Chinese Water Dragon
The Chinese water dragon is a breed of lizard native to southern China and Southeast Asia, with some species native to Australia. They are often known for their friendly personalities and habits such as standing on their hind legs, shaking their heads, and adept climbing.
Chinese water dragons range in color from dark green to light green. They have vertical, diagonal green or turquoise stripes on their body. Their bellies are white or pale yellow, and their throats are a mix of yellow, orange, and peach. The long tail is narrow and has green and brown bands. Adult males have larger heads than females, and they develop larger crests on the back of the head and neck.
They may be popular pet reptiles due to their smaller size, but their care requirements are more demanding than most people would expect.
Breed overview
COMMON NAME: Chinese water dragon, water dragon, blue water dragon, Asian water dragon and Thai water dragon (not to be confused with Australian water dragon)
SCIENTIFIC NAME: Physignathus cocincinus
ADULT SIZE: Adult males are about 3 feet long, while females average 2 feet long; A large portion of the overall length is made up of the tail.
LIFE AGE: 14 to 16 years, although some have lived more than 20 years in captivity
HARD TO CARE: Advanced. These lizards have very specific care requirements.
Chinese Water Dragon Behavior and Temperament
These lizards are among the friendliest of all. Usually, they like to be handled. Regular handling is essential to prevent them from becoming too aggressive.
If the Chinese water dragon is scared or feels threatened, it may bite or whip its tail. They are quite active in their environment and love to climb rocks, trees, branches or plants. They are also good swimmers and are happy to have water in their cage. Chinese water dragons are social animals. They tend to thrive in captivity when in pairs or groups. This is recommended, especially since owning more than one Chinese water dragon does not require more work (or expense).
Chinese Water Dragon House
Water dragons need a large cage and the minimum size for an adult dragon is 5 or 6 feet long, 2 or 3 feet deep, and 5 or 6 feet tall. An enclosure of this size will likely need to be made to order and will be very expensive.
Unless you know your dragons are correctly sexed, you should only keep one, although that can be quite lonely. A male and female pair will probably get along, while two males and even two females can be aggressive unless there is plenty of space in a very large cage. Large aquariums are commonly used but not ideal.
For the substrate in the tank, choose something that is hypoallergenic if swallowed. Fumigated potting soil (without minerals or chemicals) covered with sphagnum moss (with good moisture content) as well as a mixture of peat, soil, soil and cypress mulch, indoor/outdoor carpet or paper. Plenty of branches should be provided for climbing and sunbathing (put some diagonally and some horizontally to sunbathe). Live plants such as potholes, sycamore, hibiscus, hollyhock and staghorn ferns are a good addition.
humidity
In the environment, the Chinese water dragon needs a good lake. It should be large and deep enough for a dragon to be submerged at least half its height. A cat litter box works well, but if possible you should designate half of the cage as water and the other half as a beach area (use the substrate to create the shore). You need to be able to remove and clean the water tank daily, especially if your dragon uses it to defecate. Otherwise, you will need to get a quality water filter. Humidity should be kept at about 80 percent; it is smart to use a digital hydrometer to know the humidity of the enclosure. Mist the enclosure once or twice daily as needed. Potted plants can also help retain moisture.
Heat and Illumination
Daytime temperatures should be between 80 and 88 degrees F (26 to 31 degrees C), with a background temperature of 95 degrees F (35 degrees C). At night, temperatures can drop to 75 to 80 degrees F (24 to 27 degrees C). A temperature range is required and be sure to measure the temperature on both the cool and warm sides.
A combination of backlighting, ceramic heating elements, heatsink pads underneath the reservoir, and thermal tape can be used to achieve this gradient. Your water dragon’s summer light cycle should be 12-13 hours, while in winter it should be 11-12 hours a day. For your water cactus’s health, it’s important to maintain daily exposure to UBV and make sure nothing in its environment blocks light.
Food and water
You can feed Chinese water dragon crickets, caterpillars, waxworms, earthworms, grasshoppers, butterworms, locusts and possibly small fish. Occasionally, adults can also be fed the little mouse, as well as the fluff. All insect prey should be ingested and fed only every two to four weeks, not daily.
It is best to avoid insects caught from the wild due to the risk that they contain pesticides and always avoid fireflies as they are potentially toxic.1
Can also provide small amounts (10 to 15 percent of the serving) of chopped vegetables and fruits. Try bok choy, dandelion, and mustard greens, as well as sweet potatoes, turnips, green beans, carrots, and yellow or orange squash. Fruits should be used in less quantity than vegetables; try strawberry, raspberry, mango, papaya, fig and cantaloupe.
Young and young should be fed every two days, while as a general rule, adults can be fed two to three times per week. The best way to determine the amount of food to feed is to look at the body condition: thin dragons need to eat more and chubby dragons need to be fed less. Provide a whole prey item every two to four weeks.
Use a calcium/vitamin D3 supplement at each other feeding along with a complete vitamin/mineral supplement once a week. Don’t give calcium on the same day but give a multivitamin.
Common health problems
There are a number of health problems commonly seen in Chinese water dragons, including:
- Mouth rot: This is the most common problem and is the result of an improperly treated infection or injury. Water dragons often rub or hit their head, nose, or chin against the wall. This behavior can rub on sores leading to total mouth rot.2 Look for swelling around the mouth or open sores in the mouth or nose area. Loss of appetite is also a possible sign of mouth rot.
- Metabolic Bone Disease (MBD): This often fatal condition is caused by a lack of calcium in the dragon’s diet or by insufficient exposure to UVB rays.3
- Skin infections and parasites: Skin infections occur on the outside of the body and are often the result of dirty, poorly maintained cages. Parasites occur in the body.4 Both should be diagnosed by a veterinarian.
- Dystocia (or “binding eggs”): Females lay eggs even if they have not yet mate with a male. Sometimes eggs can get stuck in the body. Consult your veterinarian immediately if you think your dragon has an egg stuck in its body.
Choosing Your Chinese Water Dragon
Buy your pet from a reputable breeder or pet store. Captive-bred Chinese water dragons will adapt better to captivity than wild-caught. Additionally, wild-caught water dragons are usually rife with internal and external parasites.
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