After you buy or build an enclosure for your Chinese water dragon, you will need to setup heating and lighting. Heating and lighting are one of the most important setups that you should pay a lot of attention to. In this post, you will find a full lighting setup – ideal temperatures for Chinese water dragons, which light bulbs and UVB % to use, how to attach fixtures and much more.
Chinese water dragon lighting, heating, humidity setup needs
- Light bulbs – light and heat
- UVB – tube or lamp for a UVB source
- Light fixtures for bulbs and a UVB tube
- Temperature measurement – thermometers, IR thermometer etc.
- Devices to control lights and heat – thermostat, timers
- Humidity setup and control – humidifier, mister, hygrometer
What are ideal Chinese water dragon temperatures?
- Ideal background temperatures during the day should reach 81-87 F (27-30.5 Celsius). Anything higher than 90 Fahrenheit (32 C) is too high for the background temperature.
- Chinese water dragons require a basking temperature of 88-95 Fahrenheit (31-35 Celsius).
- Cool spot temperatures (often at the bottom of the tank) should reach 75 to 80 Fahrenheit (24 to 26.6 C).
- Night time temperatures should reach around 75 Fahrenheit (24 Celsius).
Step 1 – UVB lighting for a Chinese water dragon
Chinese water dragons require a UVB source to be able to produce vitamin D3 in their skin and metabolize calcium.
There are 2 options for UVB – a long UVB tube, or a mercury vapor bulb (MVP). MVP bulb is a light bulb that will emit light, heat, UVB. A UVB tube will produce no heat, but will cover the greater area so that your Chinese water dragon can benefit from as much UVB as possible.
Depending on where you want to attach the UVB tube (inside or outside the cage, over the screen), you will need to get a UVB tube that suits your enclosure and water dragon the most.
Ideal UVB % for Chinese water dragons is 6-10%, depending on the size of the tank. If you are going to install the UVB inside the tank, 6% UVB is sufficient. But if you are going to put a UVB source over the metal screen, go for 10%. Never put a UVB over a glass (will block UVB). Metal screen will block around 30-40% of UVB.
The best types of UVB that you can get for your Chinese water dragon are:
- 10% 36″ T8 ReptiSun tube by Zoo Med like this, that will fit into this 36″ hood
- a T8 Tropical UVB tube by Zilla like this
- Mercury vapor bulb – only if a cage is very large and tall and can allow around 15-16 inches (38-41cm) between the bulb and your dragon.
- ReptiSun T5 HO if a tank is extra high (6 feet and more) and there is a large distance from the light to your dragon.
- Compact ReptiSun T5 fluorescent like this
You can also get a compact ReptiSun 5.0 UVB bulb, but UVB tubes are more efficient and cover a bigger area. Compact ReptiSun bulbs are better for smaller baby tanks, but still not the best option.
Mercury vapor bulbs are strong, emit a lot of UVB and heat, so you can get one if the cage is at least 4-5 feet tall. Make sure to also have an area in the tank where your Chinese water dragon can escape from UVB and light (hiding space).
Because MVP bulbs are powerful, your water dragon might choose not to stay under it for long periods of time. If you notice this behavior, connect the MVP to a timer to be on for 5-6 hours a day, and then have a normal basking bulb on instead for the rest of the day. Or, switch to a UVB tube + basking bulb.
If you have an opportunity to take our Chinese water dragon out 3-4 times a week to benefit from natural sunlight for around 7-8 hrs/week, then you might skip using UVB lighting in the tank. Remember, glass blocks out almost all UVB. The strongest sunlight is between 12-3pm.
The best lighting + heating combination is a T8 UVB tube + one to few basking bulbs. Make sure to replace UVB tubes every 6 months, or as often as manufacturer advises. Also, never mix two types of UVB sources in a tank– for example mercury vapor and UVB tube.
Step 2- Setting up lighting and heating for a Chinese water dragon
First of all, you will need to introduce light bulbs into the cage, so that it’s well lit and warm. There are few options to choose from. Most of the tank must be well-lit, because proper lighting promotes healthy activity and appetite.
