Basic Care For The Calotes Tree Dragon

Basic Care For The Calotes Tree Dragon


Common Name: Calotes Tree Dragon
Scientific Name: Calotes Versicolor
Distribution: Sumatra, Southern China, Sri Lanka
Size: Between 13" and 16"
Temperament:
Usually very nervous when first acquired, But soon settles down in
captivity. These lizards can be kept in mixed groups.

Hardiness:
Calotes are quite hardy Lizards, Fairly inexpensive and fairly easy to
maintain in captivity.

Sexing:
Males are larger then the females and have a dorsal crest, They can
also develop a red or blue head when excited.

Food / Water:
Crickets, Wax Worms, Mealworms will all be readily taken.They
will also take pinkie mice, Always use a good Calcium / Vitamin
dusting Supplement. Provide fresh drinking and bathing water daily.
Also Mist Once a day.

Housing:
A well ventilated Vivarium 3'x2'x12" will house a pair of Calotes.
For substrate use bark chippings mixed with Sand. For decor use
branches, driftwood, artificial plants, rocks, cork bark. Calotes
love to climb so provide lots of climbing branches.

Temperature / Humidity:
Day time 78f - 88f, Night time 70f - 75f. Moderate to high humidity,
this can be achieved by regular misting of the vivarium.

Heating / Lighting:
The use of full spectrum U.V. lighting is recommended for this
species. You can use a incandescent light bulb with reflector to heat
the vivarium during the day and a heat mat placed under the substrate
for constant ground heat. The heat mat should cover approximately one
half of the vivarium floor.

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