Have your new water dragon’s enclosure set up before you come home with your new pet. With this article, I will introduce you to the rigors and techniques that have worked for me as a successful water dragon keeper and breeder for more than a decade. Many people who attempt to care for a water dragon will find it difficult to find good sources of information, as I did when first starting out. Traditional pet stores do not usually have the means to properly care for water dragons, due to space constraints and, in some cases, a lack of employee knowledge. Water dragons are prevalent in the reptile-keeping hobby, though, unfortunately, many are wild-caught specimens that are stressed out and skinny, sometimes with noses rubbed down to the bone. Claws may harbor bacteria, too, which can result in scratches becoming infected if preventive measures (gloves, washing, etc.) are not taken. If you’re going to handle an adult water dragon, I recommend gloves to prevent potentially painful scratches. The feet consist of five long toes, the longest being the middle toes on the hind feet, with needlelike claws that are curved at their ends. The front legs are slim and more defined, used for gripping and lifting the dragon up and into foliage, while the powerful rear legs not only aid in climbing but also allow a water dragon to run bipedally. The legs of a water dragon are built to climb. A water dragon may also whip its tail in defense, much like a green iguana, although these lizards are more inclined to run. The tail is used for balance when running, steering when swimming, and as a counterweight when climbing, helping water dragons to maintain balance among the branches they gravitate toward. It can make up nearly two-thirds of a dragon’s total body length, which is generally just over 3 feet for males and 2½ to 3 feet for females. The water dragon, like many other agamid lizards, has an incredibly long tail. A female’s head crest appears underdeveloped compared to a male’s, and its spikes are less prominent, appearing stubbier than a male’s sharper spikes. Females retain white throats through the sub-adult stage even juveniles are sexually dimorphic. The dark streak behind their eyes may get darker, and the throats of males turn from white to a blue or orange color, depending on individual genetics. Juvenile water dragons begin to exhibit an orange-yellow hue beneath the two front “armpits,” and the head crest and spines along the back will become enlarged in males.
Females, too, boast a very nice emerald green coloration with blue striping along the back. Bright green with black speckling, along with a throat that is blue, red, orange, yellow, or a combination of these colors makes the water dragon one of the most beautiful lizards available to hobbyists. The water dragon earns its common name, as wild dragons can usually be found near flowing creeks, ponds and other bodies of water.Ĭhinese Water Dragon Looks And AppearanceĪ healthy, mature male water dragon is a sight to see.
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