Chinese Water Dragon Care Sheet
Lizard
2 - 3 feet long
15 - 20 years
Omnivore
Diet & Nutrition
Chinese Water Dragons are omnivores, although they eat primarily insects. Offer a variety of live insects including crickets, mealworms, waxworms, superworms, and cockroaches. Vegetation includes turnip greens, collard greens, mustard greens, flower blossoms, and some fruits in small amounts.
Feeding Schedule
Feed babies daily. Adults should also eat daily, although they will likely eat less than a baby. Feed an 80/20 mix of insects and vegetation. Dust food with calcium powder daily & a multivitamin once a week. Feed them the amount they will eat in 10 minutes.
Housing & Habitat
Water Dragons come from Southeast Asia. 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. Chinese Water Dragons may be kept alone or in pairs. If housed together Chinese Water Dragons 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 48" Long x 18" Deep x 20" High.
Babies can be started in a 40 Breeder.
Substrate
Due to humidity requirements an absorbent substrate is desired. Peat moss or coconut fiber are preferred.
Temperature & Lighting
Temperature
A Water Dragon's basking spot should be 95°F. The cool end of the tank can be as cool as 75°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, its 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% - 80%.
Watering
Provide a bowl of fresh drinking water at all times. Water Dragons also like to swim. Provide a large enough water bowl so the lizard can soak and swim.
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Frequently Asked Questions
What do Chinese Water Dragons eat?
Chinese Water Dragons are omnivores, although they eat primarily insects. Offer a variety of live insects including crickets, mealworms, waxworms, superworms, and cockroaches. Vegetation includes turnip greens, collard greens, mustard greens, flower blossoms, and some fruits in small amounts.
What size enclosure does a Chinese Water Dragon need?
Water Dragons come from Southeast Asia. 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. Chinese Water Dragons may be kept alone or in pairs. If housed together Chinese Water Dragons 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...
What temperature and lighting does a Chinese Water Dragon need?
A Water Dragon's basking spot should be 95°F. The cool end of the tank can be as cool as 75°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, its 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 should be...