The frilled neck lizard (Chlamydosaurus kingii) is a striking, active omnivore famous for the large frill around its neck. They are voracious feeders and need a tall, spacious enclosure with plenty to climb on.
Food & Water
Frillies eat mainly insects but also take some fruit and vegetables. Hatchlings should be fed twice a day; crickets, woodies, silkworms and other suitable insects make up the bulk of the diet, with a salad of mixed greens, sweet potato, carrot and beans offered alongside. Offer richer items like waxworms and the occasional pinky mouse sparingly, and gut-load feeder insects. Dust food with a calcium/multivitamin supplement daily for hatchlings and juveniles, and every second day for adults. Keep a clean dish of water available at all times and change it daily; misting is also appreciated.
Lighting, Temperature & Humidity
Provide a heat gradient from about 25C at the cool end to 34C at the warm end, with a basking spot around 38C. At night keep it around 25C and never let it fall below 18C. Keep humidity around 55-65% and avoid sustained levels above 75%, which can cause respiratory problems. Use a good broad-spectrum heat globe and a quality UVB source; unfiltered natural sunlight (not through glass) is excellent when available.
Housing
Use newspaper or paper towel as substrate for young lizards to avoid impaction; adults can use paper or a fully digestible substrate. These lizards are very active and semi-arboreal, so height and climbing branches are essential. A 4 x 3ft enclosure suits a single adult (larger is better); hatchlings can start in a 3ft x 18in tank but will need upgrading quickly.
Overview
In Queensland a wildlife licence is required to keep a frilled neck lizard.
Ask the team at Nick's Aquarium Oceanarium Terrarium about tall enclosures and lighting for frillies.
Recommended products
Get set up with the right gear from Nick's Aquarium Oceanarium Terrarium: enclosures & supplies, UVB lighting, heating & thermostats, live feeders and food & supplements. A reptile licence is required in Queensland - see our QLD reptile licence guide.
