Eared forest dragon (Hypsilurus auritus)

Short answers

Eared forest dragon: How big does the enclosure need to be?

100×60×140 cm for a pair.

Eared forest dragon: What temperature does it need?

Daytime 24–29 °C, basking spot 32–35 °C local basking spot, at night 20–23 °C.

Eared forest dragon: Does it need UVB lighting?

UVB: UVB needed (5–6 %).

Eared forest dragon: How long do they live?

Life expectancy: approx. 8–12 years.

Eared forest dragon: Is it suitable for beginners?

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

Climate

Daytime temperature

24–29 °C

Night temperature

20–23 °C

Basking spot

32–35 °C local basking spot

Humidity

75–90 %

UVB

UVB needed (5–6 %)

Enclosure

Minimum size

100×60×140 cm for a pair

Substrate

Coco humus with leaf litter, permanently damp

Feeding

Food

Crickets, roaches, locusts

Feeding interval

adults 2–3× a week; mist several times a day

Key facts

Adult size

approx. 40–50 cm total length

Life expectancy

approx. 8–12 years

Origin

New Guinea

Protection status

Not listed under CITES; wild-caught animals

Brumation

None

Cohabitation

In pairs (1.1); males strictly kept apart. The reason is territory: two males will not voluntarily share a basking spot or a hiding place. They fight until one is seriously injured or sits permanently in a corner — and that second animal then eats less, without any visible wound.

Notes

Very rarely in the trade; solid keeping reports are scarce. The figures here follow the genus profile — when in doubt, take your bearings from well-documented species such as H. dilophus.

Do you keep this species?

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Related species

• Bruijn's forest dragon (Hypsilurus bruijnii) – Expert
• Indonesian forest dragon (Hypsilurus dilophus) – Expert
• Geelvink forest dragon (Hypsilurus geelvinkianus) – Expert
• Magnus forest dragon (Hypsilurus magnus) – Expert
• Modest forest dragon (Hypsilurus modestus) – Expert
• Papua forest dragon (Hypsilurus papuensis) – Expert
• Schultze-Westrum's forest dragon (Hypsilurus schultzewestrumi) – Expert
• Bell's angle-headed dragon (Gonocephalus bellii) – Intermediate to expert

All species in the care wiki →

What you need to start

To keep Eared forest dragon (Hypsilurus auritus) you typically need: a suitable enclosure (100×60×140 cm for a pair), substrate (Coco humus with leaf litter, permanently damp), a heat source with a thermostat, UVB lighting, thermometer and hygrometer, a water dish and hides. You will find equipment in the Reptoria marketplace.