On top of the basking area, you must use a heat bulb. Near it, please have a UVB tube. You can also use a mercury vapor bulb instead, which produces both UVB, light and heat. However, UVB tubes cover the larger area. Best heat bulbs that you can use for your Chinese water dragon’s light + heat are:
- Halogen
- Incandescent
- Reptile basking light like this (a range between 60-150 watts).
- Other household bulbs
- For any supplemental night time heating, you can add a ceramic heat emitting bulb like this – doesn’t produce any light, only heat. CHE are the best heat source for night time heat. One 50-100 watt bulb is often enough to heat at night.
Depending on the size of the cage and material, you might need to choose one to two 50 to 150 watt bulbs. For an adult cage, make sure to get both 100 and 150 watt bulbs to try at first. Always have a spare bulb at home in case your current one burns out suddenly.
Reaching ideal temperatures will involve trial and error, and cage temperatures will depend on temperatures in your room, type of the cage and more. To begin with, please get few wattage and types of bulbs and experiment. Please do all of this before you bring your Chinese water dragon home or put it in a new cage!
If you have a DIY cage where the top part is made of a metal screen, you will need a higher wattage bulb. That’s because heat will escape much faster in this case. In many DIY cages, you will need multiple light bulbs.
Make sure all the areas are well-lit, with 1 basking spot only. With two or more Chinese water dragons in one cage, create a larger basking area (the tank has to be larger too). If another spot of the tank is not well-lit, use bright but low wattage bulbs. A large UVB tube also produces a lot of light, but almost no heat.
However, make sure there are spots with no lights, and introduce hides so that your Chinese water dragon can escape from UVB & light.
To summarize, you must have 1 basking area with a UVB tube + 1-2 heat & light bulbs. If the basking bulb and UVB lighten the whole cage, skip using more bulbs on the other side. At night, turn off all the lights in a Chinese water dragon’s cage, and only use a ceramic heat emitter for heating if temperatures drop below 75 Fahrenheit (24 Celsius).
Step 3 – Fixtures to connect light bulbs and tubes
To connect bulbs that UVB tube that you get, you need to install them in fixtures and hoods. Depending on the size and on your UVB tube, you will need to choose a specific size hood (hood is often longer than UVB tube). Examples are:
- This ReptiSun 36″ fluorescent tube hood will fit an 36 inch T8 tube
- A 24″ T8 hood like this will fit a 24″ T8 tube – for small tanks
There are different sized hoods, depending on how big your fluorescent tube is. If you would like to save some money, you can also get a general hood that will fit your type of a UVB tube.
- To house a light bulb, you will need a dome fixture like this. There are singular and dual domes, to house 2 bulbs in one hood. This type of a dome fixture is suitable to put on a top screen.
- If you wish to have the lights inside, you need to get a bracket fixture with a ceramic base like this, and screw it inside the tank. Please use a light guard is a bulb is inside the cage.
- Optional – you can also use an adjustable light stand like this – however it fill only fit over smaller tanks that are up to 36″ high.
Step 4 – Setting up devices to measure temperatures in the tank
Measuring temperatures in the tank is crucial, to make sure the cage is not too cold or too hot. To measure temperatures in the tank, you will need:
- Digital thermometer with a probe like this – make sure to place at least 2-3 thermometers in a cage – 1 on a warm, middle and cool sides.
- An infrared handheld thermometer like this – will help measure exact temperatures in various spots of the tank, inside the hides etc.
Please don’t choose stick on or analog or stick on thermometers, as they are extremely inaccurate.
Step 5 – Controlling lighting and temperature in the Chinese water dragon tank
Light and temperature control and automation is very important to keep your dragon healthy and safe. To control lights & temps, you will need: a thermostat and timers.
Thermostat is a device that you will connect your lights to. It has a probe that detects temperature in a tank, and in case of anomalies (you set minimum and maximum temps), it will turn the lights off/turn the fan on/dim the light.
Simpler thermostats will turn the heating device off when it gets too hot, and turn it back on when it gets to normal temperature. There are also dimming and pulse thermostats, which are more expensive. You can find thermostats with a WiFi connectivity, that will enable you to receive live temperature alerts and notifications on your device.
To setup a thermostat such as Inkbird, you need to set ideal temperatures ranges. Then, if you wish, you can connect a fan that will turn on when temperatures get lower than you have set. The fan will turn off when a probe senses ideal temperature again.
