Candice Yaacobi is the creator and administrator of the popular forum website TheFrilledDragon.com. She created the site in order to share all of her combined information and research that she accumulated over the years of keeping frilled dragons and to create a place for other frilled owners to gather and discuss and share experiences. The website has become the premiere frilled dragon information site and EverythingReptile is extremely grateful for the opportunity to interview the woman who speaks for these beautiful lizards.
Q: Frilled
dragons are gaining popularity as pets and are becoming more prevalent in
reptile stores and at expos. Do they
have significant differences from bearded dragons in their husbandry
requirements?
A: They certainly do. Many people feel that since they are both agamids and live in Australia, they have the same requirements. This is a popular misconception though. Not all frilled dragons live in Australia. There is another locality native to Southern New Guinea (Papau New Guinea to be exact). Frilled dragons in general need high humidity in the enclosure. This level of humidity would cause respiratory issues in beardeds. Their diet is different as well. Frilled dragons are insectivores while bearded dragons are omnivores. There are some frilleds out there, mine included, that eat greens and such but its very rare and not something they would do in the wild. Another huge difference is that a bearded dragon is terrestrial and stays on the ground most of the time while frilled dragons are arboreal and stay up top in the trees most of the time. Because of this, they need a very tall enclosure rather than a shorter one typically used for a bearded dragon. Frilled dragons are also not as hardy and forgiving of improper husbandry and fall ill much easier than a bearded dragon.
A: They certainly do. Many people feel that since they are both agamids and live in Australia, they have the same requirements. This is a popular misconception though. Not all frilled dragons live in Australia. There is another locality native to Southern New Guinea (Papau New Guinea to be exact). Frilled dragons in general need high humidity in the enclosure. This level of humidity would cause respiratory issues in beardeds. Their diet is different as well. Frilled dragons are insectivores while bearded dragons are omnivores. There are some frilleds out there, mine included, that eat greens and such but its very rare and not something they would do in the wild. Another huge difference is that a bearded dragon is terrestrial and stays on the ground most of the time while frilled dragons are arboreal and stay up top in the trees most of the time. Because of this, they need a very tall enclosure rather than a shorter one typically used for a bearded dragon. Frilled dragons are also not as hardy and forgiving of improper husbandry and fall ill much easier than a bearded dragon.
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Q: Regarding UVB and tank size - how much of the tank needs to be covered by the UVB and how close do they need to be able to get to the UVB source?
A: I would recommend that the UVB span the entire length of the enclosure and mounted on the top of course. Since their enclosure is so tall, shade can be set at various levels by adding fake trees and bushes. If they feel they have gotten enough UVB for the day, they will have an opportunity to lessen what they get by going to different heights in the enclosure and hanging out under the bush or shade spots. All they need to get to the UVB source is a couple of almost vertical branches and they will be more than happy. I know I haven’t mentioned MVBs at all in this topic but from personal experience with them being faulty and harming my reptiles, I’ve grown wary and don’t recommend them anymore. I recommend avoiding coil bulbs in the American market as well since they are known to cause eye issues. |
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Q: Are frilled dragons social creatures and need a tank mate or should they be housed alone? If housed with a tank mate, does their gender matter? Do they display dominance or aggression towards each other?
A: Frilled dragons are much more tolerant of being kept in a pair or group than a bearded dragon. Whereas beardeds should always be housed alone, frilled dragons can be housed with several others. The only combination that doesn’t work is male and male. 2 males will often get territorial and fight. This isn’t to say this can’t happen with any other pairing combination though. There will always be a risk when you house multiples in the same enclosure. If you house a male and female together, be cautious that they may breed once they’ve matured. If you house a male female pair, make sure you can be ready for possible babies and that the pair is NOT related. Housing alone is the best option. You avoid possible cross contamination, possible injury or death from fighting, unwanted clutches and it is less stressful on your frilled. They aren’t known for living in groups in the wild.
