Weber's sailfin lizard (Hydrosaurus weberi)

Short answers

Weber's sailfin lizard: How big does the enclosure need to be?

Approx. 200×100×180 cm (one adult animal), height matters; a large water section covering at least a third of the floor area.

Weber's sailfin lizard: What temperature does it need?

Daytime 28–32 °C, basking spot 38–45 °C (basking spot), at night 24–26 °C.

Weber's sailfin lizard: Does it need UVB lighting?

UVB: A high UVB requirement (Ferguson zone 2–3, UV index 3–5); a strong UVB lamp for D3 and calcium metabolism.

Weber's sailfin lizard: How long do they live?

Life expectancy: 15–20 years (up to 25).

Weber's sailfin lizard: Is it suitable for beginners?

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

Climate

Daytime temperature

28–32 °C

Night temperature

24–26 °C

Basking spot

38–45 °C (basking spot)

Humidity

70–90 %

UVB

A high UVB requirement (Ferguson zone 2–3, UV index 3–5); a strong UVB lamp for D3 and calcium metabolism

Enclosure

Minimum size

approx. 200×100×180 cm (one adult animal), height matters; a large water section covering at least a third of the floor area

Substrate

A soil, sand and leaf-litter mix, moisture-retaining and diggable; a large, deep water basin

Feeding

Food

Omnivorous: insects, earthworms, fish plus leafy greens, herbs, flowers and fruit (increasingly plant-based as adults)

Feeding interval

juveniles daily, adults animal food 3–4×/week plus plant food offered daily

Key facts

Adult size

Males 110–120 cm, females around 90 cm total length

Life expectancy

15–20 years (up to 25)

Origin

Halmahera and the neighbouring islands (the northern Moluccas, Indonesia); the trade name "Philippine" is misleading (the Philippine species is H. pustulatus)

Protection status

No CITES status (as of research in 2024/25); mostly wild-caught, threatened by trade and habitat loss → mind the origin and captive breeding

Brumation

None (tropical)

Cohabitation

Keep them singly, or as a pair only in very large facilities; territorial, nervous animals that flee; never keep males together

Notes

H. weberi comes from the Moluccas (Weber's sailfin lizard), NOT from the Philippines – correct the trade name so keepers are not confused. A very large, shy flight animal; the husbandry figures come from genus-level care.

Do you keep this species?

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Look for Weber's sailfin lizard (Hydrosaurus weberi) in the marketplace →

Related species

• Amboina sailfin lizard (Hydrosaurus amboinensis) – Intermediate to expert
• Papuan sailfin lizard (Hydrosaurus microlophus) – Expert
• Philippine sailfin lizard (Hydrosaurus pustulatus) – Expert
• Sulawesi sailfin lizard (Hydrosaurus celebensis) – Expert
• Frilled lizard (Chlamydosaurus kingii) – Intermediate
• Eared forest dragon (Hypsilurus auritus) – Expert
• Inland earless dragon (Tympanocryptis intima) – Expert
• Blanford's flying lizard (Draco blanfordii) – Expert

All species in the care wiki →

What you need to start

To keep Weber's sailfin lizard (Hydrosaurus weberi) you typically need: a suitable enclosure (approx. 200×100×180 cm (one adult animal), height matters; a large water section covering at least a third of the floor area), substrate (A soil, sand and leaf-litter mix, moisture-retaining and diggable; a large, deep water basin), a heat source with a thermostat, UVB lighting, thermometer and hygrometer, a water dish and hides. You will find equipment in the Reptoria marketplace.