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Species profile · Agamidae

Acanthosaura capra

Complete care sheet for the capra's horned lizard — husbandry parameters, diet and breeding.

Mountain Horned DragonGreen Horned LizardDragon des montagnesNackenstachler
Adult size
25–30 cm
Lifespan
5–10 yrs
Difficulty
Advanced
Temperament
Docile
Activity
Diurnal
Reproduction
Oviparous
01

Husbandry requirements

Capra's Horned Lizard — origin: Southeast Asia: humid mountain and mid-altitude rainforests of southern Vietnam and Cambodia (wooded plateaus and highlands, cool and misty conditions)..

Terrarium temperature gradient

Night min16 °C
Cool side20–23 °C
Warm side24–26 °C

Cool-forest species: NEVER let it get too warm. Prolonged heat is quickly lethal. No true intense basking hotspot is needed; a gentle, subdued spot is enough to create a slight micro-gradient. A marked night-time drop is beneficial and often necessary in the long term.

Enclosure (adult)
60 × 45 × 90 cm

Planted arboreal terrarium, tall and well ventilated (mountain-tropical / bioactive vivarium type), with vertical and angled branches, dense foliage and elevated hides.

Minimum dimensions for a single adult; provide a larger enclosure for a pair. Height and cross-ventilation matter more than floor area: poor airflow in a humid setup encourages infections. Avoid housing males together (territorial).

Humidity
70–90 %

High humidity but combined with good ventilation to avoid stagnant air. Daily mistings (morning and evening), peaking at night with partial drying during the day. Keep the substrate moist but not waterlogged.

Substrate
Fertiliser-free topsoil/humusCoconut fibreSphagnum (moss)Leaf litterBark / bioactive drainage

A moisture-retaining bioactive mix with a drainage layer and leaf litter; introducing microfauna (springtails, woodlice) helps manage humidity and waste. Avoid any dusty or drying substrate.

UVB
Recommended

Moderate UVB recommended (shaded-understory species): a low-output tube (a low Ferguson zone), placed at a good distance with shaded areas and a gradient. Avoid any UVB that is too strong. Appropriate UVB, together with calcium and vitamin D supplementation, prevents metabolic bone disease.

Water source
Always available

Drinks mainly droplets from misting and on the leaves; install a drip system, a small waterfall, or mist regularly. Also provide a shallow dish of clean water, often ignored but useful for humidity.

Origin
Agamidae

Southeast Asia: humid mountain and mid-altitude rainforests of southern Vietnam and Cambodia (wooded plateaus and highlands, cool and misty conditions).

02

Feeding & health

Diet

Insectivore / vermivore — Earthworms (a major part of the diet), crickets, roaches, silkworm caterpillars, snails, and occasionally millipedes/various insects.

Live prey that is gut-loaded and dusted with calcium; moderate calcium and vitamin D supplementation and occasional vitamins. Vary the prey. Earthworms and soft-bodied prey are particularly well accepted and important for hydration and gut transit.

Breeding
Oviparous

Clutch 10–15 eggs/young. The female buries the eggs in loose, moist substrate. Cool incubation, with hatching generally after a fairly long period depending on temperature. Breeding is often triggered by a seasonal cycle (variation in humidity/temperature).

Health watch points
  • Chronic stress and refusal to feed (particularly in wild specimens)
  • Internal parasites (nematodes, very common in wild-caught animals)
  • Dehydration and difficult shedding (dysecdysis)
  • Respiratory infections / stomatitis (often linked to poor conditions: too warm, stagnant air, or too cold and damp)
  • Metabolic bone disease (calcium/UVB deficiency)
03

Morphs & genetics

Registry of 0 documented gene for Capra's Horned Lizard.

    05

    Frequently asked questions

    Answers to the most common questions about keeping the capra's horned lizard.

    How big does Capra's mountain dragon get?▾
    It measures 25 to 30 cm in total length, with the tail accounting for more than half; the body alone is about 11 to 14 cm. Its large dorsal crest and long, flexible nuchal spine make it highly recognisable.
    What terrarium should you provide?▾
    A planted arboreal terrarium, tall and well ventilated, at least 60 × 45 × 90 cm for a single adult, and around 90 × 45 × 120 cm for a pair. Height and cross-ventilation matter more than floor area, and two males should never be housed together, as they are territorial.
    What temperature must never be exceeded?▾
    Never exceed 26 to 27 °C: this is a cool-forest species for which prolonged heat is quickly lethal. Aim for a warm zone of 24 to 26 °C and a cool side of 20 to 23 °C, with no true intense basking spot.
    Is the night-time temperature drop important?▾
    Yes, a marked night-time drop toward 16 to 19 °C is beneficial and often necessary for keeping the species long term. It replicates the cool nights of its mountain habitat.
    What humidity level should be maintained?▾
    High humidity of 70 to 90%, with peaks of 90 to 100% at night and partial drying during the day, all combined with good ventilation. The substrate must stay moist without ever being waterlogged, with morning and evening mistings.
    What does it eat?▾
    It is an insectivore and vermivore: earthworms make up a significant part of its diet, supplemented with crickets, roaches, silkworm caterpillars and snails. Soft-bodied prey and earthworms are particularly well accepted and valuable for its hydration and gut transit.
    Does it need UVB?▾
    Moderate UVB is recommended, suited to this shaded-understory species: a low-output T5 tube of around 5 to 6% (Ferguson zone 1 to 2), placed at a good distance with shaded areas. Combined with calcium and D3 supplementation, it prevents metabolic bone disease.
    How does it drink?▾
    It drinks mainly the misting droplets deposited on the foliage; a drip system, a small waterfall, or regular misting are ideal. Add a shallow dish of clean water, often ignored but useful for humidity.
    What is its temperament?▾
    Very docile and slow-moving, it rarely bites, but it is extremely stress-sensitive and prefers observation to handling, which should be kept to a minimum. It can also change colour, from bright green to dark brown, depending on stress and temperature.
    How long does it live?▾
    5 to 10 years, but lifespan often drops to 3-6 years in wild-caught specimens, due to stress, parasites and dehydration. A captive-bred or well-acclimated animal kept cool can reach 8 to 10 years.
    Is this a beginner species?▾
    No, it is an advanced-level species. Its stress sensitivity, the requirement for cool temperatures that must never be exceeded, humidity management, and the fact that most available animals are wild-caught make it a delicate species to keep.
    What health problems are common?▾
    Chronic stress with refusal to feed is common, especially in wild specimens, as are internal parasites (nematodes). Also watch for dehydration and difficult sheds, respiratory infections or stomatitis linked to poor conditions, and metabolic bone disease.

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