Emerald mountain dragon (Diploderma splendidum)

Short answers

Emerald mountain dragon: How big does the enclosure need to be?

80×40×80 cm (arboreal, taller is better; the absolute minimum in care sheets is ~76×30×30 cm).

Emerald mountain dragon: What temperature does it need?

Daytime 24–28 °C, basking spot 29–32 °C, at night 18–20 °C.

Emerald mountain dragon: Does it need UVB lighting?

UVB: UVB needed (Ferguson zone 2–3, UV index 2–4).

Emerald mountain dragon: How long do they live?

Life expectancy: approx. 8–10 years.

Emerald mountain dragon: 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

29–32 °C

Humidity

70–80 %

UVB

UVB needed (Ferguson zone 2–3, UV index 2–4)

Enclosure

Minimum size

80×40×80 cm (arboreal, taller is better; the absolute minimum in care sheets is ~76×30×30 cm)

Substrate

A coco humus and peat-moss mix (moisture-retaining), leaf litter; dense planting and plenty of climbing wood

Feeding

Food

Insects (crickets, house crickets, roaches, small locusts); occasionally a little plant food

Feeding interval

adults every other day, juveniles daily

Key facts

Adult size

approx. 20–30 cm total length (a long tail)

Life expectancy

approx. 8–10 years

Origin

South-western China (the Yangtze basin); subtropical and montane forests

Protection status

Not listed under CITES; IUCN "Least Concern". Mostly wild-caught in the trade – prefer captive-bred animals.

Brumation

A slight winter cooling matching their subtropical native climate (a few weeks cooler at ~15–18 °C, with a shorter photoperiod), optional for breeding

Cohabitation

Keep singly, or one male with one to two females (a pair or small harem group) in a large, structured enclosure. Never house males together - territorial fights are to be expected. The species is easily stressed by being seen, so visual barriers and dense planting are essential.

Notes

A shy, agile arboreal species; it injures itself on the glass in a panic – dense planting and visual screening are needed. It prefers to drink mist or dew droplets (daily misting or sprinkling). Nomenclature: formerly Japalura splendida (neon tree dragon / green striped dragon). Often wild-caught (check for parasites).

Do you keep this species?

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Related species

• Banded mountain dragon (Diploderma fasciatum) – Expert
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• Painted dragon (Ctenophorus pictus) – Intermediate
• Common flying dragon (Draco volans) – Expert
• Green crested lizard (Bronchocela cristatella) – Intermediate
• Himalayan agama (Paralaudakia himalayana) – Intermediate
• Horsfield's salea (Salea horsfieldii) – Expert

All species in the care wiki →

What you need to start

To keep Emerald mountain dragon (Diploderma splendidum) you typically need: a suitable enclosure (80×40×80 cm (arboreal, taller is better; the absolute minimum in care sheets is ~76×30×30 cm)), substrate (A coco humus and peat-moss mix (moisture-retaining), leaf litter; dense planting and plenty of climbing wood), a heat source with a thermostat, UVB lighting, thermometer and hygrometer, a water dish and hides. You will find equipment in the Reptoria marketplace.