Chinese water dragon food chart
- Live feeder insects and some whole prey – 80% (up to 85% for young Chinese water dragons of up to 12 months old). ...
- Vegetables and greens – 15%
- Fruit – up to 5%
- Mice/baby rats of appropriate size – 1-2 times a month
How much to feed a Chinese water dragon?
In captivity, Chinese Water Dragons have been known to eat:
- Crickets
- Mealworms
- Earthworms
- Silkworms
- Small feeder fish
- Grasshoppers
- Mice (juvenile and pinkies)
- Leafy greens like Collard greens
- Blueberries
- Raspberries
Is a Chinese water dragon a good pet?
Within nature, Chinese Water Dragons are able to move about with ease, without the restrictions of a human or a cage; however, in the case of them being a good pet, they also make the cut. Although they may seem like a challenging animal, Chinese Water Dragons are usually easy-going, and easy to manage.
Are Chinese water dragons beginner pets?
Though many reptiles are not suitable for beginners, the case is the opposite when it comes to a Chinese water dragon as a pet. Chinese water dragons are one of the best pets for beginners. As a beginner, you have to do a bit of research work, but you won’t face any issue with these babies as your pets.
What do you feed Chinese water dragons?
So, What Do Chinese Water Dragons Eat?
- They are omnivores, so they need a mix of insects, worms, fruit, and vegetables. You should also provide adult animals with bigger meals, like mice or small fish.
- Chinese Water Dragons are picky. ...
- To make sure they stay healthy, consider “gut loaded” insects and a calcium supplement.
- Change the water at least once a day.
What fruits and vegetables can Chinese water dragons eat?
Produce — blueberries, raspberries, cantaloupe, figs, collard greens, sweet potato, carrots, and green beans. Other tasty treats — small feeder fish, newborn mice (pinkie mice), and fuzzie mice (juvenile mice)
What human food can water dragons eat?
Plain meat should not be a regular part of their diet, but serves well as an occasional treat. Fruit and vegetables make up an important part of a balanced diet for dragons. Fruit and vegetables should be soft (i.e. avoid apple) and chopped small enough so that it is easy to consume.
Do Chinese water dragons need live food?
Fruits and vegetables do need to be offered to your Chinese Water Dragon, although some seem to be able to live without eating them, it is still essential to provide them with to to your pet. However, it should only make up around ten to fifteen percent of their diet.
Can Chinese water dragons eat chicken?
While your Chinese water dragons can eat eggs, it's rather high in cholesterol and fat (yolk). You can offer a small chicken or quail egg few times a year, but only as a treat.
How long can a Chinese water dragon go without eating?
In general, Chinese water dragons are shy creatures, but get used to their new environment and owners with time. If you have just got your Chinese water dragon, it will be scared and shy. Most new lizards don't eat for the first 1-2 weeks.
Do water dragons eat crickets?
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.
Do Chinese water dragons need heat at night?
Water dragons are diurnal lizards, meaning they are active during the day and sleep at night. The lights, therefore, need to go off at night. For this reason, a lightless heat source, such as a ceramic heat emitter for day and night heating might also prove beneficial.
Can 2 water dragons live together?
Water Dragon Roommates Chinese water dragons in captivity can also usually live successfully in small groups, but it's crucial to never allow males to live together, as they can be extremely aggressive toward each other. Pairs of females are often strong matches.
What plants are good for water dragons?
Suggestions for suitable live plants include dragon plants (Dracaena), pothos (Scindapsus aureus), Ficus benjamina trees, Monstera deliciosa (philodendron) and staghorn ferns. Plants will need to be replaced as they are shredded by claws or eaten.
Can water dragons eat fruit?
What do water dragons eat? Water dragons eat variety of whole prey, including insects and occasional frozen and thawed pinkie or fuzzy mice or small common goldfish, plus smaller amounts of fresh vegetables and fruit.
Do water dragons eat snails?
Another optional feeder for your water dragon are snails and mollusks, they can even eat crustaceans such as crab meat and small feeder fish, but there is not much information on how much of these they actually need in their diet since they do not consume them in the wild, but generally, these can be fed like pinkie ...
How fast do water dragons grow?
Most Chinese water dragons reach their potential full size by the age of 18-24 months, with growth spurts at around 6-12 months of age.
