There are many fruits and veggies safe for Water Dragons to eat, and you can include these in their diet from birth:
- Kale
- Dandelion
- Mustard Greens
- Squash
- Carrots
- Sweet Potato
- Green Beans
- Strawberries
- Mango
- Raspberries
- Cantaloupe
- Figs
- Papaya
What do you feed a Chinese water dragon?
Feeding Chinese Water Dragons. You can feed crickets, mealworms, waxworms, earthworms, grasshoppers, butter worms, locusts, and possibly small feeder fish. Adults can also be fed pinkie mice on occasion and kingworms. All insect prey should be gut loaded.
Is a Chinese water dragon a good pet?
They are popular pet reptiles due to their smaller size, but their care requirements are more intense than most people anticipate. Chinese water dragons range from a dark to quite light green. They have vertical, slanted stripes of green or turquoise on their bodies.
Can I Feed my Water Dragon mice?
For large-sized water dragons, you can try feeding them small baby mice. But no more than once or twice a week. Baby mice are great treats but contain a lot of fat which can be harmful to your water dragon’s health.
What should you not feed a water dragon?
When choosing food for your water dragon, there are some you need to avoid which you need to strictly not provide them, and they include: Avoid centipedes, millipedes, fireflies, hornets, wasps, bees, scorpions, houseflies, glowing worms or lighting bugs, and so on.
What is a water dragons favorite food?
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. All produce offered should be fresh, high quality items fit for human consumption and pesticide free.
How often should I feed my water dragon?
every two to three daysJuvenile Chinese water dragons need to be fed more frequently than adults to promote healthy growth, while adults require fewer feedings. Juveniles usually require daily feedings, while adults may only need to be fed every two to three days.
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.
What can you not feed water dragons?
Young dragons should be fed every day with as great a variety of insects as possible. Calcium and vitamin powders should be used every second feeding. In general, Water dragons will not accept pet food, fruit and vegetables until they have reached a total length of about 20cm.
Do water dragons need light 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 water dragons eat lettuce?
Can Chinese water dragons eat lettuce? No, you shouldn't feed your Chinese water any lettuce, unless it's very dehydrated. Eating lettuce will not provide much nutritional value (similar to cucumbers, watermelons and other watery veggies or fruit).
How long can Chinese water dragons 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.
Are water dragons good beginner pets?
In general, Chinese water dragons make good pets, but not for beginners. They have specific care requirements, such as humidity and big caging, that will require dedication and regular care.
How long does it take for a Chinese water dragon to reach full size?
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.
What does a water dragon need in its tank?
Heat & light Like all reptiles, Chinese water dragons are ectothermus and must have a warm habitat in order to maintain their body temperature. They also need moist, humid air. During the day, use a heat bulb to warm one side of the terrarium to 90 to 95 degrees Fahrenheit (32 to 35 Celsius).
What do water dragons need in their tank?
Water dragons come from a tropical climate. They need a basking area and a cooler section within the enclosure so they can regulate their body temperature. All the heat elements should be located on one side and the other will be the cooler side. A basking area of 87-95 degrees should be provided.
What bedding do water dragons need?
The substrate used in the green water dragon habitat should be one that will encourage the high humidity levels that these lizards prefer. Reptile (orchid) bark, cypress mulch, or any number of coconut husk products are ideal choices. Avoid using any type of overly drying substrate such as sand or paper based products.
How long can Chinese water dragons 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.
How long does it take for a water dragon to become full grown?
They will reach their adult size around one to two years of age but don't become sexually mature until two to three years of age. Hatchlings are about five to six inches in length.
What do water dragons need in their tank?
Water dragons come from a tropical climate. They need a basking area and a cooler section within the enclosure so they can regulate their body temperature. All the heat elements should be located on one side and the other will be the cooler side. A basking area of 87-95 degrees should be provided.
Do water dragons sleep a lot?
If your Chinese water dragon is stressed, it's likely to not move around much, sleep a lot and stay in the same spot for long periods of time. Not only new Chinese water dragons can get stressed. Other pets, loud noises, wrong setup, other cage mates and even a sickness can cause stress.
