Leslie Massey
Australian water dragons are a semi-aquatic species of lizard native to eastern Australia and southern New Guinea. They are extremely shy in the wild but can adapt to human presence in suburban areas. As hatchlings, they primarily eat insects and need to eat every day. Prey larger than two-thirds of their head size can block their gut, so it is important to keep them small. As they grow, their diet expands to include small mammals, fish, invertebrates, and vegetation. In captivity, live insects like crickets are recommended as the best diet for this species.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Diet Type | Omnivores |
| Diet | Insects, Meat, Fruits, Vegetables, Small Mammals, Fish, Invertebrates |
| Examples of Insects | Crickets, Ants, Spiders, Caterpillars, Locusts, Cockroaches, Waxworms, Calciworms, Mealworms, Beetle Grubs |
| Examples of Meat | Small Reptiles, Mammals, Fish, Frogs, Crabs, Crayfish, Yabbies, Molluscs, Worms, Eggs |
| Examples of Fruits | Figs, Lilly-Pilly Fruits, Berries |
| Examples of Vegetables | Leafy Greens |
| Feeding Frequency | Hatchlings eat daily |
| Supplements | Every third feed |
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What You'll Learn
Insects
Hatchlings primarily eat insects and need to eat every day. It is important to ensure that their prey is small enough for them to digest, as prey larger than two-thirds of their head size can block their gut. Insects such as crickets and cockroaches should be fed daily to pet Australian water dragons and should be dusted with calcium powder at least three times a week and a multivitamin powder once per week.
In captivity, brown crickets are recommended as the primary food source, as they are very nutritious, easy for the dragon to hunt, widely available, and great value for money. Black crickets and locusts are also good alternatives. Pet owners can occasionally feed their dragons waxworms, calciworms, cockroaches, mealworms, or beetle grubs. However, grubs and worms tend to be quite fatty, so they should only be offered once or twice a week. Mealworms, morio worms, and cockroaches can be difficult to digest, so these are only suitable for mature dragons (18 months or older) and should only be offered once a week.
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Meat
Baby Australian water dragons, or hatchlings, primarily eat meat in the form of insects. They need to eat every day and their prey should be small to avoid blocking their gut. Brown crickets are a good option as they are very nutritious, easy for the dragon to hunt, widely available, and great value for money. Black crickets and locusts are an excellent alternative. Other treats include waxworms, calciworms, cockroaches, mealworms, and beetle grubs. However, grubs and worms tend to be quite fatty so they should only be offered once or twice a week. Mealworms, morio worms, and cockroaches can be difficult to digest, so these are only provided to mature dragons (18 months or older) and only once a week.
Silkworms and giant mealworms (Zophobas morio) are also recommended as this species of mealworm has a soft shell, ensuring it will be dead before reaching the lizard's stomach. It is important to note that feeding insects that are too large can be dangerous for baby Australian water dragons. Therefore, it is recommended to keep the food on the smaller side.
In the wild, Australian water dragons would catch a range of small mammals, fish, and invertebrates. They have been observed ground-feeding on insects such as ants and foraging among the branches of trees for arboreal invertebrates like cicadas. They also eat crabs, crayfish, and occasionally fish and skinks (a type of small lizard).
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Vegetation
As omnivores, baby Australian water dragons can eat both plants and animals. While they are more inclined to eat insects and meat, they can also eat vegetation. In the wild, they forage for food in various places, eating ants from the ground, cicadas from trees, and crabs and crayfish from the water.
Baby water dragons, also known as hatchlings, primarily eat insects. They need to eat every day, and their prey should be small to avoid blocking their gut. Insects such as brown crickets are a good option as they are nutritious, easy for the dragon to hunt, and great value for money. Black crickets and locusts are also suitable alternatives. Waxworms, calciworms, cockroaches, mealworms, and beetle grubs can be given as treats, but these should be limited to once or twice a week as they tend to be quite fatty.
As they grow, Australian water dragons become more omnivorous, and vegetable matter gradually makes up to almost half of their diet. Vegetation that can be consumed includes leafy greens, figs, lilly-pilly fruits, berries, and other fruits and flowers.
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Dietary needs
Baby Australian water dragons, or hatchlings, are primarily insectivores. They need to eat every day, and their diet should consist of small insects such as ants, crickets, and caterpillars. Prey larger than two-thirds of their head size can block their gut, so it is vital to keep them small. Offer supplements about every third feed, and ensure they always have access to fresh drinking water.
As they grow, Australian water dragons become more omnivorous, with vegetable matter gradually making up almost half of their diet. In the wild, they have been observed ground-feeding on insects such as ants and foraging among the branches of trees for arboreal invertebrates like cicadas. They also eat small mammals, fish, and other invertebrates.
In captivity, live insects are the best diet for this species. Brown crickets are very nutritious, fairly easy for the dragon to hunt, widely available, and great value for money. Black crickets and locusts are an excellent alternative. As treats, you could feed waxworms, calciworms, cockroaches, mealworms, or beetle grubs. The grubs and worms tend to be quite fatty, so they should only be offered once or twice a week. Mealworms, morio worms, and cockroaches can be difficult to digest, so these should only be provided to mature dragons (18 months or older).
Australian water dragons require a good temperature gradient. If their tank is too cold, they will not eat, and if it is too warm, they can overheat and die. The ideal temperature is 35 degrees Celsius at the warm end and 25 degrees Celsius or below at the cool end.
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Treats
Baby Australian water dragons, or hatchlings, primarily eat insects. Brown crickets are a nutritious, widely available, and cost-effective option. Black crickets and locusts are also good alternatives. Other treats you can offer include waxworms, calciworms, cockroaches, mealworms, and beetle grubs. However, grubs and worms tend to be quite fatty, so they should only be given once or twice a week. Mealworms, morio worms, and cockroaches can be difficult to digest, so these are only recommended for mature dragons (18 months or older) and only once a week.
As the baby water dragons grow into juveniles, their diet will start to include more fruits and vegetables. Types of vegetation that they consume include figs, lilly-pilly fruits, berries, and other fruits and flowers.
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Frequently asked questions
Baby Australian water dragons, or hatchlings, primarily eat insects. They need to eat every day and prey larger than two-thirds of their head size should be avoided to prevent gut blockage.
Crickets are a nutritious, easy-to-hunt, and affordable option. Black crickets and locusts are a good alternative.
Baby water dragons need to eat every day.
Baby water dragons can also eat leafy greens, but they are usually far more focused on insects and meat.
