Rust Dragon

* Juvenile
* Baby
* Egg

*Most people mistake **rust dragons** for land lovers and think that water is harmful to their metallic scales. While they do feel at home on land, **rust dragons** are the best swimmers of all of the known dragons! Our wizards still haven't been able to figure out how it is they manage to stay afloat though.*
    —Nogard's description of the **Rust Dragon** in The Book of Dragons
The **Rust Dragon** is a hybrid dragon  of the Water and Metal elements. It's main element is Water.

## Appearance

It is thought that the **rust dragon** would be a silvery, metallic shade if never exposed to water, but due to their love of the water their scales always appear a rusty orange-red.

## Abilities

### Weapons

**Rust dragons** put up an awful fight if removed from the water. Their claws, spikes, powerful horn and teeth are all very dangerous. Additionally, if you are bitten or scratched; tetanus infection is likely, necessitating prompt vaccination.

### Defenses

If threatened, **rust dragons** can escape into the water with surprising speed.

### Other Abilities

**Rust dragons**, despite their high density, are the best swimmers of all dragons. They are slow and clumsy on land, but swift and graceful in the water. It is not yet understood how they can swim so well, being several times denser than water.

### Breath Weapon

**Rust dragons** trap carbon dioxide in bubbles and breathe those out after they inhale oxygen. Those bubbles also contain small amounts of aluminum in a gaseous state, making it poisonous to breathe in those bubbles.

### Weaknesses

**Rust dragons'** metallic skin is often degraded by the water they live in. Their metal spikes may rust off over time as well. They are most vulnerable on land; they are slow-moving outside the water and may not be able to escape into the water in time.

## When in a park

### Breeding

**Rust dragons** can be breed from any dragons with the Water and Metal elements.

### Habitats

**Rust dragons** prefer Paradise or Water habitats but can live in Omnitats and Metal habitats as well.

## Life Cycle

### Birth

In the wild, the eggs of **rust dragons** are laid at the bottom of a pool. The baby **rust dragons** are able to use their mysterious floating magic from birth - as soon as the baby starts to break out of the egg, he/she begins to float! Oftentimes this will result in the eggshell coming right along with the hatching dragon. Once both egg and dragon reach the surface, the hatchling will resume cracking open the egg until he/she is out.

### Infancy

When hatched, **rust dragons** are already rusted, due to their exposure to water while in the egg.

## History

### Origin of Name

**Rust dragons** were named after the color of their scales, which appeared to be like that of corroded metal.

## Notable Dragons

* Corrode (Dalvan the Fifth)
* Rust-Eze (Craeporus vonn Wietsius)

**Primary**
*Water Dragon*

**Hybrids**
*Swamp Dragon* - *Seaweed Dragon* - *Coral Dragon* - *Salamander Dragon* - *Mud Dragon* - *River Dragon* - *Ice Dragon* - *Iceberg Dragon* - *Plasma Dragon* - *Current Dragon* - *Fog Dragon* - *Rain Dragon* - ***Rust Dragon*** - *Quicksilver Dragon* - *Lotus Dragon* - *Shimmer Dragon* - *Abyss Dragon* - *Ooze Dragon*

 **Golden Hybrids**
*Geode Dragon* - *Quicksand Dragon* - *Bubble Dragon* - *Vortex Dragon* - *Conch Dragon* - *Lagoon Dragon* - *Nectar Dragon* - *Trench Dragon*

**Primary**
*Metal Dragon*

**Hybrids**
*Malachite Dragon* - *Ironwood Dragon* - *Brass Dragon* - *Forge Dragon* - *Iron Dragon* - *Scoria Dragon* - *Mine Dragon* - *Steel Dragon* - *Magnetic Dragon* - *Copper Dragon* - ***Rust Dragon*** - *Quicksilver Dragon* - *Chrome Dragon* - *Meteor Dragon* - *Palladium Dragon* - *Radiant Dragon* - *Promethium Dragon* - *Acid Dragon*

 **Golden Hybrids**
*Thorn Dragon* - *Molten Dragon* - *Sulfur Dragon* - *Lodestone Dragon* - *Conch Dragon* - *Verdigris Dragon* - *Mirror Dragon*