Frilled Dragon Care Guide

Species Info: Frilled dragons are a medium-large lizard native to Australia and New Guinea. This care guide will focus on the New Guinea subspecies as they are more common by far. These lizards get their name from the flaps of skin around their neck that they can flip up when threatened, in order to appear much larger to scare away potential predators (and curious humans). A frilled dragon was also used as partial inspiration in the first Jurassic Park movie as a stand-in for a Dilophosaurus, which in reality were much larger and show no actual evidence of having a frill in any fossils discovered so far. 

  Level of Care/Handling: Medium. Adult frilled dragons need very large enclosures and substantial heat and humidity to stay healthy. Tolerance to handling varies by individual, but many frilly keepers have been able to tame their dragons up quite well. 

Length/Lifespan: New Guinea frillies are smaller than their Australian counterparts, reaching a maximum length of a little over 2 ft. Females tend to be around 2/3 the size of males. Both localities can live up to 10 years with good husbandry, with females having slightly shorter life spans due to reproductive stress

Temperature/Humidity/Lighting/Space: Frilled dragons need a substantial basking spot of around 115 degrees towards the top of the cage, which can be provided by using sturdy branches. The rest of the enclosure should stay around 85-90 degrees and can drop down to 75-80 at night. UV lighting is also essential for growth and digestion, and should be provided using a light strip since frillies tend to be very active inside their enclosure. Humidity also needs to be kept high, between 60-80% (70% is good to shoot for. If you have an Exo Terra enclosure and find that you cannot keep it humid enough, you can cover half of the screen top with saran wrap to seal in moisture. Regardless, the enclosures of babies need to be misted 2-3 times a day because of the high output of your heat lamps, (adults can be misted once or twice a day). A water bowl large enough to soak in should also be provided. Small babies can be kept in horizontal enclosures (Exo Terra small or medium low are adequate. Juveniles and adults should be kept in vertical enclosures, at least 20 gallons tall for juveniles and 36x18x36” at minimum for adults.

 Flooring: Substrate needs to be able to hold moisture without fouling too quickly. Coconut fibre can be used on its own, or mixed with cypress mulch, peat moss, and/or a small amount of sand to prolong its use. Male frilled dragons do not burrow very much so 2-3” is adequate for them. Females however will lay eggs regardless of whether they have actually mated, and should be provided with a lay box the size of the lizard and 3-4” deep.

Decoration: Rough woods like grapewood, mopani, and cork bark are ideal for frilled dragons as they use their nails to climb. Smoother kinds like java or spiderwood tend not to be used by the lizard as much. Any reptile-safe decorations are okay, but things to climb on should be the main focus. Live/fake plants and raised magnetic caves are both good choices for hides, and at least one should be provided for your dragon. 

 Diet: Frillies are primarily insectivores, and should be provided with as much variety as possible. Good staple feeders include soldier fly larvae, gut-loaded crickets, dubia, dusky cave, and red runner roaches with wax, horn, and superworms being good occasional treats. Hard-bodied insects should not be larger than the space between your dragon’s eyes. Some keepers report their dragons occasionally eating veggies as well. Calcium-greens like collards, dandelion and turnip, as well as acorn/butternut squash can be offered if your frilly will eat them. Insects should be mostly dusted with calcium with Vitamin D3 and multivitamin supplements, but it is important not to over-supplement. If you notice your dragon developing abnormally large jowls it is time to cut back. 

Feeding Frequency: Babies should be fed 8-10 insects 2-3 times a day, juveniles once daily, and adults 2-3 times a week. Overfeeding can cause your frillie to go on a temporary hunger strike. If it doesn’t last more than a few weeks, it is not cause for concern so long as temperatures and humidity levels are normal. It is recommended to mist your dragon right before feeding, as it makes them much more likely to eat. 

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