They are semi-aquatic and live along the east coast of Australia around creeks, rivers or lakes. There, you can often see them living amongst humans in parks or gardens. Expert Tip: Make sure that your basking lamp is inaccessible. Start with a moisture-absorbing substrate at the bottom. Water Dragons are omnivorous meaning they will eat nearly anything. You’ll learn how to set up their enclosure, what to feed them, and plenty of other useful facts! The most common issue you’ll likely encounter is the occasional respiratory problem. Keep an eye out on your lizard to see what temperatures they prefer. Overview. Physignathus lesueurii. The diet of the Australian Water Dragon included worms, insects, frogs, fruit, vegetation, small mammals, and molluscs. Can Bearded Dragons Eat Apples? However, bacterial problems can occur too. We house a robust selection of captive bred lizards for sale. Appearance and Characteristics. Hunter Briggs is an experienced reptile breeder who has been keeping and raising various species over the past seven years. The nuchal crests start at the base of the head. 1.) Panther Chameleon is a species of chameleon found in eastern and northern parts in a tropical forest biome of Madagascar. The genus Physignathus was described by George Cuvier (1769-1832) in 1829 based on the type specimen of the genus; the Green Water Dragon, Physignathus cocincinus of south-east Asia. Water Dragons are omnivorous (eat both plants and animals). These are often seen mild chilling as long as daytime highs allow them to get toasty warm each day. Australian Water Dragon. The average Australian water dragon lifespan is between 10 and 15 years. Australian water dragons have the shy nature in the wild, but easily adapt the continual human presence in suburban parks and gardens. Replicating the intense Australian heat is no easy task, but it’s very important for the health of this species. Show me the calculator. Australian water dragons are perfectly friendly to humans if you’re gentle. Reptile Direct is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to Amazon.com. A male Water Dragon can reach a length of 1 metre and weigh about 1 kg. Now on to the Facts! These varieties dwell in trees, and are natives of the northern part of Eastern Australia from Northern Victoria to Queensland. Fire skinks are an incredibly unique reptile that can make great pets for owners of all experience levels.…, The Rankin’s dragon is one of our favorite pet reptile species. Habitat: A creature of forested regions, particularly in close proximity of waterways. This is primarily due to their long tail, which makes up roughly two-thirds of their body length. The Australian water dragon (Intellagama lesueurii, formerly Physignathus lesueurii ), which includes the eastern water dragon (Intellagama lesueurii lesueurii ) and the Gippsland water dragon (Intellagama lesueurii howittii ) subspecies, is an arboreal agamid species native to eastern Australia from Victoria northwards to Queensland. (The Real Answer). Note: We can can freight Water Dragons to airports serviced by Australian Air Express. You’ll also need to make sure the size of the enclosure is rather large. You can house males and females together, but they will often breed and raise your lizard population! Next, you will need to provide some climbing surfaces. In the wild, these lizards live in a wide range of environments. As they get older, these lizards should have no problem being handled (assuming you’ve spent time getting them used to the process). The Gippsland form is only found in the Gippsland area of Victoria, and are notably different in colouration and size. The availability of water basins (known as Billabong in … You can do this by using a reptile hide box. They will also need some UVB exposure. Like any other captive reptile, the lifespan of this species is dependent on the quality of care you provide. Thus, they’re used to vegetation and lots of humidity. When you do this, use a reptile-safe disinfectant to clean off every surface. The Australian Water Dragon (Physignathus Lesueurii) belongs to the subordinate variety of Gippsland water dragon and Eastern Water Dragon. But it’s crucial to know what their care requirements are before you rush out and get one. This species will need around 70 percent humidity levels at all times. The usual Australian Water Dragon will get to live for at least 20 years so long as it gets the proper care and nutrition it needs to thrive well in captivity. Australian Water Dragon (Physignathus lesueurii) - Caresheet Introduction. A good diet will mainly consist of insects. Males show bolder colouration and have larger … Australian Water Dragons are omnivorous which eats almost anything. You must create a temperature gradient where one side of the tank is hotter than the other. Expert Tip: When threatened, Australian water dragons can also use its tail to whip predators! The monitor lizards have the sharp teeth which might get hurt the humans. The monitor lizards might have the weak venom which is not much dangerous for the humans. This is the only species of the genus Intellagama. Expert Tip: The length of the enclosure is very important. It is not a friendly wave. Docile and easy to tame, these lizards make excellent pets for even novice enthusiasts. These can sleep in the water by just their nostrils protruding. At Swaddled Pets, we publish reptiles, and other exotic care sheet guides for the captive-bred and select imported species, including snakes, lizards, turtles, tortoises, frogs, toads, newts, salamanders, scorpions, tarantulas, and more! It’s very important to change this water regularly. This is why it’s important for you to spot clean the enclosure every day. Australian water dragons are pretty split when it comes to fruit. The monitor lizards have the sharp teeth that they used to bite or tear the flesh of meat and eat. They may enjoy sweets like bananas and strawberries, but some won’t eat them at all. Typically, the base color is accompanied by white and black markings around the face. If they’re feeling a bit fussy and don’t want to be handled, give them a break! As long as you don’t make any sudden movements and provide plenty of support, these lizards will stay calm. These lizards are smart, fairly low-maintenance, and fun to handle! It must be deep enough for full submersion too. You can use an automatic dripper as well if you prefer. These goods are high in fat, so don’t feed them to your lizard too often. Growing up to a meter in length, the impressive Water Dragon is … Australian water dragons need a standard day and night cycle. It is water dragon … They’re also