As a proud owner of a Chinese water dragon, I know how alarming it can be when your usually vibrant green pet starts to take on a brownish hue. I’ve experienced this color change firsthand and wanted to get to the bottom of what causes it. After researching the issue extensively and consulting fellow water dragon enthusiasts, I’ve discovered the main reasons these fascinating lizards can turn from green to brown.
It’s Usually Nothing to Worry About
The first thing to know is that a brownish coloration in Chinese water dragons is typically no cause for concern While a complete or prolonged shift to brown may indicate an underlying issue, subtle color changes are normal. Chinese water dragons possess specialized cells called chromatophores in their skin that allow them to alter their colors slightly in response to various factors. A bit of brown here and there is often just your dragon’s way of regulating its body temperature or expressing its mood Phew!
Reason 1 – It’s Shedding Time
One of the most common reasons for a temporary brownish hue in water dragons is shedding. As their old skin starts to peel away, it reveals the new skin underneath which can initially appear dull or brownish. This is a perfectly natural part of the shedding process. To aid your dragon during a shed make sure the humidity in their enclosure is around 70-80%. Offer a larger soaking water bowl and mist more frequently. The shedding and associated color change should resolve within a few days.
Reason 2 – Temperature Fluctuations
Chinese water dragons are ectothermic, meaning they rely on external heat to regulate their body temperature If their habitat temperatures are too low, these cold-blooded critters can start to take on a brownish cast. Ensure the cool end of the enclosure stays between 75-80°F and the basking area reaches 95-100°F. Providing adequate heat allows your dragon’s metabolism to function properly so their colors stay vivid
Reason 3 – Stress or Change in Environment
While water dragons are typically easygoing lizards, changes to their environment can cause stress. Introducing a new enclosure or decor, switching up their diet, or too much handling can disrupt your dragon’s sense of security. This stress may manifest physically as a brownish coloration. To minimize stress during changes, go slow with any habitat adjustments and limit handling to short, positive sessions.
Reason 4 – Improper Humidity
Chinese water dragons thrive at a humidity level around 70-80%. If the air becomes too dry, they can develop shedding difficulties and become prone to dehydration – two factors that can contribute to a brownish appearance. Use a hygrometer to monitor humidity and adjust as needed. Increase misting frequency, use a humid hide, and ensure your dragon always has fresh drinking water. Proper humidity keeps their colors looking vibrant.
Reason 5 – Fungal or Bacterial Infection
While less common, fungal and bacterial infections can also sometimes cause changes in coloration along with other symptoms like appetite loss and patchy skin. Take your dragon to an experienced herp vet if you notice any unusual skin changes accompanied by other signs of illness. With proper treatment, most infections are manageable.
When to See the Vet
Occasional brown patches or dullness are no big deal, but if your water dragon stays brown or develops other symptoms, it’s time for a vet visit. Book an appointment if you notice:
- Prolonged brown coloring with no signs of shedding
- Lethargy, loss of appetite
- Discharge from eyes or nose
- Swelling or lumps on skin
- Wheezing or labored breathing
Tips to Keep Your Dragon Green
While some color change is normal, you can take steps to keep your water dragon’s colors as brilliant as possible:
- Maintain proper temperatures and humidity
- Limit handling to short, positive sessions
- Provide adequate hides and enrichment
- Keep the enclosure clean
- Avoid abrupt environment changes
- Feed a balanced, nutrient-rich diet
- Use supplements if needed
The Colorful Takeaway
A temporary shift to brown is rarely anything to fret about with these amazing lizards. By understanding what causes it and making a few habitat tweaks, you can keep your water dragon looking its dazzling green self for years to come. With good care, these captivating creatures will continue to showcase their chameleon-like color-changing talents. Enjoy this unique ability and rest easy knowing a brown phase is temporary.
Light and Heat Sources
Providing proper heat sources in a water dragon’s habitat will allow the lizard to maintain their body temperature and stay healthy. An incandescent light or ceramic heater should be added to one end of a water dragon’s tank to create a basking area for the lizard to use during the day.
The wattage needed for the bulb depends on the size of the enclosure, the distance of the bulb from the reptile, and the ambient temperature of the room in which the enclosure is kept. Adjust the wattage of the bulb to maintain the recommended temperature gradient within the tank.
Note: Some light bulbs provide not only light to the tank, but also heat and/or ultraviolet (UV) light. Pet parents should check the light sources they are considering to understand their function in the tank.
- If more than one water dragon is housed in the same enclosure, make sure each lizard has their own basking site.
