How to Setup a PERFECT Chinese Water Dragon Enclosure.

It's been way too long since I've gone into the specifics of Chinese water dragons. More so regarding enclosure aspects and caging.
In this video I truly give y'all a "Enclosure 101 Lecture" on what I feel are the ABSOLUTE MOST IMPORTANT aspects that go into the enclosure setup for Chinese water dragons.
As stated in the video, I have spent (as of upload) a total of eight years keeping Chinese water dragons. Since 2018 I have been breeding them with consecutive success.
I have also worked with a good handful of other water dragons outside of my main pair. Predominately at my good friend's facility (Borayus Exotics), as well as my own college campus having maintained Chinese water dragons within their herpetology labs.
Doing so allows me to truly gather a larger sample group of individuals worked with, thus ensuring you (the viewer and lister) are receiving information stated that encompasses are larger group of water dragons that have been cared for using the methods shared in the video (with minor differences). If I was to be giving data on the two water dragons under my care, it would be a prime example of sample bias and therefore not reliable. Ergo: my experiences working with multiple dragons outside of "Ozzie & Harriet" do apply to this video, I simply used my main pair in the video as the example specimens.
Video Chapters:
00:00 Intro
01:23 Solid Sided Enclosures
03:58 Prioritize Enclosure Length over Height
07:15 Branches/Perch Setup
10:12 Basking Heat Setup (Lighting)
12:04 UVB Lamp Setup/Distance (Lighting)
14:09 Setting Up Heat, UVB, and Visible Light Together (Lighting)
16:57 Measuring Ambient Temperatures and Humidity CORRECTLY
18:36 Measuring Surface Temperatures (i.e: Basking Spots)
19:52 Ventilation and Air Exchange
21:00 Recap
22:50 Outro
Have any questions that I didn't answer in this video?
Send me an email: [e-mail]
I mentioned an amazing channel, @JTBReptiles!
Definitely subscribe to Joesph's channel for more in-depth videos regarding reptile heating and lighting and overall: advanced husbandry techniques.
JTB Reptiles: / jtbreptiles
JTB Instagram: / jtb_reptile
Comment below!
Or SEND me a message through any of my Social Media pages linked below!
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#ChineseWaterDragon #ChineseWaterDragonSetUp #ChineseWaterDragonEnclosure

[@KAS_Motorsports]

My Chinese dragon spends most of its day running around the house. I have a case with natural substrate, moss, branches a water tub for soaking. I’ve had her about 5 months and she is going into her 3rd shed. Very happy, bright colors and will eat 5 earthworms in one sitting. Loves to cuddle too. Very cool pets.

[@jessicae3812]

Great video as always! Your tips along with the reptile shop we go to are 100% the reason our boy Cali is so healthy and happy.

[@marjoleinvnoort6961]

When you have a wooden terrarium, treat the wood with epoxy. Then it works perfectly for a dragon . Make sure your terrarium is like 80 or 90 cm deep. That helps with the problem them running in to the glass Mine never run in to the glass. My terrariums was 90 cm deep. I love them❤

[@elainec7104]

Hello. I love your videos. We just rehomed a chinese water dragon and I've been watching tons of your videos! His current enclosure has an area that is 4 feet high and 4 feet wide area, then bottom half is over 6 feet long. I was consider getting a higher grow tent, but you think length is more important than height? Also your basking surface area is over 110f? When I read basking area should be 90-95f, do they mean air temperature? Thank you!

[@LuciiiV]

Thank you very much for sharing all this info!

[@BryceBroom]

So so much important info in here! There have recently been a few imported to South Africa (WC I presume) so hopefully some people will go the extra length and care for these guys properly so no more need to come in from the wild! They seem like such a rewarding species!

[@BryceBroom]

And side note, you’ve got a ton of info to share, you should get back to posting like the old days!

[@AlexsAgamids]

Thank you for the appraise Bryce! I hope all is well with you (especially after seeing your recent video! Blessed to hear you’re getting better!) I am hoping to try and have a more frequent upload schedule, however since I am still a college student. My time is stretched between schoolwork, my job, caring for my animals, and having time to take breaks and not mentally break myself! 😂

[@kristinmcintosh91]

Hello! I love your setup's. My boy Mushu is coming of age I am super proud. I am trying to teach him to go back into his cage to bask when I leave the door open sometimes. And so far it worked one time. I have found they really like to explore like you said. Mushu is going on 3 years old. Fortunately I have been able to keep him outside during summer months. They are creatures of habit.

