Chinese Water Dragon Care Guide

Care & Health Requirements

When it comes to caring for a Chinese Water Dragon it's not very different than any other lizard. Make sure they are humid, and warm, have clean water and have a selection of protein-filled food sources, room to move and grow. Spend time with them, get to know their persona, and hold them. It's pretty simple for the most part if you already love reptiles, that is.

Reproduction and Development -
Males court their mates through physical displays, flexing, dancing, and including head bobbing. During mating, the male latches onto the crest of the female's head while attached. Females lay between six and 15 eggs that hatch after an incubation period of 60 to 75 days.

They bury these eggs, so make sure you keep close eyes on temperatures within the floor of the terrarium also.

Hatchlings are about 1 inch from snout to vent and 5 to 6 inches in total length. They are often a brown-green color with a pale green to white underside. Light stripes run vertically across each side of their bodies. They also have brown and green banded tails, large eyes, and short snouts.

Providing adequate space for hatchlings is important. If there is not enough space it has been said that the males and females will eat their offspring due to a lack of resources, unstable enclosure, hatchling deficiency, illness, etc.

It is recommended to have a secondary enclosure and keep the male separated from the female, as well as the clutch during the rearing process.

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Enclosure -
Maintaining proper humidity, and clean drinking/bathing water DAILY is important.

Making sure temperatures stay within the suitable realms.

Providing proper amounts of nutritious foods. BEWARE Water Dragons will become obese as with any animal if the food is not properly monitored.

Waste and fecal matter need to be cleaned and substrate changed weekly preventing bacteria build-up.

Feeding -
A varied diet is a key component of a balanced diet. A water dragon's primary diet should consist of appropriately sized insects. Examples of healthy insect options include roaches, mealworms, superworms, butterworms, hornworms, waxworms, phoenix worms, crickets, etc.

Finely chopped vegetables and fruits should also be provided (see below for good salad options).

Adults can occasionally be offered appropriately sized whole prey items such as mouse fuzzies/hoppers and feeder fish.

Feed young water dragons daily. Adult water dragons should be fed 3-4 times weekly.

Vegetable options: Offer as wide a variety as possible. Collard and mustard greens, kale, broccoli, escarole, spinach, swiss chard, parsley, and romaine are excellent choices, as are carrot and beet tops. Unsprayed dandelion leaves and flowers, and nasturtium and hibiscus blossoms from the yard are excellent additions. Avoid pale greens such as head lettuce and celery tops. Frozen vegetable mixes are excellent choices; as are peas, beans, carrots, beets, corn, sweet potatoes, and summer and winter squash. Choose bulk vegetables that are fresh or frozen, not canned. Wash and chop all bulk vegetables/greens into properly sized bites.

Fruit options: Fruit should not make up more than 10% of the diet. Bananas, grapes, papaya, melon, strawberries, kiwi, mango, oranges, peaches, pears, figs, etc. are all good choices. Wash and chop all fruits prior to feeding.

Typically, juvenile Water dragons are carnivorous as they age, they will start to prefer vegetables as well as live meals.

**Note that iceberg lettuce has almost no nutritional value and should not be offered as food.

Health Care -
Lizards can be dumb, believe me I know. Did you watch their YouTube video? Because that explains it all. Really... lol.

But keep an eye on them. Look for odd new behaviors or if they seem down.

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Here's a little breakdown of what's needed, what to watch for, and when to go to a veterinarian.

CONCERNS -
Water dragons that are unwell tend to exhibit similar symptoms for a variety of problems. These are often observed when diseases are present. Prompt medical treatment is advisable to diagnose and appropriately treat your pet. Symptoms to look for:

-Lethargy

-Lack of appetite

-Sudden color changes

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OTHER ISSUES -

Metabolic Bone Disease
One of the most common health problems seen among captive water dragons is metabolic bone disease. Although other causes exist, the metabolic bone disease is usually caused by inadequate levels of calcium in the diet. The symptoms range from mild cases which exhibit lethargy and lack of appetite, through moderate cases which may have abscesses and fragile bones that fracture easily, to severe end-stage cases with rubbery bones, spinal deformities, and neurological signs such as tremors and twitching of the extremities. Veterinary care is a must for animals with metabolic bone disease.

Abscess
An abscess is a pocket of infected material that commonly develops in mouth and jaw areas, as well as on limbs and tails. Abscesses need to be opened and cleaned by a veterinarian and sometimes require antibiotic treatment as well.

Nose Rubbing
A behavior that often causes injury to pet water dragons is nose rubbing. Nose rubbing usually indicates that the water dragon feels exposed or insecure in its enclosure. Providing more seclusion may help stop this behavior and allow the nose to heal.

Nasal Discharge
This may indicate respiratory illness. Antibiotics are used to treat respiratory diseases.

Egg Binding
Occasionally this is a problem with mature females. A lack of appropriate dietary calcium or supplemental UVB lighting can cause abnormally shelled/unshelled eggs to develop, which the female is unable to lay. Spaying is often the only way to save a female's life.

Mouth Rot
Signs that your Chinese water dragon may have mouth rot are; swelling around the mouth, open ulcers at the mouth or nose, and white curd-like secretions around the mouth. As soon as you notice any of these symptoms you should see your reptile vet immediately.