Chlamydosaurus kingii

Large arboreal tropical terrarium with a vertical orientation

Minimum dimensions for an adult; bigger is always preferable, particularly in height. Height is the priority to allow elevated basking and vertical thermoregulation. Good ventilation is essential to avoid stagnant air.

A tropical but well-ventilated atmosphere. Daily misting, more sustained for juveniles and during shedding; let it dry out between two mistings to avoid stagnant humidity.

A substrate that slightly retains moisture without becoming waterlogged. Numerous vertical supports (sturdy trunks and branches) are essential: the animal feels secure at height and moves bipedally on the ground.

UVB essential and of high intensity (T5 HO tube 10-12% or equivalent, Ferguson zone 3-4), positioned to create a lit hot spot. Replace the tube according to the manufacturer's recommendations (roughly every 6 to 12 months).

A clean water bowl renewed regularly, combined with misting. Many individuals prefer to drink the droplets deposited on the décor and the frill rather than from a bowl.

Northern Australia (Kimberley, Top End, Cape York Peninsula) and southern New Guinea; wooded savannas and dry tropical forests. Not listed on CITES, but Australia bans the export of its wildlife: the animals available come from captive breeding (often from lineages originating in New Guinea). Favour a captive-bred (CB) individual, as wild-caught ones are fragile, stressed and often parasitised. A NON-venomous species.

Insectivore / Carnivore — Crickets, roaches, locusts, worms (waxworms and superworms/zophobas in moderation); occasionally pinkies/fuzzies for adults.

A base of varied insects, well fed (gut-loaded) and dusted with calcium/vitamins. Vertebrate prey only occasionally for adults. Unlike the Bearded Dragon, this species eats few plants: a few may be offered (leaves, flowers) without making them the staple. Match prey size to the interocular distance.

Clutch 6–20 eggs/young. Laying after a rest/cooling period; 1 to 2 clutches per year. Incubation of about 55 to 75 days; the sex of the young may be influenced by the incubation temperature.

• Metabolic bone disease (MBD) from UVB and/or calcium deficiency
• Respiratory infections (cold, stagnant humidity, poor ventilation)
• Internal parasites, frequent in wild-caught specimens
• Chronic stress and anorexia (a wary species, often poorly acclimatised)
• Thermal burns (accessible heat source) and shedding retention