Brown pricklenape (Acanthosaura lepidogaster)

Short answers

Brown pricklenape: How big does the enclosure need to be?

80×50×100 cm for 1 adult animal, better 100×60×120 cm (height matters more than floor space — a trunk dweller).

Brown pricklenape: What temperature does it need?

Daytime 24–28 °C, basking spot local warm spot up to 30 °C (never keep the enclosure above 30 °C for long – sensitive to heat), at night 18–20 °C.

Brown pricklenape: Does it need UVB lighting?

UVB: UVB recommended (a forest and shade dweller, Ferguson zone 1–2, UV index 1–3; a 6 % T5 tube).

Brown pricklenape: How long do they live?

Life expectancy: approx. 6–10 years.

Brown pricklenape: Is it suitable for beginners?

Rather not – it is considered an intermediate species (difficulty: Intermediate).

Climate

Daytime temperature

24–28 °C

Night temperature

18–20 °C

Basking spot

local warm spot up to 30 °C (never keep the enclosure above 30 °C for long – sensitive to heat)

Humidity

70–80 % by day, up to 90–100 % at night

UVB

UVB recommended (a forest and shade dweller, Ferguson zone 1–2, UV index 1–3; a 6 % T5 tube)

Enclosure

Minimum size

80×50×100 cm for 1 adult animal, better 100×60×120 cm (height matters more than floor space — a trunk dweller)

Substrate

Humid woodland substrate: coco humus or terrarium soil with leaf litter and moss, a drainage layer against waterlogging

Feeding

Food

Insectivorous: crickets, house crickets, roaches, earthworms (preferred), wax or silkworms; dusted with calcium and vitamin D3

Feeding interval

adults 2–3×/week, juveniles daily to every other day

Key facts

Adult size

approx. 20–28 cm total length (with the tail), females smaller; the smallest species in the genus

Life expectancy

approx. 6–10 years

Origin

Southern China (Yunnan, Guangxi, Hainan), Vietnam, Laos, Thailand, Myanmar, north-eastern India; montane forest to ~1,500 m

Protection status

Not listed under CITES, no German registration duty (as far as research shows); often wild-caught – look for captive breeding and proof of origin

Brumation

A cooler rest period of 6–8 weeks is recommended (day ~18–20 °C, night ~15 °C, with a shorter photoperiod and reduced feeding) – it benefits health and breeding

Cohabitation

Territorial. Keeping them singly is the standard. A harem of one male plus several females is possible only in a large, heavily structured tall enclosure with visual barriers; NEVER two males (territorial fights)

Notes

No heat build-up – the commonest keeping mistake is too high a temperature and too dry air (dehydration, shedding and kidney problems). A large, clean water section and daily misting; it often drinks only moving or dripping water. Also known as the "green / Siamese forest dragon"; it changes colour with its mood.

Do you keep this species?

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Related species

• Bintang mountain horned lizard (Acanthosaura bintangensis) – Intermediate
• Short-legged horned lizard (Acanthosaura brachypoda) – Intermediate
• Cardamom mountain horned lizard (Acanthosaura cardamomensis) – Intermediate
• Crowned pricklenape (Acanthosaura coronata) – Intermediate
• Golden pricklenape (Acanthosaura capra) – Intermediate
• Masked spiny lizard (Acanthosaura crucigera) – Intermediate
• Natalia's pricklenape (Acanthosaura nataliae) – Intermediate
• Phong Dien pricklenape (Acanthosaura phongdienensis) – Intermediate

All species in the care wiki →

What you need to start

To keep Brown pricklenape (Acanthosaura lepidogaster) you typically need: a suitable enclosure (80×50×100 cm for 1 adult animal, better 100×60×120 cm (height matters more than floor space — a trunk dweller)), substrate (Humid woodland substrate: coco humus or terrarium soil with leaf litter and moss, a drainage layer against waterlogging), a heat source with a thermostat, UVB lighting, thermometer and hygrometer, a water dish and hides. You will find equipment in the Reptoria marketplace.