sporting a black band behind the eye. If kept healthy, water dragons can live a long life of up to 20 years. These can eat underwater but they need to come up at the water surface to chew their food. If you still have questions, our (digital) door is always open! Australian water dragons are a neat looking reptile that can make great pets in the right environment. Nesting: The female Water Dragons dig shallow nests in a sunny open position generally in a sandy soil. Materials like slate are perfect because they retain heat for some belly warmth. The two-third length of these water dragons is its tail. We hope that you get the information for which you looking here. Many owners even report letting the lizard sit on their shoulders for hours. However, that docile behavior isn’t extended towards other water dragons. In general, it’s best to keep Australian water dragons on their own. A longer enclosure will make it easy to create an appropriate temperature gradient. However, many owners prefer to keep things natural in the habitat by utilizing plants as well. The average Australian water dragon lifespan is between 10 and 15 years. Panther Chameleon. Country of Origin: Australia. They reach sexual maturity around 4 to 5 years of age. These are the fast runners and strong climbers. For swimming, the water dragon uses its muscular tail. Egg laying: Water Dragons being a reptile, lay eggs (oviparous). One of the more serious health problems these lizards can suffer from is metabolic bone disease. Australian Water Dragon Care Sheet. Those are typically caused by inadequate humidity levels, which are easy to fix. The name … An Australian water dragon’s tail is wedge shaped like an oar to help them swim through the water with ease. At the very least, we recommend keeping a single Australian water dragon in an enclosure that’s 48 inches long, 24 inches deep, and about 36 inches wide. These lizards often inhabit forests that are close to rivers or streams. The species mostly hibernate during the winter which depends on the climate of the region. We also carry a large number of handpicked imported exotic lizards for our customers to choose from. Here is the detailed information of Australian Water Dragon scientific name, category, average lifespan, characteristics, facts, habitat, diet, venom, reproduction, bite etc. Fighting is very common, so most owners will not house males in the same enclosure. Learn more. You should also add some resting rocks made of natural stone. This quickly turned into a deep passion for these animals that she has to this day. Potential Adult Size: 60-90cm (24-36 inches) Average Life Span: 10-15 years. In such cases, you need to clean the bite area with the antiseptic and contact the physician to avoid any type of infection. Like other reptiles, Australian water dragons thermoregulate by moving to different parts of the enclosure. This opens up a host of developmental issues and a high risk of bone fractures. Here’s where you can get creative. Arrange them delicately so that they’re not touching. There may be a small introduced population on the southeast coast of South Australia. If danger is sensed, a dragon can dive under water and remain there for up to 90 minutes! They have been recorded to live up to 28+ years but a common age for captive lizards is 15 years. In captivity, however, these lizards are just fine in the safety of a well-maintained enclosure. The unmatched conditions can irritate and bad effect on the lizards and sometimes they become aggressive. If possible, bump up the length of the enclosure to about 60 inches. You have to handle these lizards with care. However, subtle color variations make the two subspecies easy to distinguish. Use large tree branches, chunks of cork wood, and climbing branches. These are commonly seen in the rainforest section of Brisbane Botanic Gardens, Mount Coot-tha in Queensland, and a monument has been specially built there for them. Australian water dragon is an arboreal agamid species native to Eastern Australia from Victoria northwards to Queensland. Invest in a reliable hygrometer to test humidity levels regularly. On the opposite side of the enclosure, temperatures should be around 80 degrees Fahrenheit. To maintain this, you’ll have to mist the environment regularly. Australian water dragons love to spend time in the water. Australian water dragons in the wild will not live for long compared to the water dragon pets because most of them are predated. Scientific Name: Intellagama lesueurii. These creatures are cute, low-maintenance, and very…, African Fire Skink Care: Habitat Setup, Diet, Lifespan…. However, they get used to human interaction very quickly. These have the powerful legs and sharp claws which help them to climb trees more effectively. This species is also defined by its prominent nuchal and vertebral crests. The Australian water dragon can be identified by a distinctively deep angular head and nuchal crest of spinose scales that joins the vertebral crest that goes down with the length of its body to the tail. On one end, use a basking lamp to raise temperatures between 95 and 110 degrees Fahrenheit. But obviously, there’s never a guarantee when it comes to life expectancy. All Australian water dragons feature greyish brown coloration. Chinese water dragons look similar in size and shape, but are greener. About once a month, a deep cleaning is required. It can be found near humid areas like creeks, river, lakes, and other water bodies that have basking site like as overhanging branches or rocks in open or filtered sun. However, they aren't the only water dragon … The container should be no smaller than about three-quarters of the length of your pet lizard. Lifespan. Also, make sure to gut-load insects before providing them as food. A fully transparent enclosure could make the lizard feel open to threats. Both live and artificial plants work well. For the occasional snack, you can provide mealworms, beetle grubs, cockroaches, and waxworms. You have to regularly maintain the feed ratio and temperature in the enclosure along with humidity to keep the Australian water dragon happy. These have the captivity life up to 20 years while reaching sexual maturity around 4 to 5 years of age. The Australian Water Dragon is also known as the Brown Water Dragon, or in its native homeland, the Eastern Water Dragon. The mark of the dragon lizard. Making up about two-thirds of its entire length, the tail is one of the lizard’s most important features. Scroll this page down to get more details about this. Many owners will alternate between a calcium supplement and a multivitamin supplement for each feeding.