Chinese Water Dragons

by Aimee Amodio | More from this Blogger

27 Nov 2007 08:54 PM

Like their name implies, Chinese water dragons love water. Don't be surprised to see your Chinese water dragon spending a ton of time in the water!

These lizards hail from Southeast Asia -- Thailand, Malaysia, Cambodia, and China. To mimic these warm climates in your lizard habitat, keep the daytime temperature between 83 and 88 degrees Fahrenheit. You should also provide a basking spot at around 90 degrees Fahrenheit so your Chinese water dragons can thermoregulate. Overnight temperature should be between 75 and 80 degrees Fahrenheit. Keep the lights and heat on a twelve hour cycle for most of the year, but stretch "daylight" out to fourteen hours during the colder months.

Humidity is an important concern for Chinese water dragons. You should keep the tank humidity around eighty percent. Humidity that is too high (85 percent or higher) can lead to respiratory problems. Too little humidity and your lizards will be uncomfortable. A daily misting and a drip system can help maintain appropriate humidity.

Your Chinese water dragons will also need a water dish that is large enough to swim in. The water will become dirty very quickly, so be sure to change the water and clean the dish daily! These lizards are omnivores, but will eat mostly feeder insects.

Male water dragons can reach up to three feet in length; females can reach an adult length of two feet. This means your Chinese water dragons need lots of room. The length of the tank should be at least twice the length of the adult dragon -- so an adult male would need at least six feet of tank space. Because these lizards love to swim, a glass aquarium makes a good choice for an enclosure.

Fill the tank with large branches and other objects for your Chinese water dragons to climb and perch on. For areas that are not filled with water, you can use potting soil, sand, and/or peat moss as a substrate. Be sure to screen the top of your tank completely; otherwise, your lizards can make a break for it.

Choosing a Chinese water dragon for a pet is a big commitment -- these lizards can live up to eighteen years in captivity.

Learn more about Aimee Amodio

Aimee is a fiction writer... dog lover... music lover...

View Full Profile | More from this Blogger