species ’ eggs ( with the exception of Lophosaurus ) can be incubated at temperatures of28-30 o C and some show temperature-dependant sex determination .
Health and Lifespan .
A common misconception with small dragons is that they typically have a captive lifespan of 1-2 years , which simply isn ’ t true . Captive lifespans are around 6-8 years for most species , with some individuals living significantly longer . The only exceptions are Tympanocryptis species , which have a captive lifespan of 1-3 years , and this is thought to be one of the reasons so few individuals are held in private collections . Some regard the cooling process outlined above to be the key to ensuring these species have long captive lifespans , however others are of the belief that year-round activity will not impact longevity .
A quick guide to species vs keeping level .
Most small dragons are quite easy to keep , especially for a wellprepared keeper . The following list is a general guide that groups species according to keeping level . The Central Netted Dragon and Jacky Dragon are highlighted as the two species I suggest for absolute beginners . Central Netted Dragons suit terrestrial set-ups , while Jacky Dragons are better for arboreal enclosures . These two species are regularly bred in captivity and easy enough to obtain . Some species I have listed under ‘ limited experience ’ are placed there not because their husbandry is more complex than other dragons , but due to their restricted presence in the hobby . When purchasing young individuals of these species keepers must be prepared to feed them pinhead ( for Diporiphora , Rankinia and Tympanocryptis ) and weanie ( for most Ctenophorus , Amphibolurus and Gowidion ) feeder insects . Most small dragons cost between $ 90- $ 300 per individual , depending on species , locale , sex and patterning , with unsexed hatchlings at around
$ 50- $ 200 .
Brand new to keeping smaller dragons and looking for some of the best starters : Central Netted Dragon ( Ctenophorus nuchalis ) Jacky Dragon ( Amphibolurus muricatus ) Tawny Dragon ( Ctenophorus decresii ) Mountain Dragon ( Rankinia diemensis ) Peninsula Dragon or Arcoona Rock Dragon ( Ctenophorus fionni ) Southern Angle-headed Dragon ( Lophosaurus spinipes )
Limited experience with smaller dragons or lizards in general : Long-nosed Dragon ( Gowidion longirostris ) Painted Dragon ( Ctenophorus pictus ) Red-barred Dragon ( Ctenophorus vadnappa ) Ring-tailed Dragon complex ( Ctenophorus caudicinctus and C . infans ; C . slateri and C . graafi not held in Australian collections to my knowledge ). Western Netted Dragon ( Ctenophorus reticulatus ) Mallee Military Dragon ( Ctenophorus fordi ) Central Military Dragon ( Ctenophorus isolepis ) Black-collared Dragon ( Ctenophorus clayi ) Tommy Roundhead ( Diporiphora australis ) Nobbi Dragon ( Diporiphora nobbi ) Canegrass Dragons ( Diporiphora winneckei ) Boyd ’ s Forest Dragon ( Lophosaurus boydii ) Burns ’ Dragon ( Amphibolurus burnsi )
Experienced in keeping smaller dragons : Crested Dragon ( Ctenophorus cristatus ) Earless Dragons ( Tympancryptis spp .)
Limitations of this Article .
Please be aware that this article is limited in scope as there is so much to talk about and so little space ! Make sure to source responsible breeders or sellers who will provide you with correct husbandry advice for whatever species you decide upon and use this as a guide . Many keepers use different husbandry techniques , and some may disagree with what I have outlined . The advice in this article applies specifically to the housing of animals outside their natural range in indoor enclosures . Animals housed outdoors will generally respond more favourably to seasonal cues and breeding efforts , particularly if they are within their natural range
Additional Resources .
Anyone interested in keeping small dragons should try to grab a copy of A Guide to Keeping Australian Dragons by Danny Brown and Keeping and Breeding Australian Lizards edited by Mike Swan . I ’ d also recommend using Google Scholar and having a look for natural history manuscripts published by Eric Pianka in the Western Australian Naturalist journal ; these detail the natural history of a number of small agamids .
Acknowledgements .
Thank you to Tyson Keen , Adam Milanovic and Mark Hawker for their feedback and advice on this article !