Fluffy Care....
Updated
Housing~ When housing your frilly space is important. Hatchlings could be in a tank 20+ gallons, juveniles should be housed in a 55-75 gallon tank, adults NEED to be housed in a 3’x3’x4’ (lxwxh) enclosure. Your Frilled Dragon enclosures should be easy to wipe down. I find glass works the best. You can use anything that works for you! Because this is for you and your Frilly.
~ Remember ventilation is NEEDED your Frillies home. Along with a door that is easy for you to get your Frilly in and out. Please make sure that you have it so your Frilly CANNOT get out!!! So if need be add a lock! Add branches for climbing, but keep in mind that you will need to keep them away from the heat source! (You don’t want your frilly to burn themselves!!!!)
Lighting~ Correct lighting is VERY IMPORTANT!!!Frillies like most reptiles NEED ultraviolet (UV) lighting both UVA and UVB.
UVA~ stimulates appetite, encourages activity, and helps with breeding behaviors in your frilly...
UVB~ is vital for synthesis of vitamin D3, regulating your frillies calcium, and balancing calcium and phosphorous levels...
I personally use what is called full-spectrum fluorescent to get the benefits of both UVA and UVB. these lights should be changed after nine (9) months. Even if they still work! Full-spectrum fluorescent over time loses the UV output!
FYI~ I find that 12 hours on & 12 hours off will help with your frillies personality/behavior.
~ Some people like use back lights keep in mind they do NOT put out UVA or UVB! that does not mean you cant use them as a night light. I use them, they do have a nice visual effect.
~Don’t forget a basking spot....
Terrarium/Vivarium Layout~ One thing to keep in mind is a hiding area. Sense frillies like to spend their days in tree as well as ground you will want to put some vertical branches in their home. also frillies do startle easy, so i find it better to cover 3 sides of the enclosure. It is also important to have substrate that goes well with your Frilly. Because that Frillies are forest lizards I would recommend compressed coconut fibers, chopped wood, (it comes in many verities, sizes, and colors). Other thing that you can add for your Frillies enclosure are branches and plants...
Branches~ Add branches for climbing, but keep in mind that you will need to keep them away from the heat source! (You don’t want your frilly to burn themselves!!!!)
Plants~ Keep in mind that your Frilly may eat your plants or as I found out Fluffy, (Our Frilly) will climb over the plants that we have added. He never goes around them. Do some research before you put plants in some plants are not good for them, ( I’m still researching this for myself.)
Feeding~ There are many types of diets that you can feed your Frilly. I have done some reading and they say that you can feed your Frilly canned cat food but I have not tried this, and it sounds a little fishy to me, (no pun intended). Others have had luck feeding fruits, and vegetables. Her is a list of safe food.
~ Alfala,
~ Apples,
~ Berries (straw, blue, elder),
~ Broccoli (stems,and leaves),
~ Bok choy,
~ Cabbage (dark green, and red. NEVRE white), ~ Dandelions,
~ Escarole,
~ Grated roots (carrots, beats)
~ Grated squash,
~ Greens(turnips, collards, mustards, beats),
~ Hibiscus (blooms, and leaves),
~ Leaf lettuce,
~ Melons,
~ Nastrutrum,
~ Okra,
~ Papaya,
~ Peaches,
~ Pears,
~ Romaine,
~ Rose petals,
~ Tofu,
~ Tomato.
When trying this cut them small enough for them to eat. You can tell if they are small enough, by cut them to the with of there eyes. if you have question go a head and email me, and if you think it is still to big then go a head and cut them smaller! If you try to feed look into what you feed him. Thing like rhubarb can not been fed to your Frilly. Other thing you can feed Frillies are meal worms, wax worms, and crickets. They come in many sizes. keep in mind eyes width. Also try wax worm if your Frilly get sick. The wax worms will help get his appetite back to what it should be. Be careful wax worms are high in fat, so done feed them to often. or just as a treat. Fluffy only eats gut loaded crickets. It’s not like I haven’t tried others foods, I have! Fluffy is just a picky eater. I am using re-hydrated vegetable medley mix in there, but the crickets eat that. Don’t worry if Your frilly does not eat fruits and veggies. From what I read it’s not that uncommon.
FYI~ Every other feeding you will want to dust you live food with calcium powder.
General Care~ Frillies may grow to be three (3) feet long, and depending on there age and size you may have to change the way you pick them up. When they are small you may want to lead them into a plastic container. As they grow older/larger use both hands cupped to catch them. If you let your frilly roam free time to time. trying to catch them can be hard, frilled dragons can run fast. you may want to use a blanket to catch them, try not to chase them because chasing can be stressful on your frilly, and it could be fatal.
Shedding~ Frillies do shed, don’t worry about this it’s natural, it’s just old skin need to come off. However they should be handled less during the shedding process. You may be tempted to help them shed by pulling the dead skin off however it is best that they shed on their own. Raising the humidity levels may help the process.Fluffy does get pissy when he sheds, and a temperament change is natural during the shedding process.
Cleaning~ Once a week I take out water bowl, and feeding dishes. Put on gloves and pick up Fluffy poop,and Fill Fluffy’s waterfall. (you may want to remove any dead crickets). Once a month I take branches, vines, and foliage out and and disinfect them (I use the dishwasher). Every three months you need to replace your frillies substrate, and do a deep cleaning.
If you have any questions feel free to contact me at: dont.frill.up@me.com