Why do Chinese water dragons need calcium?
Chinese water dragons have a tendency to suffer from calcium deficiency while in captivity. Not getting enough calcium may lead to diminished bone density and various metabolic diseases. So, mixing calcium powder with their diet is necessary for ensuring your water dragon’s health.
How to grow a water dragon?
Baby water dragons will need daily feeding to grow fast. Add fruits and veggies to their diet for better nutrition. Mix up their menu often to prevent monotony. Provide enough water for them to drink and splash around. The water container should be at least twice as tall as them. Replace the water regularly.
Can a squid eat carrots?
They won’t really like to eat them but it’s good for their health. They can eat carrots, collard greens, sweet potatoes, raspberries, figs, blueberries, and some other fruits and greens. It’s good to check out whether a certain food is safe for them before feeding.
Do Chinese water dragons eat bugs?
The insects provided should be gut loaded. This means the insects should be fed properly with nutritious foods so that they can pass that nutrition to your water dragon. Avoid wild bugs.
Chinese Water Dragon Diet Overview
When cared for correctly, Chinese water dragons can live up to 20 years, so be sure to give them the best foods possible! They are omnivorous creatures (they eat living things and vegetables), but their diet is 90-95 percent living things consisting of mostly insects.
How Often Should You Feed A Chinese Water Dragon?
Feeding schedules mainly depend on the age of the Chinese water dragon. A baby’s diet will vary significantly from an adult’s food schedule. Implementing the best feeding schedule for your reptile will ensure it grows and flourishes.
Picking The Right Size Food For Your Chinese Water Dragon
Chinese water dragons enjoy eating smaller particles of food. Chop up fruits and vegetables to make it easy to chew and digest. Feed juvenile and baby dragons small insects. Graduate to larger insects as your reptile gets bigger.
Vitamins and Supplements
As noted above, gut-loaded insects are fed nutrients at least 24 hours before feeding to Chinese water dragons. If you care for insects, look for high-calcium foods, such as cricket food. Fruits and veggies are good options as well. Simply feed your crickets fruits and veggies that you would feed your dragon.
Watering For Water Dragons
While adult water dragons only need food every few days, every water dragon needs fresh water daily (it is in their name, after all!). Clean the water dish every day as well – some dragons like to use it as a bathroom in addition to a watering hole. Water dragons also love to hang out in their water dish.
Conclusion
Chinese water dragons are a fun and unique pet to add to your home. Feeding them the right foods at the right time will ensure it grows, prospers, and lives a happy life. The best proteins for water dragons are worms, insects, small goldfish, and baby mice.
What do Chinese water dragons need to drink?
All they need to drink is water. As the name would suggest, the Chinese Water Dragon is semi-aquatic. This means they need to have a large water bowl, which they can swim in. This will help them regulate their temperature, preventing them from overheating. It will also make sure that they are happy.
What do water dragons eat?
The Chinese Water Dragon eats small prey items like king mealworms, waxworms, earthworms, pinky mice, locusts, and feeder fish. Preferably, the prey will be live. The other dietary essentials are fruits and vegetables. This includes foods like raspberries, figs, carrots, green beans, and kale.
How to keep Chinese water dragons healthy?
If you don’t provide a varied diet, they won’t eat anything. To make sure they stay healthy, consider “gut loaded” insects and a calcium supplement. Change the water at least once a day.
Can you change the diet of a Chinese water dragon?
This will make it easier for you to change their diet in the future. It will also give you a better indication of the types of foods that they like, and which ones they don’t. This can help you create a Chinese Water Dragon diet that your pet will love. You should also keep an eye on the animal’s size.
Do water dragons refuse food?
For many other breeds of animals, it would be rare for them to refuse food. Dogs are notorious for scrounging for any scraps they can find. But a Chinese Water Dragon has been known to deny food. As you can imagine, this can be very alarming for their owners.
Can a Chinese water dragon be a pet?
March 25, 2020 by Cory R Chambers. A Chinese Water Dragon can make a great pet. But before you buy one, there are some things you should know. One of the biggest questions is what do Chinese Water Dragons eat? Getting the right dietary balance is essential to making sure that your pet is healthy.
What Insects Should A Chinese Water Dragon Eat?
