Frilled Dragon

Chlamydosaurus kingii

Australia's famous umbrella-necked lizard — flares a huge orange frill when startled and sprints upright like a tiny dinosaur.

2–3 ft including tail10–15 years

Habitat

Enclosure

4×2×3 ft tall minimum

Temperature

Basking 115–120°F · ambient 75–85°F

Humidity / Water

50–70%, misted daily

Heating & lighting

A strong halogen basking zone high up plus linear 10–12% UVB. Vertical space with smooth branches and bark — they climb to bask and sprint to the floor to hunt.

Diet

Feed these

Crickets
Dubia roaches
Superworms
Black soldier fly larvae
Occasional greens and fruit

Never feed

Mealworms as a staple (chitin)
Wild-caught insects
Glass tanks with poor airflow
Strong heat without proper UVB

Mostly insectivores: feed juveniles daily, adults every other day, dusted with calcium + D3. They eat like machines — watch the waistline.

Cohabitation

Can live with

No one — house this species alone.

Never house with

Other frilled dragons Any different species

One per enclosure — males flare and fight on sight. Even calm adults need hiding shelves at multiple heights.