Emma Gray's forest lizard (Calotes emma)

Short answers

Emma Gray's forest lizard: How big does the enclosure need to be?

60×60×150 cm (W×D×H) for one animal (arboreal, tall).

Emma Gray's forest lizard: What temperature does it need?

Daytime 25–30 °C, basking spot up to 35 °C, at night 20–24 °C.

Emma Gray's forest lizard: Does it need UVB lighting?

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

Emma Gray's forest lizard: How long do they live?

Life expectancy: over 10 years.

Emma Gray's forest lizard: Is it suitable for beginners?

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

Climate

Daytime temperature

25–30 °C

Night temperature

20–24 °C

Basking spot

up to 35 °C

Humidity

60–80 %

UVB

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

Enclosure

Minimum size

60×60×150 cm (W×D×H) for one animal (arboreal, tall)

Substrate

Coco humus or forest floor with leaf litter; plenty of climbing wood and plants, somewhere to drink

Feeding

Food

Insects (termites, locusts, crickets, roaches, beetles, moths, insect larvae)

Feeding interval

adults 2–3×/week, juveniles daily

Key facts

Adult size

up to ~38–40 cm total length (SVL ~10 cm, the tail approx. two thirds)

Life expectancy

over 10 years

Origin

South and South-East Asia (India / Assam, Bangladesh, Myanmar, southern China / Yunnan, Thailand, Laos, Cambodia, Vietnam, northern Malaysia); deciduous, humid and coastal forest

Protection status

Not listed under CITES. Wild-caught animals are common in the trade – prefer captive-bred ones.

Brumation

No real winter rest; a slight seasonal dry spell is possible

Cohabitation

Keeping it singly is the default. A pair (1.1) or one male with several females is also possible in a large, structured, planted enclosure with visual barriers. Never house males together - territorial fights are documented.

Notes

An arboreal species (it prefers the lower trunk areas); the males darken in the mating season. It needs height and climbing opportunities, and to drink from mist or dew droplets. A clutch of 10–12 eggs (May–June), with an incubation of about 60–70 days. Often wild-caught (check for parasites). The figures are documented across German and English sources.

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Related species

• Oriental garden lizard (Calotes versicolor) – Intermediate
• Indo-Chinese forest lizard (Calotes mystaceus) – Intermediate
• Spotted butterfly lizard (Leiolepis guttata) – Intermediate
• 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 Emma Gray's forest lizard (Calotes emma) you typically need: a suitable enclosure (60×60×150 cm (W×D×H) for one animal (arboreal, tall)), substrate (Coco humus or forest floor with leaf litter; plenty of climbing wood and plants, somewhere to drink), a heat source with a thermostat, UVB lighting, thermometer and hygrometer, a water dish and hides. You will find equipment in the Reptoria marketplace.