Vietnamese Calotes Care Sheet
Lizard
7 - 10 inches long
8 - 10 years
Insectivore
Diet & Nutrition
Vietnamese Calotes are insectivores. Offer a variety of live insects including crickets, mealworms, waxworms, and cockroach nymphs.
Feeding Schedule
Feed babies and adults daily, although some keepers will feed adults every other day. Dust food with calcium powder daily & a multivitamin once a week. Feed them the amount they will eat in 10 minutes. Worms can be left in the food bowl.
Housing & Habitat
Vietnamese Calotes come from Eastern Asia, in particular Vietnam. They love to jump and climb. Provide plenty of climbing branches at various heights throughout the enclosure. Be sure to provide plenty of foliage for hiding areas in the trees. Keep the environment warm and humid. Vietnamese Calotes may be kept alone or in pairs. If housed together Calotes should be of similar size to avoid injury. Never house two males together in the same tank. Two females generally get along well. A male and female will likely breed if housed together.
Enclosure Size
An adult must have a minimum cage size of 30" Long x 12" Deep x 12" High also known as a 20 Long. Babies can be started in a 10 gallon tank.
Substrate
Due to humidity requirements an absorbent substrate is desired. Peat moss, coconut fiber or Tropical Mix available at The Tye-Dyed Iguana are suitable.
Temperature & Lighting
Temperature
A Vietnamese Calotes' basking spot should be 85°F. The cool end of the tank can be as cool as 65°F.
Lighting
Since this is a diurnal species, it requires two light bulbs. One is the heat lamp which also emits UVA. The second is a UVB lamp. The UVB lamp will specifically say UVB on the box. If the box doesn't say UVB, it's not UVB.
Plant and Fish bulbs are not UVB bulbs.
Humidity & Watering
Humidity
The cage including the decorations should be misted 1 - 2 times a day to ensure proper humidity levels. Humidity levels should be between 70% - 95%.
Watering
Provide a bowl of fresh drinking water at all times. Provide a large enough water bowl so the lizard can soak.
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Frequently Asked Questions
What do Vietnamese Calotes eat?
Vietnamese Calotes are insectivores. Offer a variety of live insects including crickets, mealworms, waxworms, and cockroach nymphs.
What size enclosure does a Vietnamese Calotes need?
Vietnamese Calotes come from Eastern Asia, in particular Vietnam. They love to jump and climb. Provide plenty of climbing branches at various heights throughout the enclosure. Be sure to provide plenty of foliage for hiding areas in the trees. Keep the environment warm and humid. Vietnamese Calotes may be kept alone or in pairs. If housed together Calotes should be of similar size to avoid injury. Never house two males together in the same tank. Two females generally get along well. A male an...
What temperature and lighting does a Vietnamese Calotes need?
A Vietnamese Calotes' basking spot should be 85°F. The cool end of the tank can be as cool as 65°F. Since this is a diurnal species, it requires two light bulbs. One is the heat lamp which also emits UVA. The second is a UVB lamp. The UVB lamp will specifically say UVB on the box. If the box doesn't say UVB, it's not UVB. Plant and Fish bulbs are not UVB bulbs. Humidity: The cage including the decorations should be misted 1 - 2 times a day to ensure proper humidity levels. Humidity levels sho...