Keeper timer setting
T5 UVB: one hour later on, one hour earlier off
During active care — ON: 1 hour after daylight starts.
OFF: 1 hour before daylight ends.
During hibernation / full brumation: T5 UVB OFF (0 hours). In transition months, keep UVB off while dormant and use the active timer only once the animal is warmed and active.
October: daylight 12 h; T5 UVB 10 h.
The active T5 duration is the photoperiod minus two hours. Example: daylight 08:00–20:00 means UVB 09:00–19:00. Follow the monthly UVI strength measured beneath the tube and provide access to shade. This timing rule does not introduce hibernation for species whose schedule has only a mild or active winter rest. If an older combined heat / UV column is present, the new T5 UVB duration column governs UVB timing; existing heat settings are preserved.
UVI beneath the optional T5 tube
Working exposure targetOctober target at normal back height
UVI 3-5directly under the tube when it is on
The retained range remains a provisional captive working target. No new species-specific result was found that clearly requires a numerical change. Retaining it is not certification of an experimentally established optimum.
Your measuring point
Measure at the animal's normal back height directly beneath the brightest accessible part of the T5 strip, positioned toward the middle/back. The animal can enter and leave this area freely.
Keep a lower-UVI gradient and fully covered refuges near UVI 0. This is the optional exposure area, not the average across the cage.
Use a UV Index meter, such as a Solarmeter 6.5/6.5R. Warm the tube for about 30 minutes; keep reflector, guards and mesh in place. Raise or lower the fixture within its manufacturer's minimum-distance guidance, then recheck the reading and every higher accessible surface.
Evidence level: Provisional retention. These are working recommendations, often inferred; exact species optima and seasonal UV dose usually have not been measured. Log lamp-on time and animal behaviour as well as UVI.
Baines et al. (2016), UV-Tool · Muryn, Baines and Dishman (2026), Reptile Lighting Guide V10
October management
Selected automatically using the Netherlands date
Rain increasing
Sulawesi river margins and riparian forest; semi-aquatic and semi-arboreal, often on branches directly above water
25-29 CDay ambient
22-24 CNight
34-36 CBasking
3-5T5 UVI*
12 hPhotoperiod
10 hT5 UVB duration
70-85 / 85-95%RH day / night*
Rain 1-2x/daySpray / water
4Food*
Annual schedule
Scroll sideways on smaller screens
| Month | Day ambient | Night | Basking | T5 UVI* | Photoperiod | T5 UVB duration | RH day / night* | Spray / water | Food* | Seasonal management |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | 25-28 C | 22-24 C | 33-35 C | 3-4 | 12 h | 10 h | 75-90 / 90-100% | Heavy rain/mist 2-3x/day | 4-5 | Wet-season conditioning |
| February | 25-28 C | 22-24 C | 33-35 C | 3-4 | 12 h | 10 h | 75-90 / 90-100% | Heavy rain/mist 2-3x/day | 4-5 | Courtship / conditioning |
| March | 25-29 C | 22-24 C | 34-36 C | 3-5 | 12 h | 10 h | 75-90 / 90-100% | Heavy rain; deep moist nest | 4-5 | Gravid / laying window |
| April | 25-29 C | 22-24 C | 34-36 C | 3-5 | 12 h | 10 h | 75-90 / 90-100% | Rain 2x/day; moist nest | 4-5 | Laying / recovery |
| May | 25-29 C | 22-24 C | 34-36 C | 3-5 | 12 h | 10 h | 70-85 / 85-95% | Daily rain/mist | 4 | Transition / recovery |
| June | 25-28 C | 21-23 C | 33-35 C | 3-4 | 12 h | 10 h | 65-80 / 80-90% | Mist 1-2x/day; pool permanent | 3-4 | Drier phase |
| July | 25-28 C | 21-23 C | 33-35 C | 3-4 | 12 h | 10 h | 65-80 / 80-90% | Mist 1-2x/day; pool permanent | 3-4 | Drier phase |
| August | 25-28 C | 21-23 C | 33-35 C | 3-4 | 12 h | 10 h | 65-80 / 80-90% | Mist 1-2x/day; pool permanent | 3-4 | Drier phase |
| September | 25-28 C | 21-23 C | 33-35 C | 3-4 | 12 h | 10 h | 65-82 / 82-92% | Daily mist; rain increasing | 3-4 | Condition rebuilding |
| October | 25-29 C | 22-24 C | 34-36 C | 3-5 | 12 h | 10 h | 70-85 / 85-95% | Rain 1-2x/day | 4 | Rain increasing |
| November | 25-29 C | 22-24 C | 34-36 C | 3-5 | 12 h | 10 h | 75-90 / 90-100% | Heavy rain/mist 2-3x/day | 4-5 | Wet-season conditioning |
| December | 25-28 C | 22-24 C | 33-35 C | 3-4 | 12 h | 10 h | 75-90 / 90-100% | Heavy rain/mist 2-3x/day | 4-5 | Wet-season conditioning |
Keeper notes
Use measured gradients and animal behaviour, not single thermostat readings
T5 UVI measurement
Measure UVI at normal back height directly beneath the brightest accessible part of the optional T5 strip. Place the strip toward the middle/back with free access to and away from it; preserve a gradient into fully covered refuges near UVI 0. These numbers describe the exposure area, not the whole enclosure or a daily average.
UVI review
The retained range remains a provisional captive working target. No new species-specific result was found that clearly requires a numerical change. Retaining it is not certification of an experimentally established optimum.
Habitat and enclosure
Very large semi-aquatic and semi-arboreal Sulawesi agamid. For one adult use about 240 x 120 x 200 cm or larger; a compatible breeding pair is better in a room-scale enclosure around 300 x 180 x 240 cm or larger. Provide heavy branches, broad shelves, visual barriers and easy access to water.
Water
Provide a permanent pool deep and broad enough for full submersion and swimming, ideally one-third to one-half of the floor area with about 40-60 cm usable depth for adults. Filter aggressively and remove faeces promptly.
Heat and UVB
Maintain about 25-29 C daytime air, 21-24 C nights and a local 33-36 C basking surface. UVI about 3-5 at the exposed basking platform is a practical starting target, with extensive shade below UVI 1.
Humidity and seasonality
Keep roughly 70-90% daytime RH in the wet phase with night peaks toward saturation. There is no brumation. Use rainfall and food abundance as seasonal cues; a wild gravid female was documented toward the end of March.
Diet
A 2023 field study observed more plant than animal feeding, across 18 plant species and 7 animal taxa. Offer safe leafy browse, flowers and fibrous vegetables daily, modest fruit, plus varied gut-loaded insects, earthworms, snails and occasional crustacean-type prey.
Breeding and incubation
Peer-reviewed species-specific incubation data are sparse. Specialist captive reports commonly describe about 8-16 eggs and roughly 72-100 days near 28-29 C. Treat these as working captive values and record every clutch to refine your own line-specific protocol.
Keeper warning
This species can exceed 1 m total length. Adult males should not be housed together. Monitor for rostral rubbing, toe/tail trauma, obesity from excessive animal food, dehydration, retained shed and bacterial skin or foot problems. Clean water and low-stress visual cover are essential.