Frilled dragons (Chlamydosaurus kingii) are native to extreme southern New Guinea and north coastal Australia. It is the second largest lizard in the family Agamidae, second only to the sailfin dragon. Though frilled lizards are considered as a single genus, the color of the frill may vary with those belonging to different habitats.
Also known as “frillies”
The iconic frilled lizard’s intimidating “frill” is a large, colorful, circular membrane of skin that projects upward and outward is recognized by all as a warning display that is employed when this lizard feels threatened. It serves to make a frilled lizard appear much larger and scarier than it would otherwise appear while clutching a tree trunk in a vertical fashion and trying to blend in.
The expanse of the skin flap around its neck can reach dinner-plate proportions, and when the lizard is threatened, the vibrant colors within the frill, what the reptile world refers to as fire-up, meaning the colors explode. It’s a sharp contrast to the overall earthy brown and gray tones the lizard generally possesses when it’s calm. A large, bright-white to yellow, open mouth with fanglike teeth measuring one-eighth inch are also part of this defensive display, which deters potential predators by making the lizard look too big and scary to swallow.
Males reach a length of around 36 inches and females have a length of around 25 inches. Even the frill color of the males may be much brighter than the females. These animals are fascinating with these amazing features and are also popular as pets. Housing a frillie properly is key to its long-term health.
Most of the reptile lovers get frilled dragons as pets for the amazing frilled neck. However, this display may become a rare treat, once these reptiles get tamed. This is because, there is no more threat to their life and so, they do not have to reveal their frill to discourage the predators.
Frillies are peaceful lizards once established. They love to assume a tree-hugging position, and if they’re nervous, they’ll squirrel around the backside of the trunk to avoid being seen.
Frilled dragons may hibernate during winter months. They may sleep for very long intervals and eat fewer amounts of food before they start hibernating. They ensure that their stomach is empty, before hibernation. If the stomach retains food, it may rot, as digestion will not take place during this time. Contact a vet to make sure that the lizard is hibernating and is not having a health problem.
This reptile readily takes food from their keepers. The main diet for a pet frilled lizard should be comprised of insects, such as crickets, roaches, hornworms, silkworms, soldier fly larvae, super worms, and grasshoppers. All insects fed to Drilled Dragons should be dusted with a quality calcium and vitamin D3 supplement.
While juveniles have to be fed two times a day, adults are often provided with food, every alternate day. In the case of babies, calcium supplement powder is added to the food, almost six days a week and for adults, it is reduced to two to three times a week. Both adults, as well as young ones, are given a dose of multivitamin powder, once a week.
Make sure to provide the frilled dragon with a dish full of fresh water that has to be changed every day. These reptiles love to feed on insects and the ideal ones are crickets, cockroaches, super worms, hornworms, silkworms, and butter worms. You may also include fruits, vegetables, and greens in frilled dragon diet. Misting the lizards as well as the enclosure is beneficial in raising the humidity as well as to hydrate the reptile.
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