Chinese water dragon Care Sheet
Chinese Water Dragon Care Sheet – This care sheet contains recommendations from our shop assistants.
General Care
Chinese water dragons, also known as green water dragons, originate from southeast Asia. Given optimal care, Chinese water dragons can live for 16 years. Water dragons are rarely aggressive towards human keepers, although may occasionally threaten their owners with an open mouth. When angry or scared water dragons may hide or turn a darker colour.
Housing
Chinese water dragons have a very specific set of needs in comparison to most reptiles. They are arboreal lizards, meaning they climb and like to live up high. An ideal enclosure for a juvenile would be a 3ft vivarium. For adult dragons, an enclosure measuring 6ft tall, 4ft deep and 5ft long. Water dragons enjoy a humid environment, so maintain cage humidity at close to 80%.
Dragons enjoy swimming and soaking in water. Provide a large water dish that is deep enough to allow soaking (hatchlings do fine in a shallow dish). Change the water daily to ensure it is always fresh.
Decoration
Moving water in the enclosure helps increase humidity. An air-stone bubbler placed in the water can help achieve this. As arboreal creatures, water dragons need some high basking areas to rest in. Climbing branches or shelves within the enclosure will allow them to reach the upper limits of the cage. Live or artificial plants and leafy green foliage throughout the enclosure provide shelter and will make your dragon feel safe.
Lighting
You will need to provide your dragon with UVB in the form of fluorescent. Your water dragon needs UVB to produce D3 in its skin. Without proper UVB lighting, water dragons often develop nutritional secondary metabolic bone disease, which causes their bones to soften. We recommend Exo-terra UVB 100.
Set UVB lighting above your dragon’s basking area. There should not be glass or plastic between the light and the dragon. The light should also sit no more than 12 inches above your dragon to provide the highest level of UVB.
Incandescent basking lights can maintain proper cage temperatures. Water dragons are diurnal lizards, meaning they are active during the day and sleep at night. The lights, therefore, need to go off at night. A ceramic heat bulb is recommended for night-time heat as it does not emit light but provides the added heat benefits required. All heat bulbs need to be controlled by a thermostat.
Heating
Heat should be provided using a basking heat lamp. Water dragons require a thermogradient enclosure to control their body temperature. The hot end of the enclosure should be 32-35c and the cool end 24-29c. A ceramic heat emitter can be used at night-time to provide the required temperatures. At night, the heat can be slightly lowered to give a natural dip but is not required in captivity.
Feeding
Chinese water dragons eat a variety of live food ranging from crickets, mealworms, locusts, waxworms, pinkies and fuzzies. You can offer your dragon finely chopped fruit and vegetables, but this should make up around 10 – 15% of your dragon’s diet.
Whole prey items such as pinkies and fuzzies are an important component of a juvenile-to-adult water dragon’s diet. These foods are high in calcium and nutrients. These should be offered to your dragon 2 – 3 times a week to ensure your dragon maintains a good bone structure.
For any further information or advice please feel free to message us on Facebook or contact the store on 01902 494860
