A semi-aquatic species of lizard from Indo-China and a small area
of china, water dragons are frequently bred in captivity and are relatively
easy to sex, exhibiting significant sexual dimorphism. The males'
head, dewlap and crest are far bigger than the females'. Males are
usually larger and more brightly coloured and, like many iguanids
with a thicker tail at the base and more developed femoral pores (the
fleshy pads on the inside of each thigh).
We keep our water dragons in a variety of enclosures, all of which
are very large. Currently, they are housed in a glass and stone-sided
room 3 m x 4 m x 1.5 m in height, which they share with a few tortoises
and two plated lizards. Daytime temperatures are around 27EC, dropping
a few degrees at night. Much of the food is shared with tortoises,
but crickets, locusts, and mince meat with mineral supplements are
also fed routinely.
