Geographical Region

Australia – New South Wales and Queensland

Habitat

Forest/rainforest – always near large bodies of water. They like to spend a large portion of their day laying on branches over hanging water so they can drop off onto food, or escape into a water beneath them if a predator arrives

Colour

Background colouration of grey/brown, with black stripes up the flanks. Mature males have a pink/red chest and around their lips

Size

Between 20 – 30 inches and up to 1kg in weight

Captive Environment

36l x 24h x 24d for an adult pair.

Lightly moist substrate such as orchid bark, cypress bedding. A large water bowl/tray is essential as they like to swim/lounge in water

Heating

Basking temperatures of 90°F, dropping to 70 - 75°F at night time. They like to lie about 6-inches underneath the basking light, provide more branches elsewhere to allow thermoregulation.

Lighting requirements

Ultraviolet light is essential for this species, as it is needed to help metabolise calcium from its diet. Without this the lizard will develop metabolic bone disease and will die. A UV tube half the length of the vivarium is required to allow multiple basking areas. Repti-glo 10% tubes are required. The lizard needs to be able to get within 6 – 8-inches to gain full effects

Photoperiod

Autumn/winter – 10 hours light – 14 hours dark.

Spring/summer – 13 hours light – 11 hours dark.

Feeding

Omnivorous, feeding on insects (crickets, hoppers/locusts, waxworms, mealworms), also snails, frogs, tadpoles and bird eggs occasionally. Will also take small mice, as well as apples, banana, strawberries, cherries, grapes and tomatoes. Insects 85%, fruit/veg 15% Use a supplement like repton or reptivite at least twice weekly on food.

Sexing

Males are thicker bodies and longer, have a hemi-penal bulge at base of the tail, distinctive femoral pores as well as a pink/red chest. Also a nice coloured large crest on their head.

Shedding

These Lizards shed their skin almost continually, but always in small pieces.