Balloon Dragons are so named because they are filled with a gas that makes them almost lighter than air, similar to balloons. However, they are not prone to bursting, as they are covered in tough skin and can deflate themselves if necessary. In addition, they generally are slow moving. They use their gas bladders to float to the tops of trees, where food is more abundant. They can shift their weight from their backs to their fronts, allowing them to reach leaves and fruit.

Dragons are highly-intelligent reptilian creatures that—from a human perspective, at least—appear to live forever. Many different varieties of dragon exist, each with their own unique qualities, habitats, and behavior. Adolescence in dragons is usually marked by the growth of a hatchling’s wings, although not all breeds of dragons grow wings and some breeds have other traits that indicate the beginning of maturation. In Galsreim, dragons and humans coexist peacefully.

Fred Colon is not a very brave dragon, preferring to float away as soon as he senses danger or to make sure stay away in the first place. His highly developed talent for sensing danger makes him a good early warning system for the others. He does go on guard duty with his friend Nobby Nobbs every now and then though, and when he inflates himself to his largest size, few intruders will get past him. He may not be very smart but his intentions are always good.