Northern water dragon (Tropicagama temporalis)

Short answers

Northern water dragon: How big does the enclosure need to be?

120×60×90 cm (height).

Northern water dragon: What temperature does it need?

Daytime 27–34 °C, basking spot 42 °C, at night 20–24 °C.

Northern water dragon: Does it need UVB lighting?

UVB: Essential (UVB 10.0).

Northern water dragon: How long do they live?

Life expectancy: 6–10 years.

Northern water dragon: Is it suitable for beginners?

Rather not – it is considered an intermediate species (difficulty: Intermediate).

Climate

Daytime temperature

27–34 °C

Night temperature

20–24 °C

Basking spot

42 °C

Humidity

50–65 %

UVB

Essential (UVB 10.0)

Enclosure

Minimum size

120×60×90 cm (height)

Substrate

Coco humus and sand, sturdy branches, planting, a water dish

Feeding

Food

House crickets, crickets, roaches, a little fruit

Feeding interval

4×/week

Key facts

Adult size

25–35 cm total length

Life expectancy

6–10 years

Origin

Northern Australia, southern New Guinea

Protection status

Export from Australia is prohibited

Brumation

None

Cohabitation

A pair or 1.2. Two males will not work together — they fight over territory and the warm spot until one is seriously injured or spends its life in a corner. One male with several females, on the other hand, works reliably. What matters is several warm spots and hides so that subordinate animals can get out of the way, and separate feeding as soon as the animals differ in size.

Notes

To be kept more humid than the central Australian species – a monsoon climate with a rainy and a dry season. Very agile and it jumps a lot; the furnishing has to be built solidly.

Do you keep this species?

Add your animal to Reptoria – Reptoria reminds you about feeding and shedding. Add your animal for free →

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Related species

• Oriental garden lizard (Calotes versicolor) – Intermediate
• Spotted butterfly lizard (Leiolepis guttata) – Intermediate
• Painted dragon (Ctenophorus pictus) – Intermediate
• Common flying dragon (Draco volans) – Expert
• Green crested lizard (Bronchocela cristatella) – Intermediate
• Himalayan agama (Paralaudakia himalayana) – Intermediate
• Horsfield's salea (Salea horsfieldii) – Expert
• Kakhien salea (Salea kakhienensis) – Expert

All species in the care wiki →

What you need to start

To keep Northern water dragon (Tropicagama temporalis) you typically need: a suitable enclosure (120×60×90 cm (height)), substrate (Coco humus and sand, sturdy branches, planting, a water dish), a heat source with a thermostat, UVB lighting, thermometer and hygrometer, a water dish and hides. You will find equipment in the Reptoria marketplace.