SPECIES : Chinese Water
Dragon (Physignathus cocincinus).
Distribution and General Ecology
The
Water Dragon is found in tropical rain forests,
close to water and comes from South East Asia.
It is a quite large light green lizard which
has a row of enlarged dorsal scales running
from the back of the head to the tail, and a
crest that is more noticeable in males. Males
also have a much larger head with a well-defined
gular fold located under the chin.
Housing in Captivity
A big vivarium is required
for this large arboreal lizard. An area of water
is also needed, so the vivarium should ideally
be constructed from a water resistant material
such as external ply, rather than melamine which
most commercially available vivariums tend to
be made from. This will probably mean constructing
your own enclosure, good ventilation is also
required so large vents will be needed at either
end. These animals tend to rub their noses along
glass so keep the glass doors at the front off
the ground. Because of the large size of vivarium
required you will need to heat it using ceramic
heaters to obtain the correct temperature which
should range from 20°C to 28°C. All
heating should be controlled by a good quality
thermostat. Placing the heaters at one end will
ensure a good thermal gradient. Lighting should
be of the U.V. type tubes several good high
output U.V. tubes are available from reptile
specialist stores. Adding spot bulbs as well
will give good overall light and provide basking
spots. Substrate may be large pea gravel, bark
chippings or paper. You should also provide
hiding places such as hollow logs or cork bark.
Foods and Feeding
Water
Dragons are mostly carnivorous, and their diet
in captivity may include locusts, crickets,
mealworms, waxworm larvae. Many will accept
pinkie mice and rat pups. Fruit will be taken
occasionally. A good quality reptile vitamin
supplement should be dusted on the food; a suitable
preparation is Repton. Before feeding, the insects
can be placed in a container, the vitamin supplement
added, and the container then shaken so that
the insects become coated by the powder. Calcium
in the form of Cuttlefish should also be provided
for breeding females.
Reproduction
Water
Dragons reach sexual maturity at around 2-3
years of age. Males are larger, heavier animals,
with a large head and jaws. Males are very territorial
and will challenge rival males aggressively;
it is wise therefore to house one male with
a number of females. Mating can be quite violent,
the male subdues the female by biting the back
of her neck and pinning her down, before turning
his cloaca under hers and then inserting one
of his hemipenes.
Mating generally takes place through winter,
the eggs then will be laid in March to April.
Up to five clutches can be laid in a season
with 8-15 eggs in a clutch. When gravid, the
females abdomen becomes swollen and she will
normally go off her food. A nesting box should
be provided such as a large ice cream tub with
a hole cut in the side, filled with a layer
of damp peat/sand mixture or vermiculite. The
female will soon find this, excavate a hole
and deposit her eggs. Females can be protective
over their nests, and eggs should be removed
and placed in an incubator.
Eggs and Young
The
eggs may now be removed and placed in a suitable
container of vermiculite and kept at 80-100%
humidity at an average temperature of 29°C-30°C.
The eggs will swell up to 30% as they develop,
the average incubation time is 50-60 days.
The young measure around 10cm (4 inches) at
hatching and should be offered small insect
prey daily. It is important that the youngsters
are fed a good varied diet with an added vitamin
supplement. to avoid them suffering from poor
bone development. Young can be raised in groups
or individually, in vivaria that are spacious
relative to their size.
The following are just a few
of the Reptile Care Sheets we have available.
For the full list please contact
us.
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