Chinese Water Dragon
This page is educational reference material for preparing questions. A licensed veterinarian examines the animal, makes the diagnosis, and sets the treatment.
Quick Facts
| Attribute | Details |
|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Physignathus cocincinus |
| Origin | Southeast Asia (China, Thailand, Vietnam) |
| Size | 2-3 feet (60-90 cm) |
| Lifespan | 10-15 years (up to 20) |
| Temperature | 80-90°F (27-32°C basking up to 95°F) |
| Humidity | 70-80% |
| Enclosure | 6x3x6 feet minimum (adults) |
| Care Level | Intermediate to Advanced |
| Diet | Omnivore (primarily insects) |
| Temperament | Generally docile, can be skittish |
Recommended for Chinese Water Dragons
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Dubia Roaches - Quality feeder insects | Reptile Supply - Large enclosures | Arcadia - Premium UVB lighting
A green lizard that needs a small room
Chinese water dragons are Physignathus cocincinus. Adults, especially males with the taller crest, reach about 2 to 3 feet. They often live 10 to 15 years, sometimes 20, and the care is intermediate to advanced. They are personable when the cage is right and chronically injured when it is a glass box in a hallway.
An adult minimum is 6 by 3 by 6 feet. That height is for climbing. A pool they can submerge in, branches over the water, temperatures of 80 to 90°F with a basking spot up toward 95°F, humidity of 70 to 80 percent, and UVB are the setup. Insects are the main diet, with greens and occasional other protein. Calcium every feeding. They eat a lot as juveniles and get fat or weak depending on which mistake you make. Cover the sides of the cage so the lizard does not polish its nose off on the glass.
Salmonella, size, and a single occupant
Wash after the water changes. Reptile Salmonella is ordinary and still a kitchen problem. House adults alone. A male that displays at his reflection all day is stressed. Fix the cage before you decide the species is mean. Babies from large imports are often wild-caught. Captive-bred is the better buy. Do not release an adult you cannot house. They do not belong in a local pond.
A soft jaw, a swollen limb, or a lizard that stops eating is a vet visit, not a new bulb you might buy next month. Find a clinic at ARAV.
Chinese water dragon questions
Why is my water dragon's nose raw?
They run the glass when they can see reflections or too much room beyond the tank. Cover three sides, add cover inside, and treat a raw nose as an injury. It gets infected if you wait.
How big a cage does an adult need?
Give them at least 6 by 3 by 6 feet for adults. A 40-gallon tank is a baby cage. Water to swim in and branches above it are both required.
Are they beginner lizards?
Care is intermediate to advanced. Babies look easy in a shop. Adults need space, humidity of 70 to 80 percent, and a vet who understands metabolic bone disease.
Decision Guides for Chinese Water Dragon
Use these only when comparing food, insurance, ownership budget, or beginner fit for this specific pet.