Adoption Details For Jiaolong!
Name:
Jiaolong
Animal Id:
10435
Date Created:
4/18/2023 11:02:11 PM
Age:
6 Year(s) 12 Month(s) Old
Type:
Lizard
Gender:
Male
Primary Breed:
Chinese Water Dragon
Spayed / Neutered:
No
Secondary Breed:
Microchip:
Primary Color:
Green
Markings:
Secondary Color:
White
Pattern:
Weight:
1 lbs
🐉💚 Jiaolong – A Dragon Ready to Steal Your Heart! 💚🐉
Are you ready to fall for a real-life dragon this Valentine’s season? Jiaolong, whose name means "Crocodile Dragon" or "Flood Dragon," is a stunning 7-year-old male Chinese Water Dragon looking for a forever home as legendary as he is! He has been patiently waiting at our rescue since April 2023, hoping to find the perfect match to give him the love and care he deserves.
Jiaolong is curious, active, and always on the move. He loves climbing, exploring, and swimming, making him a truly engaging companion for an experienced reptile keeper. To keep this adventurous dragon happy, he’ll need a large, humidity-controlled enclosure with plenty of vertical space, sturdy branches, and enrichment to satisfy his need for activity. His ideal setup will maintain around 80% humidity, and while glass enclosures are common, they can cause nose-rubbing injuries in his species. If you’re open to creating a custom habitat, our rescue is happy to provide tips to ensure Jiaolong thrives!
And let’s talk about love—Jiaolong’s love language is food! This dragon adores bugs, the occasional fish, and a well-balanced diet to keep him strong and healthy. With proper care, he could be a part of your life for up to 6 years (they can live to the age of 15)!
Chinese Water Dragons are often misunderstood as beginner-friendly pets, but Jiaolong needs someone with the patience, knowledge, and dedication to truly give him the care he deserves. In return, he’ll reward you with fascinating behaviors, a striking presence, and a companionship as deep as a dragon’s legend.
Jiaolong has been waiting a long time for the right person to come along. Could you be the one to make his fairytale ending come true? If you’re ready to commit to this extraordinary dragon, click the Adoption Application button below, and an adoption counselor will reach out soon!
💘 PLEASE NOTE: 💘
📍 We can only accept applications from those in or near San Diego County, California.
🚚 We do not ship reptiles, but if you're in Southern California and willing to travel, we may be able to work something out!
📝 Travel arrangements are decided on a case-by-case basis at the discretion of the board of directors.
Quick Reference Guide
Animal Type
Lizard
Breed
Chinese Water Dragon
Introduction
Chinese water dragons are native to southeast Asia, where they inhabit tropical broadleaf forests on the banks of freshwater lakes and streams. As an arboreal species, they spend most of their time in the trees, although when alarmed they will drop to the water below, and they are proficient swimmers. Adult males can grow up to 36” long and a 10-15 year lifespan.
Difficulty
Intermediate
Difficulty Notes
They can make docile, beautiful pets, but due to their large size and arboreal nature, they require large enclosures and specialized equipment, making them a significant investment. the biggest challenge to husbandry is providing anough space and a cleanbody of water. Chinese water dragons generally make better display animals than a “pet” that gets taken out regularly, but they can usually be tamed with persistent, gentle effort. This may take a while, so be patient! Captive-bred water dragons are likely to be more tameable than wild-caught individuals.
Basking Temp
90-95
Ambient Temp
77-86
Lowest Temp
75-77
Temp Notes
Because recommended nighttime temperatures for Chinese water dragons are higher than the average home temperature, you will need a lightless heat source to provide a little extra warmth.
Diet
Insectivore
Diet Notes
Chinese water dragons are primarily insectivorous, which means that they get most of their nutrients from eating a wide variety of insects. However, they are also known to eat vegetation, fruits, and small animals. These lizards eat a lot so ensure you have a steady and reliable supply of insects, especially as your dragon reaches adulthood.
UVA Intensity
Tropical
UVB Intensity
Intermediate
Ferguson Zone
3
Lighting Notes
A UVB bulb isn’t bright enough to meet a Chinese water dragon’s light needs. So you will need to supplement with a bright, 6500K T5 HO fluorescent or LED lamp, long enough to span most of the enclosure. This is particularly important if you have live plants in the enclosure, but it is also valuable for providing additional illumination and supporting your dragon’s general wellbeing
Enclosure Size
Large Semi-Arborial
Enclosure Notes
Chinese water dragons need an enclosure that is large enough to give them adequate opportunity to thermoregulate, explore, hunt, and generally exercise natural behaviors. They are also arboreal, which means that as a tree-dwelling species, they require a tall enclosure. The minimum recommended enclosure size for housing a single Chinese water dragon is 6’L x 3’W x 6’H. For the lizard’s mental health and ease of access, it is best to use an enclosure that is front-opening and opaque on all sides but the front. It also must be well-ventilated.
Substrate
Forest Floor
Substrate Notes
Chinese water dragons spend most of their time in the upper levels of their enclosure, and when they’re not climbing, they’re swimming. So substrate isn’t super important, but if the “pool” doesn’t take up the entire floor of the enclosure, adding substrate can help with humidity maintenance. A fluffy 4″ / 10cm layer of moistened coconut fiber or sphagnum moss will do the trick, and it also helps act as a cushion if your dragon takes a fall.
Humidity
High (70-100%)
Humidity Notes
Chinese water dragons do best in a high-humidity environment, with a daytime average humidity of 60-80%, plus a large pool of water for swimming. Chinese water dragons naturally live near bodies of water in the wild, and when startled will often drop into the water from the trees as a defense mechanism. They are proficient swimmers, can hold their breath for up to 25 minutes, and have been known to sleep in the water. For these reasons it’s important to provide a large, deep basin of water (at least 65 gallons) on the floor of the enclosure.
Animal Reference Material:
| Category | Title | AnimalType | Breed | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Animal Care | *SBRSC Chinese Water Dragon Information Guide For Adoption | Lizard | Chinese Water Dragon | |
| Animal Care | Lizard UVB Lighting: What you need to know! | Lizard | ||
| Blog | Custom Large Lizard Enclosure Considerations | Lizard |