This lizard is found around creeks, watercourses and backyard ponds and is more often heard than seen plopping into water from its basking position. Don't approach water dragons as they have sharp claws and can deliver a serious bite.
Water dragons generally do not bite and rarely show aggression toward their human handlers. It is more common for a threatened dragon to give an open mouthed threat display. Newly acquired dragons may be skittish and wiggly when handled. Despite their amenable temperaments, water dragons are not beginner reptiles.
Chinese water dragons are among one of the friendliest lizards out there—friendlier even than iguanas. They enjoy being handled and actually require regular handling to prevent them from becoming aggressive. If a Chinese water dragon feels threatened or is scared, it may lash out by biting and whipping its tail.
Both males and females will occasionally express aggressive behavior toward each other in the form of arm waving, puffing up of the throat, head bobbing and, sometimes, chasing. Water dragons prey on rodents, birds, fish and invertebrates, supplementing this diet with vegetation and eggs.
If you see a water dragon, please respect their space and habitat and never try to touch or feed them.
Asian water dragons, also known as the green water dragon or Chinese water dragon, can make beautiful pets but they have specific care needs that must be met in order for them to thrive. Once they are used to your presence, they are generally tame and easily handled.
Handling Chinese Water Dragons
Adults who have been in captivity a long time and kept in the right conditions are generally very placid lizards, and can be handled outside the enclosure. Handle your Chinese Water Dragon by supporting their body fully, and never pick them up by the tail.
Large adult Water Dragons will appear confident and friendly however they should not be approached as they have very sharp claws and can deliver a serious bite.
NORMAL BEHAVIOR & INTERACTION: Water dragons are generally docile and intelligent lizards that will tolerate some handling when tamed.
Respiratory Infection: Chinese water dragons can develop respiratory infections due to incorrect temperatures, humidity, or unclean conditions. Signs include open mouth breathing, wheezing, sneezing, and discharge from the mouth or nostrils.
Your water dragon will need a diet that suits its nutritional needs and matches what it would eat in the wild. The diet will consist mainly of insects, of various types, and some vegetables and fruit. This diet will help keep it healthy, strong, and happy. The main elements of the diet include crickets and mealworms.
Eastern Water Dragons love:
A safe place to hide – usually in gaps between rocks or bricks, a wood pile, or in a clay pipe. Food – especially insects, frogs, yabbies and water insects. Overhanging plants – which provide safe haven around a pool, pond or creek and protection from predators.
Every now and again you might want to provide your dragon a treat, for this purpose you could feed: waxworms, calciworms, cockroaches, mealworms or beetle grubs. The grubs and worms tend to be quite fatty so normally, we offer these a maximum of once or twice a week.
Reaching up to 3 feet long, water dragons are bright green lizards, among the largest kept in household captivity. In the wild, water dragons tend to stick to themselves. If they're feeling threatened, they may wave their arms to indicate submission.
Water Dragons can sleep in the water, with just their nostrils protruding. In cold weather before they go into their winter dormancy (hibernation), sleeping in the water overnight, is actually warmer than sleeping in the open. Water Dragons can eat underwater.
Behavior. Chinese water dragons can be aggressive towards both males and females of their species. The good news is that Chinese water dragons are known for being friendly with humans.
Water Dragons are very social animals, enjoying interaction with their keepers. However, without an appropriately sized enclosure and ample feeding, keeping multiple Dragons at once can be detrimental to the health of the more passive individuals who may not be confident enough to eat with friends around.
Chinese water dragons need a secure, dark cave or hide that they can retreat to in order to reduce stress and feel safe.
How fast is a Water Dragon? A Water Dragon can travel at speeds of up to 30 miles per hour.
Caring for Chinese water dragons is not all that difficult but their needs are very specific (as are most reptile species'). They are arboreal lizards, meaning they climb and like to be up high. An ideal enclosure for one or more adult dragons would measure 6 feet tall, 3 to 4 feet deep and 4 to 6 feet long.
The Australian water dragon (Intellagama lesueurii) is a reptile that easily adapts to the presence of humans. Docile and easy to tame, these lizards make excellent pets for even novice enthusiasts.
Males can reach up to three feet long, and females are usually a little shorter. Their tails can be nearly 70% of their overall body length. The term “water dragon” alludes to their strong swimming skills. If needed, these dragons can stay underwater for up to 25 minutes.
Water dragons utilize tail autotomy, a defense mechanism that utilizes tail loss. A vertical fracture plane of fibroconnective tissue and cartilage runs through the body and part of the neural arch of each caudal vertebrae. Therefore the tail can fall off when grasped sometimes when very little pressure applied.
Water dragons can be kept together. Males tend to get along better with each other than females. Watch your dragons closely to be sure that one dragon is not guarding prime resources such as food and basking spots in order to prevent the other from gaining access.