Australian water dragons are becoming more and more popular in the pet industry. My friend had a Chinese water dragon when we were younger. I always thought it was an interesting lizard and I am somewhat familiar with how they are as pets.
What about Australian water dragons? They are similar but completely different lizards. Are Australian water dragons good pets? I decided to do a little research. The more I learn about them the more interesting they are. Here’s what I found.
Australian water dragons are great pet lizards for the right person. They are a larger-sized lizard that is generally docile and adapts to handling very well. They are very interesting to look at and relatively easy to care for if you have the budget and space. Australian water dragons are generally better suited for intermediate keepers.
They are very hardy and can be just as tame as a bearded dragon (which is about as tame as a lizard can get!) but they have some specific care requirements.
This is not to say that they are not a good choice for your first pet lizard. It just means they require a little more than other lizards.
More space, more food, more water, more lights. Some beginners are very ambitions and these things may not be a problem at all. You just need to be aware of them.
If you are committed and have the financial means, as well as space, then they can be a great first lizard. We will discuss all the reasons they make good pets and some things to consider later in this article.
Interesting Facts About Australian Water Dragons
- Where do Australian water dragons come from? – The eastern coast of Australia in wooded areas close to water.
- How big do Australian water dragons get? – Australian water dragons can grow to about 3 and a half feet. Males are bigger than females.
- How long do Australian water dragons live? – Australian water dragons can live up to 20 years in captivity.
- Are Australian water dragons aggressive? – Australian water dragons are not known to be aggressive. They are nonvenomous and not dangerous to humans.
Australian water dragons are one of the few lizards that actually have “dragon” in their name. This is awesome! If you have always wanted to own your very own pet dragon, Australian water dragons could be a good choice.
So, let’s talk about all the reasons they make good pets. We will also review some things go consider before adding a dragon to your family and home.
More About Australian Water Dragons
Australian water dragons:
- Are relatively easy to care for
- Adapt to handling very well
- Are Big but not too big
- Look like dragons!
Considerations:
- Can be difficult to care for
- Hard to find
- Expensive
Why Australian Water Dragons Make Good Pets:
Are Relatively Easy to Care For
Almost all Australian water dragons that you will find available for sale (unless you live in Australia) are captive bred. Captive bred reptiles always do better in captivity than wild caught animals.
Australian water dragons are also very hardy and from this stand point it makes them relatively easy to care for. This means that even if you make a few mistakes your pet dragon isn’t going to suddenly die on you.
Having said this, it’s still very important to learn as much as you can about caring for them and do the best you can to give them what they need to live healthy happy lives.
The healthier your dragon is the happier he will be. The happier your dragon is the better he will respond to you especially when being handled.
This is one big reason Australian water dragons make good pets. They are hardy. One breeder said, that if kept in the right conditions, it’s very rare for Australian water dragons to become sick. After raising hundreds of Australian water dragons he never saw even a hint of illness.
The key is “the right conditions”. The concepts of caring for them are pretty straight forward but there are some specifics that also make caring for one a big consideration which you will see below.
Adapt to Handling Very Well
Australian water dragons have a very docile and pleasant disposition. In the wild their typical response when sensing danger is to slide into the water and swim away. They are not defensive or aggressive.
In captivity, even when not being handled, they will be more or less indifferent when people are nearby. They are not high-strung and nervous like some lizards and their behavior is pretty consistent and predictable. They will not constantly try to escape, bite or whip you with their tail.
When Australian water dragons are handled frequently, they can become very tame. And because of their calm disposition they can truly be a very rewarding pet.
Big but Not Too Big
A lizard reaching over 12 inches is impressive. A 3-foot-long lizard is very impressive. Australian water dragons can get even longer. Males can reach lengths of 3 and a half feet! Now that’s a big lizard.
Australian water dragons can be very impressive but not too big to manage. If you want a large lizard but you are not prepared for a 5 or 6-foot iguana or 100+ pound water monitor an Australian water dragon may be just right for you.
They get big enough to be impressive but not so big that you have to consider giving them an entire room in your house! Big but not too big.
Look Like Dragons!
Have you ever wanted your very own pet dragon? I’ve always thought it would be amazing. Australian water dragons are one of a handful of lizards that have the word dragon in their name.
Not only is dragon part of their name, they actually look like little dragons. Minus the wings of course. They have scaly ridges above there eyes and spikes going down their backs. They have muscular bodies and long, flat, fin-like tails.
Australian water dragons have a beautiful pattern with dark horizontal stripes beginning near their eyes and stretching back to their necks. They also have dark vertical stripes on their bodies and tales.
Males even have a red colored belly. It’s easy to see why they are called dragons!
What You Need to Know Before You Buy One
Can be Difficult to Care For
Australian Water Dragons are very hardy, and though the concepts of caring for one are pretty easy to understand, and very straight forward they require a bit more than other more popular pet lizards. These are things you should be aware of when considering one as a pet.
You will need:
- Special lighting
- A Large enclosure
- Large water feature
- Humidity
- Lots of food
Special lighting
They need both UVA and UVB full spectrum lighting to be able to digest their food properly. This is not uncommon for many other lizard species but because of how large your Australian water dragon will get and the size of the enclosure you will need, you are going to need quite a bit of lighting which can be expensive.
Large enclosures
You will not only need floor space but you will need height because Australian water dragons like to climb. At least a 5-foot by 2-foot by 2-foot cage is recommended but larger and higher is better. Only one side of the cage should be glass. This will help your dragon feel secure. That is a pretty large cage.
Large water feature
Experts say it’s a must to have a very large water feature in the enclosure. Something almost as long as your dragon. And larger is better. This creates a need for more maintenance especially since they like to poop in the water.
Dirty water will need to be changed which means you will be changing their water on a regular basis. You will also need to make sure the water doesn’t get too cold.
The makes caring for your dragon more complex and enough for some people to avoid them all together.
Humidity
Speaking of water, you will also need to make sure the cage is kept at about 40-70% humidity. The water in the enclosure will help with this.
Lots of food
Australian Water dragons eat a lot. And since they are a large sized lizard you will need to feed them large quantities of food frequently. This means large quantities of a variety of insects such as crickets, hornworms, superworms, mealworms and dubia roaches.
As they get older you may also feed them greens.These food items are very common to keeping other lizards. The difficulty comes in the quantity.
Unless you are raising your own feeder insects you are going to be making a lot of trips to the pet store and spending a lot of money feeding your dragon.
Hard to Find
I don’t think I have ever seen an Australian Water Dragon in a pet store. I have rarely ever seen them at reptile expos. They are hard to find.
Chinese water dragons are much more popular and less expensive. If you want an Australian water dragon you are going to need to find them online and will probably need to get on a waiting list.
Expensive
Australian Water Dragons are not as available as other lizards and can be expensive. They are generally about $400-$500 U.S. dollars. The cost to buy the lizard is one thing but the total cost of caring for one is another. It all adds up.
I love reptiles and I love dragons. Now that I know more about Australian water dragons, I find myself imagining what it would be like to own one and I have to say I’m very tempted to take that step.
If you are looking for a large lizard that is friendly, relatively easy to care for and looks like a dragon, the Australian water dragon is an excellent choice.