My Chinese water Dragon is a color.

Question
I recently bought a Chinese Water Dragon and when I got it it was a brownish, Purplish color and I don't know if this is the right color.  At the pet store it was the same color in the cage.  Also, i have heard many differaqnt ways about feeding it.  Is it 2 crickets/inch of body?  Or, is it 2 crickets every onther day?

Thank you

Answer
Hi Caleb,

The normal colour of a happy and healthy CWD is a nice bright green. They will turn brown if they are cold, ill or under stress. Changing environments is stressful and it would not be surprising for him to turn brown in response to this. It can take a week or more for new reptiles to settle into a new enclosure.  It is rather concerning that he was also brown in the store however. Had he just recently arrived at the store as well? The care given to reptiles in many stores is often quite poor so he may have had insufficient heat. If he looks bright-eyed  and otherwise healthy with normal behaviours like climbing, eating and basking then he should return to normal colour as he becomes accustomed to his new home. Make sure he has a suitable basking temperature of 95 - 100F and a UVB (ultraviolet B) source as well.

That is the first time I have heard of estimating cricket amounts based on length! That method would give you a more realistic and suitable amount. He needs more then 2 crickets every second day. Try to give him as much variety as you can by including large mealworms, silkworms, feeder roaches and the occasional pinkie mouse as well. It is hard to estimate amounts of insects but whatever he eats in 10 to 15 minutes should be sufficient. You can also leave a few large mealworms in a ceramic dish in the cage.

This is the diet page from Tricia's Water Dragon site which is one of the best sources of info for CWD. I would strongly encourage you to read over the other care aspects from this site as well.
http://www.triciaswaterdragon.com/diet.htm#much

You described it as a Chinese Water dragon but on the remote chance that the store had mis-labelled it I have included a picture of an Australian Brown Water Dragon here.

http://travel.mongabay.com/animals/z8755.html