Phong Dien pricklenape (Acanthosaura phongdienensis)

Short answers

Phong Dien pricklenape: How big does the enclosure need to be?

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

Phong Dien pricklenape: What temperature does it need?

Daytime 24–28 °C, basking spot local warm spot up to 30 °C (do not overheat), at night 18–21 °C.

Phong Dien pricklenape: Does it need UVB lighting?

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

Phong Dien pricklenape: How long do they live?

Life expectancy: approx. 8–10 years (an estimate).

Phong Dien pricklenape: Is it suitable for beginners?

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

Climate

Daytime temperature

24–28 °C

Night temperature

18–21 °C

Basking spot

local warm spot up to 30 °C (do not overheat)

Humidity

75–90 % by day, up to ~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: crickets, house crickets, roaches, earthworms, larvae; dusted with calcium and D3

Feeding interval

adults 2–3×/week, juveniles daily

Key facts

Adult size

medium-sized (SVL of males up to ~7.7 cm), total length ~22–28 cm with the tail

Life expectancy

approx. 8–10 years (an estimate)

Origin

Endemic to central Vietnam (the Phong Dien Nature Reserve, Thừa Thiên-Huế province); evergreen forest, partly above 700 m; described in 2019

Protection status

Not listed under CITES (as far as research shows); a narrow endemic range – wild-caught animals are problematic, proof of origin matters

Brumation

Only a mild seasonal drop; there is no pronounced need for a cold rest (a central Vietnamese distribution)

Cohabitation

Single housing. The lower-stress option is one animal per enclosure, as there is no evidence that pricklenapes need company. Pairs or small groups work according to care sheets as long as several males are never kept together; the drawback is that the enclosure must then be proportionally larger and stress between the animals is hard to spot.

Notes

An endemic described only in 2019, practically not established in the trade – with no real keeping reports. All the numbers are derived from genus consensus and distribution, and are expressly uncertain.

Do you keep this species?

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

Look for Phong Dien pricklenape (Acanthosaura phongdienensis) 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
• Masked spiny lizard (Acanthosaura crucigera) – Intermediate
• Natalia's pricklenape (Acanthosaura nataliae) – Intermediate

All species in the care wiki →

What you need to start

To keep Phong Dien pricklenape (Acanthosaura phongdienensis) 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.