Geographical Region

Vietnam, Thailand and NE Bangkok

Habitat

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

Olive/bluish green, mature males sometimes have pink/blue marking around their mouth

Size

Between 24 - 28 inches in length

Captive Environment

36l x 24h x 24d for a single adult

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

Moist substrate such as eco-earth, cypress bedding, orchid bark as this aids humidity. Provide plenty of branches both horizontal and vertical as thick as their body, as well as a large water tray for them to bathe in as well as defecate.

Heating

Basking temperatures of 88 - 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. Use a normal household reflector bulb for heating purposes.

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 5.0% tubes are required. The lizard needs to be able to get within 6 – 8-inches to gain full effects, so place a basking branch next to or just underneath the tube.

Photoperiod

Autumn/winter – 11 hours light – 13 hours dark.

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

Feeding

Omnivorous feeding mainly on insects (crickets, hoppers/locusts, mealworms and occasional waxworms), also cockroaches. The occasional fruits such as strawberries, grape and apple, and the very occasional pink mouse, usually reserved for females after laying eggs. 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, dorsal crest and can have blue/pink colouration around their lips. Also a large crest on their head.