Feeding a Chinese water dragon: diet, supplements, food refusals
Chinese water dragon : Mainly insectivorous: crickets, roaches and worms, supplemented in adults with a little fish and some greens. Regular calcium-D3 dusting and varied prey prevent food boredom.
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In short: 80 to 100 cm including tail for an adult male, 10 to 15 years of lifespan, intermediate level. A bright green arboreal lizard, lively and endearing but nervous, it dives into water from its branches whenever it feels threatened. Being nervous, it easily injures its snout on glass when cramped: planted walls, a large volume and a real swimming basin prevent these rostral lesions.
The Chinese water dragon diet, precisely
Mainly insectivorous: crickets, roaches and worms, supplemented in adults with a little fish and some greens, plus regular calcium-D3 dusting and varied prey. Temperature governs digestion: a Chinese water dragon kept below its 32-35°C basking spot digests poorly and eventually refuses food — faced with a refusing animal, check the thermometer before the menu.
Gut-loading and supplements: the invisible part
A cricket is only worth what it ate: feed your insects for 24-48 h (fresh vegetables, bran) before offering them — that is gut-loading. Add calcium dusting at nearly every juvenile meal, every other one for adults, plus a calcium dish available at all times.
Water and hydration
The 70 to 80% humidity is part of hydration: regular misting alongside a clean water dish changed daily. Dehydration shows in skin folds and sunken eyes: that means the exotics vet, not the mister alone. The full profile is on the full Chinese water dragon profile.
Frequently asked questions
What does a Chinese water dragon eat?
Mainly insectivorous: crickets, roaches and worms, supplemented in adults with a little fish and some greens, plus regular calcium-D3 dusting and varied prey.
Why is my Chinese water dragon refusing food?
Check temperatures first (basking spot at 32-35°C): too cold means no digestion. Then shedding and settling-in stress — but measured weight loss calls for the exotics vet.
The guides that apply to you
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