Chinese Water Dragons need a diverse range of feeders on offer; the majority of their menu consists of insects, but what insects should you be feeding your pet? Below is a comprehensive list of insects that can be offered to your Chinese Water Dragon.
Small Game, Mice, and Fish
Chinese water dragons are able to consume small prey items like pinkie mice, you may hear of "feeder lizards" being advocated as an optional feeder, but this isn't a necessary part of their diet and is up to you if you wish to incorporate them.
What Vegetables Does A Chinese Water Dragon Eat
Fruits and vegetables do need to be offered to your Chinese Water Dragon, although some seem to be able to live without eating them, it is still essential to provide them with to to your pet. However, it should only make up around ten to fifteen percent of their diet.
How Often Should Water Dragons Eat?
The age of your Chinese water dragon determines how much they need to eat every feeding. Baby dragons need feeding daily, and their food must be cut up into small pieces, the size of their feeder insects also needs to be small sizes, to enable them to be able to eat and digest.
Supplementation
One of the other most important aspects of their diet are supplements. They need three different types; a calcium powder supplement, calcium powder with D3, and a multivitamin powder. These need to be rotated, but only need one of their meals dusted per day, with one of the different supplements.
What do water dragons eat?
In the wild, Chinese Water Dragons eat insects, vegetations, other reptiles, and even small mammals.
Where do Chinese water dragons come from?
Chinese Water Dragons come from the tropical forest of Asia. Their home is one of frequent rainfall and permanent standing water. More specifically, the Chinese Water Dragon’s range includes China, Southeast Asia, Cambodia, Vietnam, and some Indonesia islands. As a diurnal species, Chinese Water Dragons can be frequently found in trees.
How big should a dragon enclosure be?
Young dragons (between 1-2 feet) should have an enclosure that is at a minimum of 3 feet long, 3 feet high, and 2 feet wide. The enclosure for adults should be at least 75 gallons, or 4 feet long by 18 inches wide and 21 inches high.
Why does my dragon's mouth rot?
Mouth rot is often caused by dragons rubbing their snouts against the exhibit walls, especially if the wall is made of glass. Mouth rot can appear as swelling or ulcers in areas around the mouth.
How old can a Chinese water dragon be to keep it together?
As stated earlier, Chinese Water Dragons are territorial. Until they are four months old, there should be no problem keeping them together. At around four months, their territorial instinct kicks in. For this reason, you would be better off keeping them alone or keep a male and a few females together.
How long can a Chinese water dragon stay underwater?
Researchers have concluded that this species can remain underwater for up to 90 minutes and even sleep in the water!
How long do dagons live?
Chinese Water Dagons can live up to 15 years though some have been known to live up to 20 years in captivity. However, this kind of longevity is reserved for those specimens that receive optimal care. Unfortunately, most specimens are short-lived due to improper care. These issues are addressed in this care sheet.
How to keep Chinese water dragons healthy?
A kitty litter box works nicely, but if you can, you should designate half of the enclosure to water and the other half as a beach area (using the substrates to create a shore). You need to be able to remove and clean the water tub daily, especially if your dragon uses it for a toilet. Otherwise, you will need to have a quality water filter. The humidity should be kept at around 80 percent. Mist the enclosure once or twice daily as needed. Potted live plants can help keep humidity up as well.
What color are Chinese water dragons?
Chinese water dragons range from a dark to quite light green. They have vertical, slanted stripes of green or turquoise on their bodies. Their bellies are white or pale yellow, and their throats are a blend of yellow, orange, and peach. The long tail is narrow and banded with green and brown. Adult males have larger heads than females, ...
Why do water dragons bang their noses?
There are a few common health problems seen in Chinese water dragons, including: Mouth Rot: This is the most common issue and the result of an improperly treated infection or injury. A water dragon often rubs or bangs its head, nose, or chin onto the enclosure walls.
Why do Chinese water dragons bite?
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. They are pretty active in their environment and like to climb on rocks, up trees, on branches, or in plants.
What is the cause of a dragon's bone disease?
Metabolic Bone Disease (MBD): This often fatal condition is caused by a lack of calcium in the dragon’s diet or inadequate exposure to UVB light. Skin infections and parasites: Skin infections occur on the outside of the body and are usually a result of a dirty, poorly maintained cage.
How big do water dragons get?
