Green crested lizard (Bronchocela cristatella)

Short answers

Green crested lizard: How big does the enclosure need to be?

80×60×120 cm (height).

Green crested lizard: What temperature does it need?

Daytime 25–31 °C, basking spot 33 °C, at night 21–24 °C.

Green crested lizard: Does it need UVB lighting?

UVB: Essential (UVB 5.0–10.0).

Green crested lizard: How long do they live?

Life expectancy: 5–8 years.

Green crested lizard: Is it suitable for beginners?

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

Climate

Daytime temperature

25–31 °C

Night temperature

21–24 °C

Basking spot

33 °C

Humidity

70–85 %

UVB

Essential (UVB 5.0–10.0)

Enclosure

Minimum size

80×60×120 cm (height)

Substrate

Coco humus, thin to medium branches, dense planting

Feeding

Food

House crickets, crickets, roaches, wax moths

Feeding interval

3–4×/week

Key facts

Adult size

50–60 cm total length (the tail two thirds)

Life expectancy

5–8 years

Origin

South-East Asia

Protection status

Not listed under CITES

Brumation

None

Cohabitation

A pair; keep males strictly apart. The reason: several males fight over territory and the warm spot until one is injured or spends its life in a corner. Females usually get on, but each needs its own warm spot and hide; feed them separately once they differ in size.

Notes

Brilliant green with an extremely long tail. Very skittish – it needs dense planting as visual screening and daily misting; it drinks only droplets. Wild-caught animals acclimatise poorly.

Do you keep this species?

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Related species

• Oriental garden lizard (Calotes versicolor) – Intermediate
• Spotted butterfly lizard (Leiolepis guttata) – Intermediate
• Painted dragon (Ctenophorus pictus) – Intermediate
• Common flying dragon (Draco volans) – Expert
• Himalayan agama (Paralaudakia himalayana) – Intermediate
• Horsfield's salea (Salea horsfieldii) – Expert
• Kakhien salea (Salea kakhienensis) – Expert
• Red-bellied rock agama (Paralaudakia erythrogastra) – Intermediate

All species in the care wiki →

What you need to start

To keep Green crested lizard (Bronchocela cristatella) you typically need: a suitable enclosure (80×60×120 cm (height)), substrate (Coco humus, thin to medium branches, dense planting), a heat source with a thermostat, UVB lighting, thermometer and hygrometer, a water dish and hides. You will find equipment in the Reptoria marketplace.