You can also connect a heating device, an extra heating bulb (such as ceramic), that will turn on in case temperatures drop lower than ideal. It will then turn off when temperatures become normal again.
Timers will turn your lights and UVB on and off automatically at times that you set. This way, you won’t need to turn them on yourself or forget about lights. Digital timers tend to be the best option. Automation will help create a schedule and a photoperiod. Devices that you can use for automation and control are:
- A thermostat – Various thermostats are available, such as this Inkbird thermostat.
- A timer/reptile center – there are mechanical, digital timers like this. You can also get a reptile center like this – that you can connect devices that are always on, and other that need to turn on and off at specific times.
Creating a temperature gradient in a Chinese water dragon’s tank
Temperature gradient is when there is a hot and cold side in the tank. When your Chinese water dragon wants to warm up – it will go to the warm area, and under a basking bulb. Once it’s warm, or even too warm – it will move to a cool spot to regulate its temperature. Without a gradient, you risk your dragon’s life.
Your Chinese water dragon’s tank must be mainly vertical. Therefore, the most sensible way to create a temperature gradient is to have a hot spot on the top, warm in the middle and cool – on the bottom of the tank.
This way, your Chinese water dragon will be able to move from the top to bottom when getting too hot and other way round. A soaking area is also useful to help your Chinese water dragon cool down.
However, make sure that soaking/swimming water is warm, or it will cause muscle weakening/cramps and your water dragon might drown!
Thermoregulation is crucial for your Chinese water dragon. Make sure to check temperatures in different spots of the tank regularly with a handheld infrared thermometer, on top of main digital thermometers. Many Chinese water dragons get overheated, become stressed and even die.
How long should the lights be on in the Chinese water dragon’s tank?
How long you have lights on and off in the tank is a photoperiod. Because Chinese water dragons are diurnal species, you must imitate these conditions in the tank. You should also create a schedule, where lights turn on and off at the same time every day.
You can have the lights on in a Chinese water dragon’s tank for 11-12 hours. The best thing is to use a timer to have the lights turn on automatically. You can create a schedule for lights to turn on at 8 am and turn off at 8pm, 7am-7pm and so on.
Distance between a Chinese water dragon and lights
- A basking light in a fixture should be 7-9 inches (18-23 cm) away.
- T8 UVB tube – 9-10 inches (23-25 cm) away. If there is a screen between the UVB tube and your dragon, position at 6-7 inches (15-18cm).
- Mercury vapor bulb (for example 100 watts) – around 14-15 inches (35.5-38cm).
- Make sure to always position lights from top, and not sideways – to prevent eye damage.
- With tanks that are extra tall (more than 6 feet), you can use a T5 ReptiSun. If positioning outside the tank – allow around 12 inches (30 cm) away from your Chinese water dragon. And if positioning inside – allow around 17-18 inches (38-46cm).
Please get few bulbs to test the lighting and temperatures. Enclosure temperatures will depend on cage material, insulation, room temperature and bulb wattage.
Chinese water dragon humidity needs
Chinese water dragons require high humidity needs – between 65-75%, peaking to 80-85%. However, make sure not to keep the tank too humid at at all times, or it will cause fungal growth and other infections.
Keeping humidity at high levels is not easy in a Chinese water dragon’s enclosure, but with various methods, it’s very possible. Few of the ways are:
- Having a pond/soaking area with a tub of water on the bottom of the cage (that is a must). Make sure water in it is warm enough (80-85 Fahrenheit, or 26-29 Celsius) to prevent muscle weakening and drowning.
- Using a humidifier like this, that will produce a cool mist in the tank and raise the humidity levels immediately.
- You can also use a programmable misting system like this.
- Spraying the tank and your dragon 1-2 times a day manually, if you don’t have a fogger/misting system.
Incorporating various techniques, as well as covering few sides of the tank if the moisture evaporates too fast, will all help reach and keep ideal moisture levels in the tank.
Thank you for reading this Chinese water dragon lighting setup. If you would like to read a full guide on setting up and keeping humidity levels ideal in your Chinese water dragon’s tank, read this post. You will also learn about humidity problems, and other useful tips.