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 sma...
How long do water dragons live?
Water dragons can live up to 15 years with proper care and nutrition.
How big do water dragons get?
Water dragons can grow up to 2–3 feet from their nose to the tip of their tail; male water dragons are larger than females
What is a water dragon?
A water dragon is a green lizard that is a type of reptile with a huge personality.
Are water dragons poisonous?
No, water dragons are not poisonous.
How do I set up a water dragon enclosure?
A water dragon enclosure should consist of a tank (at least 40 gallons in size for juveniles) with a secure lid, branches for climbing, a UV light,...
Why is my water dragon brown?
Water dragons change colors from green to brown depending on the temperature and humidity.
How fast do water dragons grow?
Water dragons can reach adult size in 1–2 years.
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 to put in a potting soil tank?
Sterilized potting soil (no vermiculite or chemicals) with a cover of sphagnum moss (good for humidity) as well as a mixture of peat, soil, and sand, soil and cypress mulch, indoor/outdoor carpeting, or paper. Plenty of branches should be provided for climbing and basking (place some diagonally and some horizontally for basking). Live plants such as pothos, dracaena, hibiscus, ficus, and staghorn ferns make a good addition.
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.
What do Chinese water dragons eat?
Chinese water dragons are omnivorous – they eat insects and vegetables, greens, fruit. Also, Chinese water dragons can eat small pinkie and fuzzy mice. In the wild, they might also eat small animals, including lizards, and even fish.
How long does it take for a Chinese water dragon to gut load?
Gut-loading is the process of feeding and nurturing live feeder bugs. This is crucial to make sure they are nutritious for your Chinese water dragon. 24-48 hour gut-loading is a standard. All live feeder bugs (insects and worms), apart from Phoenix worms, will require gut-loading.
How to keep a dragon from being picky?
Limit fatty bugs as your dragon can become picky and fussy about food. Offer 3-4 varieties during each feeding, especially for juveniles under 12-18 months old. Do this even for older dragons, or at least offer different insects/worms every day.
What to feed a baby pig?
Also, offer fresh greens and vegetables – such as collard or mustard greens, dandelions, arugula and other staples. For moisture, you can offer water crystals or fresh slices of apple, mango, papaya. Before feeding, you also need to dust them with supplements on specific days.
Can you feed a water dragon commercial food?
If you are thinking about offering your Chinese water dragon commercial food from time to time, it’s possible. However, the food must be of high quality, and only offered to supplement the diet and not replace it.
Can Chinese water be eaten with lettuce?
No, you shouldn’t feed your Chinese water any lettuce, unless it’s very dehydrated. Eating lettuce will not provide much nutritional value (similar to cucumbers, watermelons and other watery veggies or fruit).
Can you feed water dragons oranges?
No, don’t feed oranges or any citrus fruit to your Chinese water dragons. Acidic fruits will cause digestive upsets and diarrhea.
How often should I feed my water dragon?
Feed daily. Frozen/thawed pinkies should only be fed occasionally to adult water dragons. Sprinkle food with calcium supplement daily and a multi-vitamin supplement once or twice a week. Vegetables and fruits not eaten within 24 hours should be discarded.
How much humidity do water dragons need?
A minimum of a 40 gallon breeder is recommended for adult water dragons. Habitat - Provide multiple hiding areas and branches for basking. Maintain 60 to 80% humidity by misting as needed every day. Substrate - Use a mulchtype such as coconut fiber or repti-bark.
What insects do cockroaches eat?
A variety of insects, including crickets, roaches, mealworms, waxworms and earthworms; frozen/thawed pinkie mice and small common goldfish. 10 to 15% of diet should include dark, leafy greens and fruits.
How do water dragons shed?
Water dragons regularly shed their skin, so ensure humidity of habitat is at appropriate level to allow proper shedding. To facilitate shedding, bathe in a large container that allows the water dragon to immerse its entire body or provide a shed box, a hide box with sphagnum moss, that will aid in the shedding process.
Where do water dragons live?
