People choose to keep a frilled lizard as a pet when they want a reptile with an aggressive look. Few lizards are as good at impressing viewers. They also remind savvy reptile owners of a certain dinosaur from a famous movie. But is the frilled lizard a good pet for most hobbyists?
What is the Frilled Lizard?
Frilled lizards are Agamid lizards found in Australia and New Guinea. Agamid lizards are found all over the world. But Australia is home to some of the more popular pet Agamid lizards, including the bearded dragon (Pogona vitticeps).
The two frilled lizard populations are separated by the ocean now but during the ice ages were one group. The mainland Australian population grows up to 3 feet long. These are the less common frilled dragons in the pet trade. The Indonesian frilled lizards grow no larger than 2 feet and are easier to house.
How Do Frilled Lizards Protect Themselves?
The frill-necked lizard is a champion bluffer. Several animals that aren’t dangerous will use bluffing tactics to scare away predators. If a prey animal psyches out a predator, it can avoid having to fight for its life.
Frilled dragons have several strategies for intimidation. The first is that ring of skin around their heads that gives them their name. The frill looks like a lion’s mane. Except the lizard uses it to make its head look massive.
The sudden increase in size is frightening for an animal considering whether to get close or not. It’s so distinctive that the frilled lizard was the inspiration for Dilophosaurus in the first Jurassic Park movie. The real-life dinosaur did not have the frill that the real-life lizard does, though.
Second, the frilled lizard will open its mouth wide. Their sharp, triangular teeth are very visible. Often it will hiss at the same time, showing it is ready to fight if pressed.
But what if bluffing fails and the lizard does not want to fight? Frilled lizards are champion bipedal runners. Meaning that they stand on two legs when running, like us humans.
Here is a short video showing the frilled lizard on the run:
- Common Names: Frilled Lizard, Frilled Neck Lizard, Frilled Dragon
- Scientific Name: Chlamydosaurus kingii
- Origin: Northern Australia & New Guinea
- Length: 2 to 3 feet
- Enclosure Size: 5 x 2.5 x 4 feet
- Diet: Omnivorous
- Frilled Lizard Lifespan: Up to 15 years
- Ease of Care: Moderate
Frilled Lizard Care
Frilled dragon care is challenging compared to more common pet lizards. But a new keeper armed with the right knowledge will be able to keep a frilled lizard healthy.
Frilled Lizard Cage Setup
The enclosure for a frill lizard should take into account both the horizontal and vertical dimensions. These lizards need to be able to climb. Some ground space is required but vertical space is more important.
Provide enough ground space for the lizard to stretch out entirely. Coupled with 4 feet or more of climbing space. Branches and vines will give the frilled lizard places to roam and bask.
Humidity for Frilled Lizards
Humidity levels need to be moderate since frilled neck lizards are a tropical species. 60-75% is enough for them, which means misting several times per day.
An automatic mister will do an even better job, however. These units have humidity gauges that keep levels constant. Instead of rising and falling rapidly, as with using a hand mister.
As long as you keep up with their humidity needs, a water bowl isn’t necessary for a frilled lizard enclosure. They often don’t even recognize standing water as a place to drink.
These lizards drink in the treetops, licking droplets of water from leaves and branches. Misting and food provides them with all of their drinking water.
Your substrate choices should also enable the enclosure to retain moisture. Coco coir, shredded bark, soil, sphagnum moss, or a mix of all of these are the best options. Stay away from sand and other substrates that dry too fast.
Lighting for Frilled Lizards
Frill lizards need infrared (heat) and ultraviolet (UVb) radiation as well. Any heat source needs to be warm enough to create a basking zone of 100-115℉. The rest of the enclosure should remain at around 85-90℉.
Also be careful with how close the basking lamp is to the enclosure. The skin around the frill of the lizard is delicate. The frill sometimes gets singed if the lizard comes into close proximity to hot lamps.
UVb radiation helps the dragon create vitamin D3. Which, in turn, facilitates calcium uptake from food. Without UVb, your lizard is at risk of developing metabolic bone disease. Which is fatal if not diagnosed and treated.
What Do Frilled Lizards Eat?
Frilled lizards are omnivorous, meaning they eat both plant and animal matter. That said, frilled dragons lean heavily towards the carnivore spectrum. You will need to get a feel for what your pet lizard will and will not eat.
Young frilled dragons are the worst at eating vegetables. Since they need the extra protein for growth, it is okay to feed a baby frilled lizard with nothing but insects. They should eat at least twice per day when young.
Adult lizards have a high metabolism as well. They need to eat 1-2 times per day, depending on the lizard. Try offering them an 80-20 blend of animal protein to plant matter.
Small salads of leafy greens, mixed with grated vegetables and chopped fruit are a good start. But there is a decent chance your frilled dragon will ignore vegetables. If so, it’s not a major issue.
Insects are their main source of food. These lizards eat a lot for their size. You may even want to start breeding your own crickets or dubia roaches. Add treats of fattier insects on occasion like waxworms, black soldier fly larvae, and silkworm caterpillars.
If you do choose to raise insects yourself, you will have an easier time gut-loading them. Gut loading is feeding your insects nutritious fruits and vegetables to boost their vitamin content for your lizard.
Be sure to also vitamin dust any feeder insects right before offering them. Calcium and vitamin D3 blends ward off metabolic bone disease in reptiles.
Handling a Frilled Lizard
Frilled dragons resemble bearded dragons, which are some of the best lizards for handling. But frilled lizards are not as relaxed as their cousins.
They tend to be very skittish lizards when young. Frilled lizards will not only puff out their frills; they will bite when threatened. Their bite isn’t serious. But their teeth are sharp and an adult frilled lizard will break the skin.
A captive and hand-raised baby may become a tame adult. But not as calm as a hand-raised bearded dragon. At best, a frilled lizard will learn to tolerate being held.
But it causes them stress and should only be done if necessary. Such as when cleaning the enclosure or moving the lizard.
Conclusion
Frilled lizards are excellent pets so long as you are okay with keeping handling to a minimum. These are fast lizards, even as adults. They are easy to scare and their famous frill is a sign that they are being stressed. If you want a lizard that also has a dragon-like look but enjoys handling, try their relative the bearded dragon.
More FAQs About Frilled Lizards
A hatchling frilled lizard price will be between $150-$250. The larger they are, the more expensive they become. Wild-caught lizards are the cheapest. But they also have issues with internal parasites that need to be addressed. Plus, they are much more aggressive than captive-raised babies.
Frill-necked lizards are from northern Australia and southern New Guinea. There are two distinct populations; the Australian group grows larger. The New Guinea population is smaller and are the kind you most often find in pet stores.
Despite their frightening bluff talents, frilled dragons have no real ability to harm you. Their bites may cause bleeding but they have no venom. All you need to do is disinfect a bite wound and apply a bandage.
