture levels in their enclosures, use a hygrometer. Hygrometers are designed to monitor humidity and provide precise readings throughout the day. Moisture can be introduced into the tank by filling a bottle with water and spraying a light mist daily.
The frill-necked reptile enjoys spending time in the water, so be sure to include a shallow dish allowing them to splash about. Despite adults reaching a total length of three feet, don’t add a deep dish to the tank that places them at risk of drowning. To avoid mold growth due to high moisture levels, maintain your reptile enclosure with gentle cleaning agents that are safe for lizards.
5. Keep Male Frill-Necked Lizards Separate
You can house multiple frill-necked lizards together except for males. The males will put on a dominant display and fight for territory, so avoid a stressful and unpleasant situation by keeping them apart. If you decide to house more than one frilled-neck lizard, you will need to increase the size of the enclosure. The general rule of thumb is to double the size of the tank for two lizards. One frill neck can be housed in a 55-to-60-gallon tank because it requires a fair amount of space to move around. When placing a group of them together, you’ll have to consider the size and cost requirements of installing quite a large tank.
If you’re a beginner lizard keeper, it’s better to stick to one reptile at a time. It’s easier to monitor the behavior and physical condition of a single reptile than to manage two of them at double the cost. Handling a single lizard also allows you to form healthy bonds with your pet as you have more time and patience to dedicate to it.
Final Thoughts on Keeping Frill-Necked Lizards
Before you decide to introduce a frill-necked lizard into your new tank, look for a reputable breeder. You’ll want a healthy pet that has been tamed because they’re easier to handle and will adjust to its new environment with relatively little stress. All new reptile owners should research to prepare the new pet’s housing and food before their arrival.
When these lizards put their frills on display, it’s really an impressive sight, but they’ll only perform this behavior when threatened. The frill-necked lizard will open its mouth and neck accessory to ward off threats, but they shouldn’t be on constant high alert in your tank. If you notice this behavior, look for things that could be causing stress. Check their temperature and humidity and give them enrichment to keep them active and stimulated. Following these steps will give you many years with your impressive exotic companions.
