Sailfin Dragon Easy Care Guide

Large and eye-catching, the sailfin dragon is native to New Guinea, the Philippines, and some regions of eastern Indonesia. Sailfin dragons resemble dinosaurs in appearance but are much more timid and flighty in nature.

Sailfin dragons are moderately difficult to care for because the lizard needs a large, semi-arboreal enclosure and doesn’t tolerate poor enclosure conditions.

You may also want to read about the day gecko.

Appearance

The sailfin dragon looks like a dinosaur from prehistoric times; it is stocky and has a crest that runs down its neck. Spiky scales run along the lizard’s back, starting at the base of its neck.

In addition to their lengthy tails, sailfin dragons are distinguished by their slender, elongated limbs. The majority of this species of lizard is either gray or green, and its mottled patterning serves as a form of camouflage. Some lizards have more outlandish color schemes, with blue detailing on the face, chest, and legs of a red, black, or brown base.

Male sailfin dragons are distinguished by a large, fan-like feature called a sail, which has sturdy rays and can be raised on command. The sail, which extends from the tail’s base, helps the animal regulate its temperature, maintain balance, swim, and court females. Males have larger heads and darker limbs than females.

sailfin dragon

Temperament

When threatened, the Sailfin dragon will flee and hide. It’s normal for a captive-born sailfin dragon to act anxious for the first year or two. However, once the lizards have adjusted to their new home, they’re calm and require little attention.

As long as the enclosure is large enough, multiple sailfin dragons can live peacefully together. If you want to reduce the likelihood of fights and territorial behavior, it’s best to pair off females or a female with a male. It is not recommended to handle these lizards because they will likely scratch, whip their tails, and attempt to flee.

Size of the enclosure

Keep in mind that a sailfin dragon requires a minimum tank size of 30 gallons. For an adult of this species, a habitat of 50 gallons is recommended. Because of their insatiable need for vertical space, a 60-inch-tall enclosure is ideal for a sailfin lizard. 60 inches in length and 30 inches in width is ideal for a tank.

Lighting

As a diurnal species, sailfin dragons require a regular day/night cycle. Put the cage in a well-lit room during the day, but make sure it stays dark for at least eight hours every night. You can keep an eye on your lizard all through the night by placing a red lamp in its enclosure.

A full-spectrum UVB light should be installed to mimic the sun’s rays and create an appropriate environment for the lizard. Sunlight UVB (UVB) is critical for sailfin dragons to synthesize calcium, which is used for bone development, maintenance, and the maintenance of metabolic processes.

You can put the light on a timer so that it only comes on during the day if you mount it above the top of the enclosure.

Conditions of Heat and Moisture

For thermoregulation, sailfin dragons require a habitat temperature gradient (maintain a steady internal body temperature). The lizards are able to regulate their body temperature by moving to different areas of their natural habitat that are either warmer or cooler. Provide both warm and cool areas to simulate the natural temperature ranges found in the wild.

Both of these ranges should be considered when setting the enclosure temperature:

A temperature of about 115 degrees Fahrenheit, ideal for sunbathing. Assume a room temperature of 80–90 degrees Fahrenheit

Create a basking spot by placing a light fixture high up on a branch the lizard can climb to. Put the light fixture outside the lizard’s enclosure so it can’t get burned.

The temperature should fall to 75 degrees Fahrenheit overnight, but not below that. If your room temperature drops below 75 degrees Fahrenheit overnight, you should use heat strips or emitters to raise it.

Make sure the temperature inside the enclosure is the same as the lizard’s natural habitat by checking it regularly with a thermometer.

Humidity levels between 75% and 80% are recommended for a sailfin dragon’s habitat. Get a hygrometer to check the humidity levels, and mist the enclosure if it’s too dry. The water and plants inside the enclosure, assuming the temperature is correct, should be able to maintain humidity on their own.

Foundation and Embellishing

A substrate like cypress mulch, which is both easy to clean and absorbent of excess moisture, is ideal for a sailfin dragon’s enclosure. Sphagnum moss can be added due to its ability to fight off bacteria and fungi. You should keep your lizard away from fine substrates that could get stuck around its eyes.

Since sailfin lizards are semi-arboreal in the wild, they will need access to both water and climbing structures within their enclosure.

You can make the enclosure more useful by adding a series of branches that can be used to climb horizontally and diagonally. Pick branches of varying thicknesses, making sure that the lizard can balance on any of them. At the very top of the enclosure, built-in climbing shelves can be used to create more vertical space for climbing.

Surround the enclosure with plants, either real or fake. There should be enough space between plants for the lizard to move around, and the plants should provide enough cover for it.

Food and water

Sailfin dragons’ natural diet consists of things like insects, plants, fruits, and rodents. Provide a mixture of insect protein and plant-based foods to mimic the natural omnivorous diet in captivity.

Cockroaches, crickets, earthworms, super worms, small crustaceans, and feeder mice are all good sources of protein for a sailfin dragon’s diet. Insects should be prepared for consumption by washing and gutting them. You can increase the food’s nutritional value by dusting it with calcium and vitamin D3 supplement powders.

Sailfin dragons get their nutrients from plant foods like kale, squash, carrots, dandelion greens, berries, and bananas.

Adult sailfin dragons should be fed once every other day. The young of this species of lizard should be fed a diet consisting of 75% protein (such as calcium-dusted insects and super worms) and 25% plant matter (such as chopped kale) once or twice a day.