Short-legged horned lizard (Acanthosaura brachypoda)

Short answers

Short-legged horned lizard: How big does the enclosure need to be?

80×60×120 cm (one adult animal), height matters; a planted rainforest enclosure or paludarium with a water section.

Short-legged horned lizard: What temperature does it need?

Daytime 22–28 °C (not above ~29 °C), basking spot 28–30 °C (local warm spot), at night 18–20 °C.

Short-legged horned lizard: Does it need UVB lighting?

UVB: A moderate UVB requirement (Ferguson zone 1–2, UV index 1–3; a forest dweller); UVB recommended.

Short-legged horned lizard: How long do they live?

Life expectancy: 7–10 years.

Short-legged horned lizard: Is it suitable for beginners?

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

Climate

Daytime temperature

22–28 °C (not above ~29 °C)

Night temperature

18–20 °C

Basking spot

28–30 °C (local warm spot)

Humidity

70–85 %

UVB

A moderate UVB requirement (Ferguson zone 1–2, UV index 1–3; a forest dweller); UVB recommended

Enclosure

Minimum size

80×60×120 cm (one adult animal), height matters; a planted rainforest enclosure or paludarium with a water section

Substrate

Humus-rich, moisture-retaining substrate (unfertilised forest soil, leaf litter, moss), densely planted

Feeding

Food

Insectivorous: crickets, locusts, roaches, worms, snails; with calcium and vitamins

Feeding interval

juveniles daily, adults 2–3×/week

Key facts

Adult size

approx. 25–30 cm total length

Life expectancy

7–10 years

Origin

Northwest Vietnam: the Fansipan massif near Ban Khoan, about 12 km northwest of Sa Pa, Lào Cai province, at about 1,900 m altitude; so far known only from the type specimen (described in 2011, the name means 'short-legged')

Protection status

No CITES status; mostly wild-caught → pay attention to origin, acclimatisation and parasite load

Brumation

No real winter rest; a slight seasonal (cooler) spell is possible

Cohabitation

A pair or harem (one male plus one or two females) is possible in a large, structured enclosure; never keep males together (territorial)

Notes

A montane forest species → cool and humid, heat-sensitive, with good ventilation. Very rare in captivity, with barely any species-specific care sheets – the figures are derived from genus-level care (Acanthosaura) plus its known montane forest distribution. The most uncertain species in this batch.

Do you keep this species?

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Related species

• Bintang mountain horned lizard (Acanthosaura bintangensis) – 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
• Phong Dien pricklenape (Acanthosaura phongdienensis) – Intermediate

All species in the care wiki →

What you need to start

To keep Short-legged horned lizard (Acanthosaura brachypoda) you typically need: a suitable enclosure (80×60×120 cm (one adult animal), height matters; a planted rainforest enclosure or paludarium with a water section), substrate (Humus-rich, moisture-retaining substrate (unfertilised forest soil, leaf litter, moss), densely planted), a heat source with a thermostat, UVB lighting, thermometer and hygrometer, a water dish and hides. You will find equipment in the Reptoria marketplace.