Titiwangsa pricklenape (Acanthosaura titiwangsaensis)

Short answers

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

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

Titiwangsa pricklenape: What temperature does it need?

Daytime 20–26 °C (mountain species – keep cooler), basking spot local warm spot up to ~28–30 °C (do not overheat, very sensitive to heat), at night 16–20 °C.

Titiwangsa pricklenape: Does it need UVB lighting?

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

Titiwangsa pricklenape: How long do they live?

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

Titiwangsa pricklenape: Is it suitable for beginners?

No – better suited to experienced keepers (difficulty: Expert).

Climate

Daytime temperature

20–26 °C (mountain species – keep cooler)

Night temperature

16–20 °C

Basking spot

local warm spot up to ~28–30 °C (do not overheat, very sensitive to heat)

Humidity

80–95 % by day, up to ~100 % at night

UVB

UVB recommended (a cloud-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 plenty of moss and leaf litter, 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

Peninsular Malaysia, the Titiwangsa range (Fraser's Hill, the Cameron Highlands, Pahang); cloud and montane forest ~1,000–1,500 m; described in 2015

Protection status

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

Brumation

No classic winter rest, but cool nights are needed all year; a slight seasonal drop is possible

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 highland and cloud-forest species: cool temperatures (no heat build-up!) and permanently high humidity are critical → classed as one for experts. Described in 2015, with barely any keeping experience; the climate figures are derived from its altitudinal range.

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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 Titiwangsa pricklenape (Acanthosaura titiwangsaensis) 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 plenty of moss and leaf litter, 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.