A: Frilled dragons are much more tolerant of being kept in a pair or group than a bearded dragon. Whereas beardeds should always be housed alone, frilled dragons can be housed with several others. The only combination that doesn’t work is male and male. 2 males will often get territorial and fight. This isn’t to say this can’t happen with any other pairing combination though. There will always be a risk when you house multiples in the same enclosure. If you house a male and female together, be cautious that they may breed once they’ve matured. If you house a male female pair, make sure you can be ready for possible babies and that the pair is NOT related. Housing alone is the best option. You avoid possible cross contamination, possible injury or death from fighting, unwanted clutches and it is less stressful on your frilled. They aren’t known for living in groups in the wild.
Q: What’s the most common ailment they suffer from and the cause? For example, are they prone to MBD (Metabolic Bone Disease)?
A: Frilled dragons are prone to quite a bit of ailments. MBD is something I see quite a few suffer from but unfortunately they are prone to some very serious problems as well. We are finding out that they are very susceptible to kidney diseases and liver problems. There is also a condition called Inclusion that effects the blood, and kidneys. The best way to compare it to anything is saying it is like Adenovirus in beardies. They are also very prone to fungal infections especially around the frill. This happens when substrate and soil is contaminated and the environment stays too moist for too long. Frill damage will happen with almost every frill. They aren’t the most graceful or careful creatures so they will often tear holes in their frills while trying to mate or scratch shed skin off. Imported and farmed frilleds are almost 100% likely to be infested with mites and/or ticks. Dehydration is another issue many imported frilleds face. With the dehydration they wind up with retained shed that wraps around digits and limbs and cause the tissue to die. When purchasing a frilled dragon you NEED to make sure you have a qualified vet beforehand. You will be visiting them and you should for yearly checkups anyway.
A: Frilled dragons are prone to quite a bit of ailments. MBD is something I see quite a few suffer from but unfortunately they are prone to some very serious problems as well. We are finding out that they are very susceptible to kidney diseases and liver problems. There is also a condition called Inclusion that effects the blood, and kidneys. The best way to compare it to anything is saying it is like Adenovirus in beardies. They are also very prone to fungal infections especially around the frill. This happens when substrate and soil is contaminated and the environment stays too moist for too long. Frill damage will happen with almost every frill. They aren’t the most graceful or careful creatures so they will often tear holes in their frills while trying to mate or scratch shed skin off. Imported and farmed frilleds are almost 100% likely to be infested with mites and/or ticks. Dehydration is another issue many imported frilleds face. With the dehydration they wind up with retained shed that wraps around digits and limbs and cause the tissue to die. When purchasing a frilled dragon you NEED to make sure you have a qualified vet beforehand. You will be visiting them and you should for yearly checkups anyway.
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Q: Is there any myth about the frilled that needs to be dispelled?
A: They are not like bearded dragons! I’m not sure this can be said enough. I think that is the most common myth is that they are so similar that they can be kept the same. Another myth that should be dispelled is that they are NOT beginner lizards. Just because you see them in a Petco or Petsmart or some other store, does not mean they are simple to care for. 99% of the time pet stores aren’t even keeping them properly so please don’t be fooled. |
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Q: What about their behavior? I see so many pictures of frilleds with their frilly parts out and their mouths open. What does that mean? Do they do that often or is that a rarity? Is this a ‘cool’ behavior or a warning sign that they are not happy?
A: When they have their frill extended and are on their hind legs and mouth open, they are not happy at all. Usually they are scared and are trying to bluff and scare you away. Frilled dragons aren’t the most aggressive animals despite their impressive displays. They are the biggest wimps and scardey cats. They would much rather run away than bite you. Not saying that bites don’t occur but it’s rare and you are warned beforehand. |
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They also extend their frills during mating displays and to help thermoregulate their body temperatures. It’s very easy to distinguish an aggressive display of the frill versus a non-threatening display of the frill. Usually they are on their hind legs and hiss when angry. They will often sway side to side and possibly strike. When they strike they don’t bite however. It’s pretty silly to watch honestly.
Q: Are they easy to tame and handle?