- Heat sources should be attached to a thermostat to keep temperatures within a safe and comfortable range.
- Hot rocks should never be used because they can get too warm and cause injury.
- If an under-tank heating pad is used, it must be connected to a thermostat to prevent the lizard from getting burned.
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White lights should not be left continuously, as they will disrupt the lizard’s natural sleep cycle. At night, turn off lights in the habitat, or switch to a nocturnal or infrared light. Pet parents can use a night timer to keep day/night cycles consistent.
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Pet parents should shine a full-spectrum UV light on their water dragon’s habitat for 10–12 hours each day. Lizards need daily exposure to UVB rays so they can produce vitamin D in their skin, which allows them to absorb dietary calcium. Without adequate UVB exposure, lizards are at a greater risk of developing a range of life-threatening illnesses, including metabolic bone disease.
- Since UV lights differ in intensity, follow the manufacturer’s recommendations on bulb placement relative to your pet. In general, UV lights should be placed about 10–12 inches above the basking area.
- Do not block the UV light source with glass or plastic, as this will block and filter out UV rays.
- Lights should be replaced every six months (even if the bulb still emits light), as their potency wanes over time.
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As a tropical species, water dragons need moderately high humidity in their environment to stay hydrated, support their respiratory systems, and encourage healthy shed cycles. Maintain humidity levels between 70–80% in the enclosure by misting the habitat’s walls, plants, and décor daily with warm water. Humidity levels should be monitored with a hygrometer (humidity gauge). If humidity levels get too low, it will lead to problems shedding.
You should keep a wide, shallow bowl of water at the bottom of your water dragon’s habitat. Since reptiles absorb water through their skin, be sure the bowl is large enough for the lizard to soak in. If humidity levels get too high, increase ventilation in the tank to make sure humid air can escape.
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Water dragons need a substrate, such as sphagnum moss, coconut fiber, or orchid bark, that can hold moisture well. Reptile carpet can also be used if it’s spot-cleaned and replaced often so that it doesn’t accumulate bacteria on it.
- Gravel, wood chips, and walnut shells should be avoided. These materials are indigestible and can lead to fatal gastrointestinal obstruction if eaten.
- Coconut husk should not be used in a water dragon’s habitat since it can cause eye irritation.
- Water dragons should be fed in a food dish or a separate enclosure without any bedding. This will lessen the chance of their accidentally eating bedding particles that are indigestible and can cause gastrointestinal obstruction.
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Visual barrier: Water dragons are known to rub their noses against the walls of their habitat, which can lead to snout injury. To discourage this behavior, pet parents can use paper, cardboard, or solid-colored tape to create a two- to three-inch barrier around the outside bottom of their lizard’s habitat.
Food dishes: Rather than being placed on the habitat floor, food should be offered in a shallow dish or separate feeding tank to lessen the chance of a lizard’s accidentally eating their tank’s substrate.
- Worm dishes are designed to keep wiggling live prey in one area.
- Food and water dishes should be cleaned and disinfected daily.
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Water dishes: As their name suggests, water dragons love to swim and soak in water! Pet parents should provide their water dragons with a bowl of fresh water that’s large enough for the lizard to soak and also large enough for them to swim in.
- Water dishes should be cleaned and replenished daily to prevent bacterial growth.
- If you want a more decorative water feature, a waterfall or air bubbler can be placed inside of a water dragon’s water bowl. These water features help maintain high humidity levels in the habitat, but they typically need to be paired with an aquarium filter to stay clean.
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Hiding area: Water dragons need at least two hiding areas—one on the cool end of their enclosure, and one on the warm end of their enclosure. Aside from offering privacy and security, hideouts allow lizards to have a space away from their enclosure’s direct basking area.
- Pet parents should monitor their lizard to ensure that they are not spending all their time hiding and not getting the benefits of UV light.
- If more than one water dragon is housed in the same habitat, be sure to provide each lizard with their own hiding areas.
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Climbing branches/shelves and basking rocks: Pet parents should add a basking rock and sturdy branches to their water dragon’s habitat so they can climb and bask as needed.
- Water dragons usually prefer high basking areas over low ones.
- Basking branches must be large and sturdy enough to support the lizard’s body. Otherwise, the branch could topple over and potentially cause injury.
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Live and/or artificial plants: Live plants can help boost humidity and add beauty to a water dragon’s terrarium. Artificial plants can be used to create extra hiding spots in the enclosure.
