Phuket pricklenape (Acanthosaura phuketensis)

Short answers

Phuket pricklenape: How big does the enclosure need to be?

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

Phuket pricklenape: What temperature does it need?

Daytime 25–29 °C, basking spot local warm spot up to 30–32 °C (do not overheat the enclosure), at night 20–23 °C.

Phuket pricklenape: Does it need UVB lighting?

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

Phuket pricklenape: How long do they live?

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

Phuket pricklenape: Is it suitable for beginners?

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

Climate

Daytime temperature

25–29 °C

Night temperature

20–23 °C

Basking spot

local warm spot up to 30–32 °C (do not overheat the enclosure)

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, approx. 25–30 cm total length (with the tail)

Life expectancy

approx. 8–10 years (an estimate)

Origin

South-western Thailand (the island of Phuket, the Phuket range, Phang Nga); lowland rainforest; described in 2015

Protection status

Not listed under CITES (as far as research shows); usually wild-caught – proof of origin is advisable

Brumation

No real winter rest (a lowland species); at most a mild seasonal drop

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

A lowland species (warmer and more humid than its montane relatives, with no need for a cold rest). Described in 2015, with little keeping experience – the figures are derived from genus consensus and climate data.

Do you keep this species?

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Look for Phuket pricklenape (Acanthosaura phuketensis) 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 Phuket pricklenape (Acanthosaura phuketensis) 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.