Water Dragon. physignathus cocincinus. Found in tropical rain forests, usually close to a water source. Water dragons are arboreal and need plenty of space. They are capable of changing shades of colors between green and brown, depending on the temperature.
Can pregnant women have reptiles as pets?
Pregnant women, children under the age of 5, senior citizens and people with weakened immune systems should contact their physician before purchasing or caring for reptiles and should consider not having a reptile as a pet.
Can you defrost frozen rodents in the microwave?
Do not use a microwave to defrost frozen rodents and do not prepare them in the same area that you prepare food. If it is unavoidable, be sure to thoroughly disinfect the area. See the Feeding Frozen/Thawed Foods Care Sheet for more information. Feed daily.
What to feed your Chinese water dragon?
Their diet consists of 85 – 90 percent protein and 10-15 percent fruits and veggies.
What do Chinese water dragons eat?
So, they’re friendly and great pets. But, what do Chinese water dragons eat? Well, just like most lizards they’re diet consists of mostly live insects. This includes crickets, grasshoppers, waxworms, mealworms, etc. You can also add some small amounts of veggies and ripe fruits in their diet.
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.
Why is it important to keep a dog's diet varied?
Maintaining variety in their diet is important for keeping them happy and healthy. Feeding the same thing all day every day will eventually bore them out. They may even refuse to eat as a result.
Do water dragons need calcium?
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.
Do Chinese water dragons eat vegetables?
Chinese water dragons are omnivores. This means they can eat some fruits and veggies as well. They won’t really like to eat them but it’s good for their health.
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.
History of the Chinese Water Dragon
The Chinese Water Dragon – known by its other names Asian, Green and Thai Water Dragon – is a native of East and Southeast Asia and is found mostly in China and India.
Overview
The Chinese Water Dragon is a species belonging to the agamid lizard – a family of over 300 species of iguana lizards found in Africa, Asia, Southern Europe and Australia.
Description
The Chinese Water Dragon is a colourful animal with different colours varying from green, yellow and dark brown. Its head is triangular with colours between light green and dark green. The tail – which contributes a larger part of its entire body is dark green or dark brown.
Size
The Chinese Water Dragon is made up majorly of head, belly and tail. The tail comprises about 70 percent of its entire body.
Lifespan
Your Chinese Water Dragon can live up to 20 years – if they get special care from you. Without special care, they live up to 10 to 15 years.
Behaviour
The Chinese Water Dragon is friendlier than their iguana colleague. They are arboreal i.e they like climbing in plants, in trees and on rocks. Also, they are adept swimmers and love when there’s water around for them to jump into.
Chinese Water Dragon Diet s
Your dragon is omnivore in nature i.e it feeds on meat and plants but prefers meat over fruits and vegetables.
Behavior
Appearance
- Chinese Water Dragons range from a dark to a 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, and they develop larger crests on the back of the h…
Habitat
- Within the environment, Chinese water dragons need a good pool of water. It should be large and deep enough that a dragon can submerge at least half its height. 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).
Climate
- Daytime temperatures should be in the range of 84 to 88 degrees Fahrenheit (29 to 31 degrees Celsius), with a basking spot of up to 90 F (32 C). At night, the temperature can safely drop to 75 to 80 degrees Fahrenheit (24 to 27 degrees Celsius). There should be a temperature gradient, and be sure to measure temperatures on both the cool and warm sides.
Use
- A combination of a basking light, ceramic heat element, under tank heat pads, and heat tape can be used to achieve this gradient. A UVA/UVB light bulb should be used as well to create a schedule of 12 hours on, 12 hours off to replicate a day/night cycle.
Diet
- You can feed your Chinese water dragon crickets, mealworms, waxworms, earthworms, grasshoppers, butter worms, locusts and possibly small feeder fish. Adults can also be fed pinkie mice on occasion, as well as kingworms. All insect prey should be gut loaded. Wild caught insects are best avoided due to the risk of them containing pesticides and alway...
Prevention
- Use a calcium/vitamin D3 supplement on the food at every other feeding along with a complete vitamin/mineral supplement once a week.