They live near creeks, rivers, lakes and other water bodies that have basking sites such as overhanging branches or rocks in open or filtered sun.
Daytime temperatures should range from 84 to 88°F, with a basking area of 95-100°F. Nighttime temperatures should range from 75 to 80°F. It's a good idea to have at least two digital thermometers in the cage, one in the cool side and one in the warm side of the enclosure.
Hatchling Water Dragons can be housed in a 20 gallon tank. A single adult should have a minimum of a 60 gallon tank. Males should not be housed together, but multiple females or a pair could be housed in a 150 gallon tank. Water Dragons prefer a vertically oriented enclosure with plenty of climbing space.
Australian Water Dragon Habitat
Both species prefer to live in trees near running water like rivers and streams. Because of the diverse environments along the east coast of Australia, they can live in a range of biomes, from tropical rainforests to alpine streams.
They inhabit a variety of natural habitats though predominantly these lizards reside in primary forests and mangrove swamps. They may also thrive in agricultural areas as well as cities with canal systems. Habitats that are considered to be most important to this species are mangrove vegetation, swamps, and wetlands.
Heating for Chinese Water Dragons
You will need a ceramic bulb heating your tank 24/7 to provide your night time temperatures and ambient, and then a basking bulb in the hot side of the tank to create your basking temperature.
Water should be provided at all times in a shallow dish and many dragons enjoy being gently misted with water daily. Water dragons need a larger dish to be able to submerge completely.
In order to replicate the Chinese water dragon's native environment, you'll need to maintain a day-time cage temperature of 80 degrees Fahrenheit, with between 70-80 percent humidity, and a night-time temperature no colder than 75 degrees Fahrenheit.
HOUSING YOUR WATER DRAGON
Chinese Water Dragons require a large arboreal enclosure so that they can run and jump around as they would in the wild. They require high humidity so a forest style, humidity holding substrate like forest floor or repti-bark would be ideal.
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.
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.
Live fish can carry parasites, so avoid feeding these to your water dragon unless you know the source. Goldfish and minnows aren't good choices because they can cause a vitamin B1 deficiency. Chinese water dragons like to swim, so their enclosures should have 10 to 20 gallons of water.
Chinese water dragons love the warmth coming from their basking lamp but they also appreciate secondary surface heat which will radiate from warm objects.
Chinese Water Dragon Behavior and Temperament
These lizards are one of the most friendly types. Typically, they do enjoy being handled. Regular handling is essential to prevent them from becoming too aggressive. If the Chinese water dragon is scared or feels threatened, it may bite or whip its tail.
Similar to skinks and geckos, water dragons can drop or lose their tail if threatened or attacked and can regrow it.
Water dragons should be regularly fed large insects such as woodies, crickets and mealworms. A lean, salt and fat reduced (less than 1.5%) dog food (not fish) can also be mixed in with vegetables, calcium supplements and vitamin supplements to form a staple part of their diet.
Australian water dragons are perfectly friendly to humans if you're gentle. However, that docile behavior isn't extended towards other water dragons. These creatures are known to be a bit territorial (this is especially true with males).
Australian water dragons are omnivorous meaning that they can eat a varied diet of vegetation, insects and meat. Though they can eat vegetation we only provide a small dish of leafy greens as this species is normally far more focussed on insects and meat.
Water dragons eat both plants and animals, especially fruits, flowers, insects, frogs, yabbies and other aquatic organisms.
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.
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.
Eastern Water Dragons will eat just about anything. They are partial to grapes, love mango and banana, and will readily eat chicken, bacon and beef mince in small quantities.
It means they remain active throughout the day and rest at night. Normally, water dragons don't need a light source during the night. They prefer to relax and rest in dark to get recharged for the next day. It is recommended that you use “lightless” bulbs for the heating purpose at night.
Penrith is a council area at the foothills of the Blue Mountains in Sydney. Water Dragons are omnivorous meaning they will eat nearly anything. Water Dragons in captivity live up to 20 years. They reach sexual maturity around 4 to 5 years of age.