Adoption Details For Jiaolong!
Name:
Jiaolong
Animal Id:
10435
Date Created:
4/18/2023 11:02:11 PM
Age:
7 Year(s) 9 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
🐉💚 Hi there! I’m Jiaolong — a real-life dragon hoping to warm your heart this holiday season! ❄️🐲✨
My name means “Crocodile Dragon” or “Flood Dragon,” which feels pretty perfect for a magical creature like me! I’m a 7-year-old (almost 8!) male Chinese Water Dragon, and I’ve been safe at the rescue since April 2023, patiently waiting for my forever home to appear like a gift wrapped in winter magic. 🎁🌟
I’m an active, curious guy who loves to stay busy — climbing, swimming, exploring, and surveying my kingdom from a high perch. I bask under warm lights like a little green sunbeam ☀️, stretch across tall branches, and watch the world go by with calm fascination.
To keep me healthy and happy, I’ll need a large, humidity-controlled enclosure (around 80%) with plenty of vertical climbing space. 🌿 Because my delicate dragon scales can be prone to nose rubbing, I’ll thrive best in a thoughtful setup — and the rescue team is more than happy to help you design the perfect cozy habitat! 🏰❄️
💚 A few festive facts about dragons like me:
🦗✨ My love language is food — crickets, worms, and the occasional fishy treat are my holiday favorites.
🌿🎄 I thrive in warm, humid, tropical conditions — more “holiday in the rainforest” than “snowy cabin in the woods.”
☀️❄️ I’m diurnal, meaning I’m bright-eyed and active during the day.
🐉🌟 Chinese Water Dragons can grow up to 3 feet long and live 10–15 years with proper care.
🦴🎁 I’m intelligent, inquisitive, and full of personality — a gentle, watchful dragon who loves a good vantage point.
I’m looking for an experienced, patient keeper — someone who understands that dragons need both space and trust to truly flourish. With the right person, I’ll reveal just how magical and loyal a dragon companion can be. 🐲💚
Could you be the one to give me a warm, loving home for the holidays and beyond? 🕯️✨🐉
💛 If you’d like to make me part of your family, please click the Adoption Application button below — I can’t wait to meet you! 🎁❄️
✨ PLEASE NOTE:
1️⃣🎄 We can only accept applications from interested parties who are in or near San Diego County, California at this time.
2️⃣❄️ We do not ship reptiles 🚫✈️ but may be willing to work with you if you’re able to travel 🚗.
3️⃣🌟 #2 will depend on the animal you’re applying for and is 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 |