- A few safe live plants to use are hibiscus, dracaena, pothos, ficus, philodendron, and spider plants
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Water Dragon Diet and Nutrition
Water dragons are omnivorous reptiles. But, as predators, they tend to prefer meaty foods over fruits and vegetables. Be sure to feed your dragon on a schedule and serve them a variety of foods. Like people, water dragons will become bored with the same meal.
A nutritious and well-balanced diet for a water dragon consists of a variety of gut-loaded worms and insects, including:
- Crickets
- Wax worms
- Butter worms
- Earthworms
- Silkworms
- Mealworms
- Grasshoppers
- Hornworms
- Superworms
Insects should make up 85–90% of a water dragon’s diet.
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Fruits and vegetables, which should make up no more than 10–15% of a water dragon’s diet. Fruits and vegetables should be finely chopped into bite-sized pieces before being offered. Excellent plant-based foods for water dragons include:
- Mustard/dandelion/collard greens
- Kale
- Romaine
- Green beans
- Sweet potato
- Carrots
- Blueberries
- Raspberries
- Cantaloupe
- Papaya
- Mango
- Figs
Frozen/thawed newborn mice (“pinkies”), juvenile mice (“fuzzies”) and small common goldfish can be offered as an occasional, tasty treat to larger water dragons. These foods should be offered to a water dragon no more than twice per week.
Be sure that the water dragon is old enough and large enough to handle whole prey.
Live prey should not be fed directly to a water dragon. If a rodent is still alive when given to a water dragon, the rodent can become aggressive and leave severe wounds on the water dragon that may lead to life-threatening infections.
Common issues in Water Dragons
FAQ
Why is my Chinese water dragon turning brown?
Water dragons are diurnal (more active during the day) and arboreal (“tree-dwelling”) reptiles that enjoy spending their days exploring trees. When humidity and temperatures change, water dragons can change color from green to brown.
Do water dragons change color?
Both subspecies are light greenish grey in overall colour (greener in I. l. howittii), with darker bands running across their back, tail and legs. The water dragon can slowly change skin colour to aid its camouflage.
How to treat mouth rot in water dragons?
Twice a day would be successful. Aim for a 3 to 5% ratio of vinegar to water. A small amount of vinegar in their drinking water and/or chamomille tea as their drinking water will also be beneficial. Mouth rot can spread into the bones, in which case the treatment is much more complicated and should be seen by a vet.
What is the lifespan of a Chinese water dragon?
On average, Chinese water dragons can live for 10 to 15 years, although in captivity they may live up to 20 years. Female Chinese water dragons usually lay six to 15 eggs at a time, and they hatch after 60 to 75 days.
Why is my Chinese water dragon poop so bad?
When their load becomes too high, it turns to an infection. Many imported Chinese water dragons carry internal parasites and need testing and worming. Make sure to test your new Chinese water dragon’s poop for internal parasites and only worm with your vet’s confirmation.
How do you know if a Chinese water dragon is sick?
Lethargy, wheezing, gaping, clicking noises and sitting with an open mouth are signs of an advanced respiratory infection. While Chinese water dragons require high humidity levels in the tank (75-80%), make sure to allow the cage to dry between misting sessions. 55-60% humidity levels between mistings is optimal.
Why does my Chinese water dragon have a respiratory infection?
Respiratory infection in Chinese water dragons is often caused by low tank temperatures, weakened immune system, constant high humidity levels or poor living conditions. Signs of a respiratory infection include bubbly mucus around the mouth, eyes or nose, loss of appetite and puffy appearance.
How do you know if a Chinese water dragon has rot?
Signs of mouth rot are cheesy secretion (pus) around the mouth, red gums, swelling, painful reaction to the touch. Most often, Chinese water dragons get stomatitis when rubbing their snout against the walls or glass. This results in open wounds where bacteria find their way through. Weakened immune system can also lead to mouth rot.
How do I know if my Chinese water dragon has MBD?
Signs of a Metabolic bone disease are difficulty lifting the body, twitching or cramps, weak bones. You might also notice lethargy, deformed bones (crooked back, open jaw), swollen legs etc. If you suspect MBD, please take your Chinese water dragon to the vet for blood testing, visual examination and treatment.
What should I do if my Chinese water dragon breaks a limb?
If your Chinese water dragon has broken the limb or tail, or lost a nail or finger, take it to the vet. The main thing is to keep disinfecting the wound to prevent an infection. If there’s pus, a vet will perform an incision to remove it and flush the wound. Antibiotics might be required in some cases.