A: I would consider them an intermediate lizard to tame. It is possible and they can become “beardie tame” but it takes quite a bit of time. The amount of time depends on the individual themselves. I lucked out with mine and it only took me a month to have him become my scaly snuggle buddy. I often recommend people to cover the sides of the enclosure for 2 weeks or more and limit handling to only when necessary. This is because frilled dragons are naturally very timid animals so they need a slow and relaxed acclimation period to feel comfortable in their new home. Every now and again they decide that your lap isn’t good enough and will run off no matter how tame they are so always be prepared for that.
A: I would consider them an intermediate lizard to tame. It is possible and they can become “beardie tame” but it takes quite a bit of time. The amount of time depends on the individual themselves. I lucked out with mine and it only took me a month to have him become my scaly snuggle buddy. I often recommend people to cover the sides of the enclosure for 2 weeks or more and limit handling to only when necessary. This is because frilled dragons are naturally very timid animals so they need a slow and relaxed acclimation period to feel comfortable in their new home. Every now and again they decide that your lap isn’t good enough and will run off no matter how tame they are so always be prepared for that.
Q: How long have you been keeping frilled dragons? What drew you to them and why did you start The Frilled Dragon website?
A: I have been working with and keeping frilled dragons for about 7 years now. As a child I’ve always loved them. I first saw one in Disney’s The Rescuers Down Under and since then made it my goal to keep one. I even wound up naming my frilled dragon, Frank, after the one in the movie. I always found their appearance to be dinosaur-like and quite frankly, who doesn’t love dinosaurs?! I started TheFrilledDragon.com because back when I initially got into them, so little information was available on their care. I was able to find a couple forums with some information but no one was active and the information was old and mostly inaccurate. I wanted people who either kept them, bred them, or were just interested in them to have a place to combine all of our information together to help the frilled dragons in the pet trade thrive and to make this branch of the hobby come alive.
A: I have been working with and keeping frilled dragons for about 7 years now. As a child I’ve always loved them. I first saw one in Disney’s The Rescuers Down Under and since then made it my goal to keep one. I even wound up naming my frilled dragon, Frank, after the one in the movie. I always found their appearance to be dinosaur-like and quite frankly, who doesn’t love dinosaurs?! I started TheFrilledDragon.com because back when I initially got into them, so little information was available on their care. I was able to find a couple forums with some information but no one was active and the information was old and mostly inaccurate. I wanted people who either kept them, bred them, or were just interested in them to have a place to combine all of our information together to help the frilled dragons in the pet trade thrive and to make this branch of the hobby come alive.
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Q: Are Frilled Dragons good for first time/beginner reptile owners?
A: I know many people won’t want to hear this but no, they are not. Frilled dragons are not very forgiving when their husbandry is not perfect. They stress very easily and go off food for seemingly no reason some times. The stress of having to deal with that, the expensive insect diet, trying to find a healthy specimen, the enclosure size and humidity requirements is just too much for a beginner. People just starting out often get fed up with the animal not “behaving right” that they let them waste away or dump them off somewhere. As long as they are kept properly, they are a 12+ year commitment and not many people are willing to deal with that. Frilled dragons are more of an intermediate/advanced keeper’s lizard. |
Q: What's the difference between a Wild Caught/Imported/Farmed reptile and a Captive Born and Bred and Captive Born/Hatched? Have you owned frilled s from different sources and do you have any recommendations of where to buy a frilled dragon?
A: Wild caught are what about 60-70% of frilled dragons are on the market currently. Wild caught simply means they went out to the animal’s natural habitat and caught them and then shipped them (usually in horrific conditions) to retailers. Wild caught animals usually have a ton of health issues. External and internal parasites are almost always present, dehydration, MBD, retained shed and they normally don’t live past their first year in captivity. They take a very long time to tame down if they ever do at all. I have personally bought a wild caught frilled dragon. It was labeled CBB when I bought it but upon its arrival it was clear it was wild caught. Rather than send the poor animal back I kept him and took him to the vet and tried to nurse him to health but unfortunately he passed away several months later. Wild caught animals can be labeled as “imported” as well.
Farmed/Captive born are generally frilled dragons born from wild parents. Farmed individuals are usually fenced in an area and have somewhat controlled breeding. Breeding individuals are wild caught but babies are hatched in captivity. Some babies will be hatched in an incubator and others are left to incubate naturally outside in the “nests” in the ground. Individuals left to incubate naturally are usually much less healthy than those incubated in an incubator because they exposed to less of the harsh natural environment and parasites outdoors. These can also be labeled “imported” since most of them are imported out of Indonesia. Farmed/Captive born frilled dragons tame down a little better than wild caught but still not ideal.
