Physignathus cocincinus

Tall arboreal terrarium / paludarium with a large water area (semi-aquatic)

Large species, both arboreal AND semi-aquatic: prioritise height and floor area. Indicative minimum for a single adult ~180 x 90 x 150 cm (bigger is always better). Fit numerous sturdy diagonal branches, a high basking spot, dense foliage (real or artificial) and a large water area. Avoid bare glass: opaque backgrounds/walls and vegetation limit snout rubbing. Only one male per enclosure; males are territorial towards one another.

High humidity typical of humid tropical forest: 60-80 %, with peaks during misting. Mist 1 to 2 times a day and/or install a misting/fogging system. Humidity that is too low promotes dysecdysis (difficult sheds) and respiratory ailments; nevertheless ensure good ventilation to avoid stagnant air and mould.

A substrate that retains moisture and allows light burrowing; a bioactive terrarium (drainage + soil + detritivore fauna + plants) helps stabilise humidity. Avoid sand, fine resinous chips or dusty substrates (risk of impaction and respiratory irritation).

Essential. Heliophilic species: provide quality UVB (T5 HO tube ~6 % / 6-7 %, UVI ~2-3 at the basking spot), replaced every 6-12 months. Insufficient UVB, combined with a calcium deficit, quickly leads to metabolic bone disease (MBD).

Semi-aquatic: provide a large body of water deep enough for the animal to submerge and swim (the ringed tail acts as an oar). The water dragon often drinks, bathes and defecates in the water: keep it spotless (filtration recommended, frequent changes) to avoid skin and digestive infections. Keep the water tempered (~24-28 °C).

Southeast Asia: southern China, Vietnam, Thailand, Laos, Cambodia and Myanmar. Lives along watercourses and ponds in humid tropical forest, often perched on branches overhanging the water.

Carnivore / insectivore — Insects (crickets, roaches, locusts, silkworms), earthworms, whole fish, and occasionally pinkies for adults, sparingly.

Insectivore/carnivore base; only rarely eats vegetation, unlike iguanas. Gut-load the prey beforehand and dust with calcium (with or without D3 depending on UVB); occasional multivitamin supplement. Juveniles fed daily, adults 3-4 times/week. Fatty prey (pinkies, oily fish such as smelt) should remain occasional to avoid excess weight and lipidosis.

Clutch 6–15 eggs/young. Clutch of 6 to 15 eggs (sometimes several clutches per season). Incubation of about 60-75 days at 28-30 °C in moist substrate. Provide a lay box (moist soil/coco) for the gravid female: without a suitable site, high risk of egg retention (dystocia). Females may lay infertile eggs even without a male, which increases calcium requirements.

• Abrasions and infections of the snout/rostrum (snout rubbing against the glass)
• Metabolic bone disease (MBD) from calcium/D3 deficiency or insufficient UVB
• Respiratory infections (inadequate humidity/temperature, stagnant air)
• Egg retention (dystocia) in the female
• Internal parasites and poor general condition, common in wild-caught (WC) individuals