[@570exotics9]

Such a good video brotha thanks

[@nathanfoutch7211]

Definitely taking notes I definitely want one some day hope you have a great day

[@professorsmith3385]

Aye this awesome! Thank you for sharing!

[@freak70wayne1]

Great video and info as usual alex

[@AlexsAgamids]

Thank you Wayne!

[@harryrichards1625]

Awesome video

[@Trellemania]

This is so helpful

[@taeviansworldofreptiles3828]

Great video! I have a special needs baby that I am baby sitting for an indefinitely amount of time and I just upgraded him a bit. Not this big lol but big enough for him and for me to be able to monitor him.

[@AlexsAgamids]

Hey man! If you're raising a baby. Even a slightly small terrarium should last you just shy of a year. They only need their adult enclosure by the time they are roughly 18" long STL. Otherwise I usually raise up grow outs in 2'x2'x3' enclosures till they're eight months old. Then they can go into an enclosure like this.

[@Left4Bill]

Can you link the mini lamps and the cages you have around the lamps.

[@AlexsAgamids]

Check out my video called "Chinese Water Dragon Setup Costs". I have all of the supplies I use in my Animal Plastics PVC enclosure linked in the description.

[@eSeRh1nO]

What about air circulation air flow do you recommend a fan ???

[@AlexsAgamids]

My enclosures have vents on the sides and back (or my wooden enclosure has front vents) This provides enough cross ventilation. However if you have a fully enclosed setup, definitely add a fan to keep air moving!

[@yoprobro806]

Just curious, how did Ozzy lose part of his tail?

[@AlexsAgamids]

I bought him that way. Typical fresh wild-caught water dragon. Healthy in every way other than the missing tail. He still makes beautiful babies though!

[@DemonBunnyQueen]

Sooo… You should totally start an Etsy. I would totally buy a cage from you

[@AlexsAgamids]

I appreciate the thought! However I don't think there are a lot of people who'd pay $1,300 for an enclosure!

[@DemonBunnyQueen]

@@AlexsAgamids You’d be amazed, serious buyers are. People have smaller pieces of art for that price on there. Some people would pay to start out with everything there and and ready. I’m not sure of the supply and demand of cages on Etsy, but I’m a sucker for personalized art pieces, especially if it’s functional. Just a thought!

[@user-dn9sg5kk4f]

do you have any reasons why you don't set up artificial or real plats in their cages?

[@AlexsAgamids]

I am currently attempting to grow live plants in the enclosure. Otherwise the main reason why I stopped using fake plants is simply because they’re a waste of money, the dragons don’t care if they have plants or not.

[@user-nd7wv7oi9v]

Do you need to take water dragons to the vet for checkups or is it optional

[@AlexsAgamids]

It depends. If you’re unsure on your dragon’s health. A vet visit never hurts!

[@user-nd7wv7oi9v]

@@AlexsAgamids alright, I’m thinking about getting one and just making sure if they need one, a bunch of different internet sources say different things

[@AlexsAgamids]

Best thing to do is to buy from a reputable breeder!

[@user-nd7wv7oi9v]

@@AlexsAgamids yup, I know a guy you can get me a captive bred baby

[@user-nd7wv7oi9v]

@@AlexsAgamids what are some breeders you recommend though?

[@eddiebricks639]

any plans for breeding again?

[@AlexsAgamids]

I had to take 2021 off of breeding due to my college internship. I have hopes to pair them again for 2022, but depending on school work, such plans may be held back. It takes a lot of time to raise babies (especially when I get at least three clutches of eggs a year!)

[@eddiebricks639]

@@AlexsAgamids ya I asked about buying a baby from you last year on ig and i remember you said you were taking a year off. Wasnt sure if you were gona breed some time soon or not. Do you have like a waiting list or something for when you do breed?

[@AlexsAgamids]

At the moment I am slowly allowing people on a waiting list. However, I can’t guarantee that names added to the list now will be able to get a chance at babies from this possible season (I’m not gonna guarantee people getting dragons till I have dragons hatched!) If you want to be added to the waitlist. Shoot me a message in IG (@alexsagamids) or send me an email ([e-mail]) and I can get you on the list with all necessary contact information. Thanks! - Alex

[@TheReptileBarn]

Haha I'm the same hypocrite. I tell everyone don't use glass tanks! Then I raise my babies in glass tanks for the first few months. Just cover all the sides and they do well as long as they're tiny.

[@professorsmith3385]

Aye this awesome! Thank you for sharing!

[@AlexsAgamids]

Glad you liked it!

[@professorsmith3385]

Yessir!