Captive Born & Bred is a individual that has captive parents and was born in captivity. These are the healthiest frilled dragons you can get (as long as you buy from a reputable breeder). They acclimate much better and can tame down quite nicely. They are much hardier (though that’s not saying much) than the others and usually has much less health problems. They can be quite expensive but it is definitely worth the money.
There is also something called Long Term Captive (LTC) this is basically a wild caught animal that has been kept in captivity for an extended period of time. This does not guarantee that it is healthy or even tame. The term “Long Term Captive” is highly subjective and what one person considers long term may not be long term in your opinion. These animals are hit or miss and I don’t recommend anyone other than an expert to buy one.
A: Wild caught are what about 60-70% of frilled dragons are on the market currently. Wild caught simply means they went out to the animal’s natural habitat and caught them and then shipped them (usually in horrific conditions) to retailers. Wild caught animals usually have a ton of health issues. External and internal parasites are almost always present, dehydration, MBD, retained shed and they normally don’t live past their first year in captivity. They take a very long time to tame down if they ever do at all. I have personally bought a wild caught frilled dragon. It was labeled CBB when I bought it but upon its arrival it was clear it was wild caught. Rather than send the poor animal back I kept him and took him to the vet and tried to nurse him to health but unfortunately he passed away several months later. Wild caught animals can be labeled as “imported” as well.
Farmed/Captive born are generally frilled dragons born from wild parents. Farmed individuals are usually fenced in an area and have somewhat controlled breeding. Breeding individuals are wild caught but babies are hatched in captivity. Some babies will be hatched in an incubator and others are left to incubate naturally outside in the “nests” in the ground. Individuals left to incubate naturally are usually much less healthy than those incubated in an incubator because they exposed to less of the harsh natural environment and parasites outdoors. These can also be labeled “imported” since most of them are imported out of Indonesia. Farmed/Captive born frilled dragons tame down a little better than wild caught but still not ideal.
Captive Born & Bred is a individual that has captive parents and was born in captivity. These are the healthiest frilled dragons you can get (as long as you buy from a reputable breeder). They acclimate much better and can tame down quite nicely. They are much hardier (though that’s not saying much) than the others and usually has much less health problems. They can be quite expensive but it is definitely worth the money.
There is also something called Long Term Captive (LTC) this is basically a wild caught animal that has been kept in captivity for an extended period of time. This does not guarantee that it is healthy or even tame. The term “Long Term Captive” is highly subjective and what one person considers long term may not be long term in your opinion. These animals are hit or miss and I don’t recommend anyone other than an expert to buy one.
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Q: Are there any other reference websites for Frilled Dragons that you recommend?
A: Alamocityagama.com is a good reference site and a breeder site for CBB frilled dragons. The site owner/breeder is a member of my forum and much of the information is the same but she goes into more detail about certain things like enclosure building and breeding. |
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Q: Finally, speech time! Is there anything you would like to tell people?
A: Yes, please, please, PLEASE research as much as you can and never hesitate to ask any questions. I know some forums can be intimidating and people are scared to post in fear of being made fun of or yelled at but on my forum at least, that’s not tolerated and every question gets answered. Make sure you have a good vet and the enclosure set up before you get a frilled dragon. It will save the both of you a lot of unnecessary stress. Most importantly, love and treat your animals with respect and love!
A: Yes, please, please, PLEASE research as much as you can and never hesitate to ask any questions. I know some forums can be intimidating and people are scared to post in fear of being made fun of or yelled at but on my forum at least, that’s not tolerated and every question gets answered. Make sure you have a good vet and the enclosure set up before you get a frilled dragon. It will save the both of you a lot of unnecessary stress. Most importantly, love and treat your animals with respect and love!
For additional research on Frilled Dragons, please click the above link to the website TheFrilledDragon.com and also follow this link to our Frilled Dragon Care page.