How to Make a Cage for a Water Dragon

Water dragons are exotic reptiles kept as pets by many seasoned herpetologists and new pet owners alike. Generally tame and relatively social, this creature can make a great pet if you can care for it properly. One of the most important aspects of caring for the water dragon is its enclosure. Whether you have the Chinese or Australian water dragon variant is of little concern, as both species can inhabit the same type of enclosure.

Things You'll Need

  • 3/4-inch plywood or a large glass aquarium
  • Wire or mesh top
  • Cat litter pan or other large plastic pan
  • Water
  • Sterile topsoil
  • Branches or driftwood to climb
  • Live plants or other tank decor
  • UVB light source
  • Heat lamp or other heat source
  • 2 thermometers
  • Humidity gauge
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Instructions

  1. Creating the Enclosure

    • 1

      Buy or create a large enclosure using plywood, plexiglass or a large aquarium for the water dragon. The enclosure must be at least 6 feet long, 3 feet deep and 4 feet high. Even if your dragon is small, he will need room to grow.

    • 2

      Top the cage with a wire or mesh cap to prevent the lizard from escaping. Water dragons like to climb, and will easily escape if you allow them to. Later, you can cover part of the mesh if you have temperature or humidity problems.

    • 3

      Place a large plastic tray, such as a cat litter pan, full of water on one side of the tank. The water must be at least deep enough to submerge half the height of the lizard. Change the water each day and clean the tray to remove any waste.

    • 4

      Fill the other side of the cage with substrate, such as sterile topsoil. Mix it with play sand or paper if you wish, but do not use anything toxic, including fertilizers, plant food or pesticides. Make the substrate deep enough to support the animal and any large decorations in the tank.

    • 5

      Place large branches or pieces of upright driftwood for the water dragon to climb on. In the wild, these creatures are found almost exclusively in trees and will spend a good amount of their time climbing.

    • 6

      Add live plants or other tank decor to create hiding places as well as basking places for the lizard. Remove live plants from fertilized soil and wash out any pesticides first. Use large, flat stones and hollowed out logs. Add a simple waterfall for the water side of the tank for an aesthetically pleasing feature that is fun for the reptile.

    Preparing the Enclosure

    • 7

      Place thermometers on both sides of the cage to monitor temperature on the warm and cool sides. Day temperatures should be between 84 and 88 degrees Fahrenheit and night temperatures between 75 and 80.

    • 8

      Place a humidity gauge or two in the tank as well. Humidity should be at about 80 percent.

    • 9

      Place a UVB light source no farther than 10 inches from the basking spot.

    • 10

      Add heating lamps or other heating elements to the tank. Do not place them where the lizard may touch them, as he may burn himself. Place heat sources so that one part of the cage is a little warmer than the other. Do not use hot rocks, which can burn lizards and cause fires.

    • 11

      Add a timer to your lights and heat sources if you cannot keep a strict time schedule. Lights should be switched on and off in 12-hour shifts.