Centralian earless dragon (Tympanocryptis centralis)

Short answers

Centralian earless dragon: How big does the enclosure need to be?

80 × 50 × 50 cm for a single animal or a pair; 120 × 60 × 60 cm for a group (1 male, 2–3 females).

Centralian earless dragon: What temperature does it need?

Daytime 28–34 °C, basking spot 42–48 °C, at night 15–20 °C.

Centralian earless dragon: Does it need UVB lighting?

UVB: UVB needed (Ferguson zone 4, UV index 5–8; full desert sun).

Centralian earless dragon: How long do they live?

Life expectancy: unknown, estimated at 3–5 years.

Centralian earless dragon: Is it suitable for beginners?

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

Climate

Daytime temperature

28–34 °C

Night temperature

15–20 °C

Basking spot

42–48 °C

Humidity

25–45 % (arid, central Australia)

UVB

UVB needed (Ferguson zone 4, UV index 5–8; full desert sun)

Enclosure

Minimum size

80 × 50 × 50 cm for a single animal or a pair; 120 × 60 × 60 cm for a group (1 male, 2–3 females)

Substrate

Red-brown sand-loam with a covering of gravel or scree and flat stones

Feeding

Food

Omnivorous: small grasshoppers, crickets, house crickets, large fruit flies, firebrats and small roaches, plus regular dandelion, herbs, flowers and lettuce

Feeding interval

Insects about 3×/week, plant matter about 5×/week, plus 1–2 fasting days; gravid females more often, juveniles daily

Key facts

Adult size

approx. 12–14 cm total length (females somewhat larger than males)

Life expectancy

unknown, estimated at 3–5 years

Origin

The arid central region of Australia: NT, SA, WA; stony and gibber-like dry habitats (the central pebble dragon)

Protection status

Protected: CITES Appendix III, EU Annex C - proof of origin required at purchase and resale. Australian native wildlife, export banned under the EPBC Act (no legal EU trade).

Brumation

Winter rest recommended: 2–3 months at 16–18 °C (roughly November to January), without a heat lamp and with lighting shortened to around 10 hours; important for breeding

Cohabitation

Single housing is possible, as is a year-round group of 1 male and 1–3 females, because females are barely territorial. Never two males together. A way to separate them should always be on hand.

Notes

A small arid ground dweller; no husbandry literature, so the figures are derived from its habitat. Not in the trade. It camouflages itself on stony ground.

Do you keep this species?

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Related species

• Inland earless dragon (Tympanocryptis intima) – Expert
• Condamine earless dragon (Tympanocryptis condaminensis) – Expert
• Even-scaled earless dragon (Tympanocryptis uniformis) – Expert
• Long-tailed earless dragon (Tympanocryptis tetraporophora) – Intermediate
• Pebble-mimic dragon (Tympanocryptis cephalus) – Expert
• Fortescue earless dragon (Tympanocryptis fortescuensis) – Expert
• Lined earless dragon (Tympanocryptis lineata) – Expert
• Smooth-snouted earless dragon (Tympanocryptis parviceps) – Expert

All species in the care wiki →

What you need to start

To keep Centralian earless dragon (Tympanocryptis centralis) you typically need: a suitable enclosure (80 × 50 × 50 cm for a single animal or a pair; 120 × 60 × 60 cm for a group (1 male, 2–3 females)), substrate (Red-brown sand-loam with a covering of gravel or scree and flat stones), a heat source with a thermostat, UVB lighting, thermometer and hygrometer, a water dish and hides. You will find equipment in the Reptoria marketplace.