COMMON NAMES: Chinese water dragon, water dragon, green water dragon, Asian water dragon, and Thai water dragon (not to be confused with the Australian water dragon) ADULT SIZE: Male adults reach about 3 feet, while females average 2 feet long; a large portion of the overall length is made up of the tail.
Can Chinese water dragons be kept in captivity?
Buy your pet from a reputable breeder or pet store. Captive-bred Chinese water dragons will adapt better to captivity than wild-caught. Additionally, wild-caught water dragons are usually rife with internal and external parasites.
What are some good things to feed Chinese water dragons?
Mice, in particular, are good for juvenile Chinese water dragons. They’re a good source of calcium and can help younger lizards grow. In addition to insects, you can provide finely chopped fruits and vegetables. Plant-based foods shouldn’t make up more than 10 or 15 percent of their diet.
What do water dragons eat?
Chinese water dragons enjoy foods like collard greens, dandelions, potatoes, carrots, squash, raspberries, and more. Hatchlings and juvenile Chinese water dragons should be fed daily to support their rapid growth. Once they reach adulthood, you can cut back to every two or three days.
What is a Chinese water dragon?
Chinese water dragons ( Physignathus cocincinus) are beautiful reptiles with a lot of character . Unlike some other lizard species, Chinese water dragons are quite tame and don’t mind being handled after they get comfortable!
How to keep humidity high for Chinese water dragons?
Another way to keep humidity levels high is by providing plenty of water. While Chinese water dragons love to climb, they also enjoy swimming! Place a large pan in the enclosure. It should be deep enough for the lizard to soak their entire bodies. Make sure to clean this pan and replace the water regularly.
What is the difference between a Chinese water dragon and a male water dragon?
It complements the nuchal crest, which is a ridge that connects the head to the neck. The head of the Chinese water dragon is triangular. Males tend to have a wider head than females.
How long do water dragons live?
Lifespan. The average Chinese water dragon lifespan is 10 to 15 years if healthy. They can live a bit longer than that with good care, but it’s definitely less common. Many factors affect the life expectancy of Chinese water dragons. These reptiles can’t get by with a small environment and a poor diet.
What to use to keep Chinese water dragons safe?
The best choice is untreated cypress mulch. It’s good for humidity and is soft enough to keep your Chinese water dragons safe if they fall. Alternative options include Sphagnum moss and a mixture of soil, sand, and peat. To facilitate their need to climb, add some vertical climbing surfaces in the habitat as well.
What do you feed a baby water dragon?
Baby Chinese water dragons need more insects than fruits and vegetables, so ensure that at least 85% of their diet is insects and whole prey until they are at least a year of age. From here you can feed up to 60% insects and 30% worms.
What is a Chinese water dragon?
Chinese water dragons are Chinese and Southeast Asia lizards. These green dragons have white markings on the lower jaw with fine lines running along the tail. They are distinguished by their large spines which run along the crest of the head, spine, and tail. They are popular pets and can be interesting and fun to watch.
Why do Chinese water dragons stop eating?
Impaction. Chinese water dragons are going to stop eating if they are impacted . Impacted is constipated and often results from your dragon eating some substrate when capturing their prey. Some Chinese water dragon owners feed their dragons in a separate container to reduce the risk of this happening.
What does it mean to bring a baby water dragon home?
Preparing to bring your baby Chinese water dragon home means setting up their enclosure to achieve the most hospitable habitat that will meet your dragon’s tropical needs with confidence.
Why is my baby water dragon not eating?
Temperature too Low. One of the most common reasons your baby Chinese water dragon may not be eating is because the enclosure temperature is too low, which is causing stress. Low temperatures will make digestion hard for your dragon.
What happens if your dragon basks too high?
When basking areas are too high you may notice your dragon avoiding the area or digging close to the area to escape the heat. High temperatures can result in weakness and even death. Monitor regularly using a digital thermometer with a probe, enabling you to measure the temperature anywhere in the enclosure.
How to keep Chinese water dragons warm?
Ensure you use a good quality digital thermometer to easily and accurately monitor your temperature levels. You are also going to want to provide your Chinese water dragon with imitation sunshine, which comes as a UVB bulb. This helps your dragon absorb calcium and reduce the risk of metabolic bone disease.
