Reptile & Amphibian Forums

Hey all, I have been thinking about getting a new lizard for a long time. I currently have 3 leopard geckos and a red-eared slider, and I wanted to challenge myself and get a larger lizard. I have been thinking about frilled dragons and I have some questions:

At what age/size can you sex them?

I have heard that males make better pets, is this true?

How long before they reach full adult size?

Would you recommend a screen cage or a glass cage? Would a 65 gallon screen cage like for a chameleon be good enough for an adult?

Do they do well in pairs? I am not looking to breed but I am interested in observing social interactions.

Finally what should I do if I am going away for a few days or even a week? Is there a pre-made diet I can leave out for them while I am gone? This may be really stupid so forgive me but will they eat that powdered Crested Gecko diet if I'm in a pinch?

Thanks all!

Hey how are ya? This forum is usually pretty dead but I come by once in a while to check.

At what age/size can you sex them? It's usually somewhat easy to sex when they are about 4-6 months old. Sometimes probing them is the only way since some of them really like to hide the crown jewels lol

I have heard that males make better pets, is this true? In my experience, it comes down to the individual dragon. Females do tend to be a bit more skittish than males though. Females can also lay infertile eggs which can be taxing on the body so keep that in mind as well.

How long before they reach full adult size? They usually reach full size in about 2 years give or take

Would you recommend a screen cage or a glass cage? Would a 65 gallon screen cage like for a chameleon be good enough for an adult? Neither actually. Wooden or melamine enclosures are the way to go. Glass cages rarely ever come in the dimensions you need to house a full sized frilled dragon. Screen cages are no good because frilleds love to rub their noses and eventually will wear it off on the screen. You will want something 4' H x 3' L x 2' D as a minimum.

Do they do well in pairs? This is a hit or miss thing. I know of people successfully keeping multiple dragons together. It will come down to the dragon's personalities and the setup of your enclosure. The enclosure should be larger than the typical minimum with multiple basking spots and cool areas. Always have a spare as an emergency tank and/or quarantine tank if you don't purchase them from the same place.

Finally what should I do if I am going away for a few days or even a week? They are picky eaters but you may be able to get away with putting some silkworms or hornworms in a bowl while you're gone. They also can be fed canned or dehydrated bugs when you are in a pinch. Adults can skip a day or 2 of food depending on your feeding schedule. Check out the link in my signature for some more info and a more active place to discuss things
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www.TheFrilledDragon.com

Well i have had my frill for about 9 months now and i had gotten her when she was barely 4 inches long. At the moment i have her in a glass tank that is 4ft long, 2 ft wide, and 2 ft high. She seems to being doing realitively well in the inclosure. One thing i might add though is frilled dragons love to climb trees, so to compensate i have several accessories that allow her to climb through out the tank and i provide alot of fake vegetation. On a plus side to glass tanks is how easy it is to obtain the proper humidity. Depending on where u live a glass tank might prove beneficial. On a side note, you can build a glass tank in whatever size you want for about the same or even cheaper.
Anyways, i notice that my female is a little skittish but thats only when i havent held for awhile and enter her "domain" but once she realizes who i am she is completely cool. I mean i let my 2 yr old hold her that how awesome she is becoming. Granted each lizard in different and so is the breed. I had a nile monitor that completely the opposite. He was very aggressive and i didnt trust him. Frlls are awesome and can be very docile. Just take inconsideration the two types there are.