How to Breed Water Dragons

Water dragons are large lizards. There are two species of water dragons. One species, referred to commonly as the Chinese water dragon, as its name implies, is from Asia. This is the most common type of water dragon kept as a pet. The other species is from Australia. Both species grow to about 3 feet long and are a green or brown-green color. These lizards don't like to be held, but they can be fascinating to observe as they climb about their habitats. You can breed water dragons in captivity. Captive-bred water dragons are often healthier and calmer than water dragons caught in the wild.

Things You'll Need

  • Water dragon habitat
  • Branches and tall plants
  • Egg laying area
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Instructions

    • 1

      Bring a male and female water dragon to a reptile veterinarian to make sure they are in good health. Breeding can be very stressful for water dragons, so you should never breed a water dragon that is not healthy. Water dragons should also be at least 2 years old and 2 feet long before they begin breeding. Although they mature at a younger age, water dragons less than 2 years old should not be put through a hibernation period, which often precedes breeding.

    • 2

      Place the male and female water dragon in a habitat together. Water dragons require a large amount of space, so this enclosure should be at least 3 feet long, 2 feet wide and 4 to 6 feet tall. Water dragons require vertical space because they are mainly arboreal, meaning they live in trees.

    • 3

      Place several branches and tall plants in the habitat. This mimics the natural habitat of the water dragons, making it more likely that they will breed. Place a pot of peat moss at the bottom of the habitat. This should be about 1½ feet deep, 1½ feet long and 10 inches wide. This is where the female will lay the eggs.

    • 4

      Shorten the amount of light your water dragons are receiving. Water dragons usually require at least 12 hours of light each day. Gradually shorten this, over a period of a couple weeks, to 10 hours a day. During this time, lower the daytime temperature of the water dragons' habitat to between 75 and 78 degrees Fahrenheit. Lower the nighttime temperature to between 68 and 74 degrees Fahrenheit. Maintain this false hibernation or cooling period for about two months.

    • 5

      Gradually raise the temperature back to normal levels, to between 84 and 88 degrees during the day and between 75 and 80 degrees during the night. Increase the daylight back to 12 or 14 hours.

    • 6

      Give the water dragons time to breed. The cooling period usually sparks breeding as soon as the temperatures and light levels have returned to normal.