Care Sheet for Water DragonsAverage Rating Given To This Care Sheet Is 4.49 (1=lowest, 5=highest) Last Updated: 12/29/2004 |
Main Category: | Lizards |
Sub Category: | Water Dragons |
Care Sheet Submitted By: | Lilyblueyez |
Years Experience: | 5 to 10 Years |
Species: | Chinese Water Dragon |
Other Species or Phases this Care Sheet May Cover: | Basilisks |
Sexing and Characteristics: | Chinese, or green water dragons are native to southern Asia, in dense tropical rain forests where they always live near water and are semi-arboreal
Males average 3ft, females a little smaller. Males develop larger heads and jowels than females. Breeding colours are observed on the chin and jowels of the males, in blue, pink, orange, and yellow. Both males and females change from bright green when content to dark brown when stressed. Males have larger femoral pores, and develop a large nuchal crest.
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Mostly Active During: | Day |
Substrate and Water Needs: | Green astroturf or indoor/outdoor carpeting has been found to be the easiest substrate to maintain.
Small grade orchid bark (which can help retain moisture), or a mix of 2/3 peat moss based potting soil and 1/3 sand can also be used.
If you intend to breed your dragons, you need a laying box for the female to dig in.
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Lighting and UVB: | Recommended, but not required, are full spectrum bulbs. This should be used to illuminate the vivarium and should run the length of the enclosure. Change the bulb every six months.
Required is one or more (depending on the size and setup of the enclosure) incandescent spotlights placed above basking perches.
Have your lighting on a timer to turn on and off automatically providing 14 hours of daylight (reduced to 12 hours in the winter). |
Temperatures and Humidity: | 84-88 F daytime and 75-80 F at night. Humidity75% minimum, 80% preferably. Use a hygrometer to measure humidity.
Create a heat gradient in the enclosure by having a cooler end with no basking lights. Use thermometers (preferably digital) to measure the temperature at either end of the enclosure. Ensure that the basking site does not exceed 90 F. |
Heating and Equipment: | Do not use heat rocks.
A ceramic heat element hung above the cage delivers heat in waves and is the vet’s preferred method. Other available heat sources include subtank heaters such as strips and pads.
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Caging Provided: | The enclosure should be twice the length of the animal, and preferably larger. These animals love to climb and bask on branches above water in their natural habitat.
All glass vivaria are the easiest to keep clean and will display your animals the best. Custom enclosure of wood (treated with polyurethane or epoxy paint), melamine or all screen also work.
Ensure adequate ventilation is provided.
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Diet: | Omnivorous |
Description of Diet: | As the animal matures, it will consume more vegetable matter. They are attracted to red and purple vegetation (red seedless grapes, finely cut red pepper) first but will also eat collared greens and mustard greens.
Each specimen will have its preferences, keep their diet varied and supplemented.
Gut loaded crickets, grasshoppers, mealworms, king/superworms, butterworms (high in calcium), waxworms, silkworms, earth worms, feeder fish, snails, pinkies and fuzzies (high in calcium).
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Supplements, Nutrition and Usage: | Gutload your insects by feeding them ground rodent or monkey chow or tropical fish flakes. This makes them more nutritious.
Also use a calcium supplement to dust all food items 2 to 3 times a week. This can be reduced to once a week for adults if you include fuzzy to weened mice in their diet, so that the bones of the animal provides some calcium. |
Maintenance: | Everyday, do a visual check to assess general health, clean the water and feed as needed. Remove all dead insects that won’t be eaten and collect all adult crickets left uneaten and alive to reuse at next feeding.
Clean the exterior class once a week, clean the interior of the cage as needed. |
Some Words on this Species: | Both water dragons and basilisks are beautiful and interesting animals. Water Dragons are very handelable and can become gentle, loving pets. If you provide them with a large enough swimming area, their under water antics can delight you to no end. Take care of your animals and they will flourish. |
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