WATER DRAGONS

A QUICK FACT SHEET

BY: JILL M. PATT, DVM

NATURAL ENVIRONMENT: Southeast Asia

LIFESPAN: 15+ years

SEXING: Males are larger then females with a larger head and jowls.

HOUSING: A very large enclosure is needed to prevent facial trauma from attempted escapes. A swimming pool and climbing areas should be provided. Bottom substrate should be a mixture of peat and sand.

LIGHTING: Full spectrum UVB fluorescent lights and an incandescent basking light.

TEMPERATURE: During the day in the 80’s and at night in the upper 70’s, with a basking area in the 90’s also provided during the daylight hours.

WATER/HUMIDITY: A swimming/wading pool must be available at all times to provide the proper humidity and necessary soaking. The pool must be cleaned daily as the dragons will defecate in it.

DIET: A mixture of crickets and veggies, adults may be fed small rodents and insects.

SUPPLEMENTS: All insects should be gut loaded with nutrients and dusted with a phosphorus free calcium supplement. A multivitamin should be provided 1-2 times weekly.

MEDICAL CONCERNS: Facial trauma and abscesses from too small an enclosure

Metabolic bone disease from malnutrition

Bacterial infections – poor hygiene

Parasitic infections

Respiratory infections

FURTHER INFORMATION:

Melissa Kaplan’s web site at: http://www.anapsid.org/waterdragons.html

Chinese Water Dragons: http://members.tripod.com/waterdragons/