Masked spiny lizard (Acanthosaura crucigera)

Short answers

Masked spiny lizard: How big does the enclosure need to be?

80×60×100 cm for one adult animal (arboreal, height over length).

Masked spiny lizard: What temperature does it need?

Daytime 24–27 °C, basking spot local warm spot up to 30 °C (sensitive to heat, keep the enclosure below 30 °C), at night 18–21 °C.

Masked spiny lizard: Does it need UVB lighting?

UVB: UVB recommended (a forest dweller, Ferguson zone 1–2, UV index 1–3; a 6 % T5 tube).

Masked spiny lizard: How long do they live?

Life expectancy: approx. 8–10 years.

Masked spiny lizard: Is it suitable for beginners?

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

Climate

Daytime temperature

24–27 °C

Night temperature

18–21 °C

Basking spot

local warm spot up to 30 °C (sensitive to heat, keep the enclosure below 30 °C)

Humidity

70–80 % by day, up to 90–100 % at night

UVB

UVB recommended (a forest dweller, Ferguson zone 1–2, UV index 1–3; a 6 % T5 tube)

Enclosure

Minimum size

80×60×100 cm for one adult animal (arboreal, height over length)

Substrate

Coco humus or forest floor with leaf litter and moss, plus a drainage layer

Feeding

Food

Insectivorous: earthworms (preferred), crickets, house crickets, roaches, larvae; dusted with calcium and D3

Feeding interval

adults 2–3×/week, juveniles daily to every other day

Key facts

Adult size

approx. 22–25 cm total length (males ~25 cm, females ~21–23 cm)

Life expectancy

approx. 8–10 years

Origin

Myanmar, Thailand, West Malaysia and Cambodia; hill and montane forests

Protection status

Not listed under CITES (as far as research shows); often wild-caught – look for captive breeding and proof of origin

Brumation

No real winter dormancy. For breeding stimulation, a cooler, drier period of 6–8 weeks with shorter lighting (about 11 instead of 13 hours) and night-time values around 20 °C is enough. Even then it should not go permanently below 21 °C.

Cohabitation

Territorial. Keeping them singly is the standard; a harem of one male plus several females is possible in a large, structured enclosure; NEVER two males

Notes

The "crucifix lizard". One of the longest-kept species in the genus. Gravid females can become aggressive. No heat rock or strong spot is needed (a forest dweller).

Do you keep this species?

Add your animal to Reptoria – Reptoria reminds you about feeding and shedding. Add your animal for free →

Look for Masked spiny lizard (Acanthosaura crucigera) in the marketplace →

Related species

• Bintang mountain horned lizard (Acanthosaura bintangensis) – Intermediate
• Short-legged horned lizard (Acanthosaura brachypoda) – Intermediate
• Brown pricklenape (Acanthosaura lepidogaster) – Intermediate
• Cardamom mountain horned lizard (Acanthosaura cardamomensis) – Intermediate
• Crowned pricklenape (Acanthosaura coronata) – Intermediate
• Golden pricklenape (Acanthosaura capra) – Intermediate
• Natalia's pricklenape (Acanthosaura nataliae) – Intermediate
• Phong Dien pricklenape (Acanthosaura phongdienensis) – Intermediate

All species in the care wiki →

What you need to start

To keep Masked spiny lizard (Acanthosaura crucigera) you typically need: a suitable enclosure (80×60×100 cm for one adult animal (arboreal, height over length)), substrate (Coco humus or forest floor with leaf litter and moss, plus a drainage layer), a heat source with a thermostat, UVB lighting, thermometer and hygrometer, a water dish and hides. You will find equipment in the Reptoria marketplace.