Borneo angle-headed lizard (Gonocephalus bornensis)

Short answers

Borneo angle-headed lizard: How big does the enclosure need to be?

From 80×60×120 cm for one animal; for a pair from 90×60×120 cm (15 % more floor space per additional animal, as in the 1997 expert report).

Borneo angle-headed lizard: What temperature does it need?

Daytime 24–28 °C, basking spot 30–32 °C, at night 20–22 °C.

Borneo angle-headed lizard: Does it need UVB lighting?

UVB: UVB recommended (weak, Ferguson zone 1–2, UV index 1–3; an approx. 5–10 % UVB lamp).

Borneo angle-headed lizard: How long do they live?

Life expectancy: approx. 8–12 years in captivity (an estimate, hardly any captive data).

Borneo angle-headed lizard: Is it suitable for beginners?

No – better suited to experienced keepers (difficulty: Expert).

Climate

Daytime temperature

24–28 °C

Night temperature

20–22 °C

Basking spot

30–32 °C

Humidity

80–90 % (close to 100 % at night)

UVB

UVB recommended (weak, Ferguson zone 1–2, UV index 1–3; an approx. 5–10 % UVB lamp)

Enclosure

Minimum size

from 80×60×120 cm for one animal; for a pair from 90×60×120 cm (15 % more floor space per additional animal, as in the 1997 expert report)

Substrate

Forest floor or coco humus with sphagnum moss and leaf litter, moisture-retaining

Feeding

Food

Insects: house crickets, roaches, crickets, locusts, worms

Feeding interval

adults 2–3×/week, juveniles (almost) daily

Key facts

Adult size

approx. 31–45 cm total length; males 38–45 cm, females 31–40 cm

Life expectancy

approx. 8–12 years in captivity (an estimate, hardly any captive data)

Origin

Endemic to Borneo (Sabah, Sarawak, Brunei, Kalimantan), lowland rainforest below 700 m

Protection status

Not listed under CITES, no special protection under German nature conservation law; proof of origin is advisable for wild-caught animals

Brumation

None (an equatorial rainforest species, even all year)

Cohabitation

Singly or in pairs (one male plus one female); NEVER keep males together (territorial). House them together only with visual barriers, plenty of space and supervision

Notes

Very rare in captivity; the figures are largely derived from the genus standard (Gonocephalus / forest dragon). Prone to stress, and slow to settle in. It needs running or dripping water and somewhere to bathe; it recognises still bowls poorly. Uncertain because the data are thin.

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Related species

• Bell's angle-headed dragon (Gonocephalus bellii) – Intermediate to expert
• Chameleon angle-headed lizard (Gonocephalus chamaeleontinus) – Expert
• Doria's angle-headed lizard (Gonocephalus doriae) – Intermediate
• Great angle-headed lizard (Gonocephalus grandis) – Expert
• Kuhl's angle-headed lizard (Gonocephalus kuhlii) – Expert
• Blue-eyed angle-headed lizard (Gonocephalus liogaster) – Intermediate
• Large-scaled angle-headed lizard (Gonocephalus megalepis) – Expert
• Mjöberg's angle-headed lizard (Gonocephalus mjobergi) – Expert

All species in the care wiki →

What you need to start

To keep Borneo angle-headed lizard (Gonocephalus bornensis) you typically need: a suitable enclosure (from 80×60×120 cm for one animal; for a pair from 90×60×120 cm (15 % more floor space per additional animal, as in the 1997 expert report)), substrate (Forest floor or coco humus with sphagnum moss and leaf litter, moisture-retaining), a heat source with a thermostat, UVB lighting, thermometer and hygrometer, a water dish and hides. You will find equipment in the Reptoria marketplace.