Yes, Chinese Water Dragons (and other dragon lizards like Eastern Water Dragons) can play dead, a survival tactic called thanatosis or tonic immobility, where they freeze or go limp, sometimes floating, to trick predators into thinking they are lifeless or no longer a threat, even if they aren't injured. It's a common defense mechanism when they feel threatened, often seen when handled or placed in water, and owners might mistake it for a serious problem.
Water Dragons are preyed on in the wild by various snakes, such as Brown Tree Snake (Boiga irregularis), the Common Death Adder (Acanthophis antarcticus), the Lowlands Copperhead (Austrelaps superbus), the Red-bellied Black Snake (Pseudechis porphyriacus) and the Eastern Brown Snake (Pseudonaja textilis).
A common behavior observed with many lizard species from around the world is that when you flip them on their back they seem to go lifeless. Freezing up completely and stopping all movement in their body. This is a survival instinct known as Thanatosis or tonic immobility.
Water dragons can live up to 28 years in the wild and up to 40 years in captivity. If you see a male bobbing its head it is saying “move on, this is my territory!” The water dragons are active from spring through to autumn each year. During the cooler months they enter a hibernation-like state called brumation.
Brumation isn't as deep as hibernation. Gently touch them and you'll still see a small amount of movement. In a deceased beardie, their mouth may fall open, beard may be black, the body can look bloated (from decomp gasses) and the eyes will be very sunken.
To keep a water dragon happy and healthy, pet parents should have these basic supplies on hand:
There are some body changes lizard owners can look out for that can indicate weight loss, including thinning of the tail (a place lizards typically store fat) and prominence of the ribs. Some reptiles also demonstrate greater definition of the skull bones from loss of fat on their heads.
"Playing possum" is an idiomatic phrase which means "pretending to be dead". It comes from a characteristic of the Virginia opossum, which is famous for reacting with a death-like posture when threatened.
Many owners worry whether their dragon is in brumation or dead. If your dragon goes into brumation in a healthy state, odds are you have nothing to worry about. Just check in on your dragon from time to time and see that she is still breathing, and she should be waking up before you know it.
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.
Make sure that the dragons can get out of the water – they can drown surprisingly easily. Either have a sloping bank or objects in the water that they can use to get out.
Danger to humans. 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.
Check with your veterinarian to be certain what temperature is best. For example, some snakes may need warmer water, around 100° Fahrenheit, while bearded dragons need a temperature closer to 85° to 92°F. Change the water quickly if he poops during the bath. Ten minutes is typically long enough.
Water dragons eat both plants and animals, especially fruits, flowers, insects, frogs, yabbies and other aquatic organisms. If you see a water dragon, please respect their space and habitat and never try to touch or feed them.
This article provides a quick and easy guide to the most common signs that your bearded dragon may be sick.
Some female frogs have been observed using a surprising tactic to avoid unwanted mating: they play dead. When approached by a persistent male they don't find suitable, these females may suddenly go limp, lie motionless, or even flip onto their backs, mimicking the appearance of death.
Share: In the warm seas of the Mediterranean lives a jellyfish with an extraordinarily rare ability – it can rewind its life cycle. The so-called 'immortal' jellyfish, or Turritopsis dohrnii, can somehow reprogramme the identity of its own cells, returning it to an earlier stage of life.
Rolling over and playing dead might not seem like the best strategy for protecting yourself from potential predators in the wild, but for some animals it's just right. Opossums are the animal most known for playing dead, and their act is a convincing one.
In lizards, death-feigning has been reported for several different families, such as Anelytropsidae (Torres-Cervantes et al. 2004), Crotaphytidae (Gluesing 1983), and Scincidae (Langkilde et al.
Behaviors such as thermoregulating, hiding, prolonged soaking, reduced appetite, irregular defecation, attitude, regression/increase in tameness, and more can all indicate signs of stress and illness.
Because lizards do not produce their own body heat like birds or mammals, many species also use color change to thermoregulate and control their body temperature. A lizard that is cold can darken its skin to help absorb more solar radiation and quickly warm up.
Feed juveniles daily; feed adults every 2 to 3 days. Feed Water dragons a variety of gut-loaded insects such as crickets, king mealworms, silkworms, and waxworms, as well as grasshoppers, roaches, and earthworms. Pinky mice and small fish may also be fed occasionally.
Water Dragons, from the 'How to Train Your Dragon' series, are large, spike-covered creatures with sharp claws, bat-like wings, and a spiny tail. They have large eyes and come in shades of yellow and brown. Their most notable feature is a camel-like hump on their back.
Fruit and Vegies should also be offered as part of their regular diet. Some favourite fruits include banana, strawberry, mango, raspberries and blueberries. They will accept many vegetables as long as they are soft and can fit in their mouth.