Vampire dragons are members of the undead. They sustain themselves by drinking the blood of others. It is said that they are only "alive" at night, and seem dead or asleep during the day, as they cannot endure sunlight for long periods of time. Vampire dragons can only reproduce by changing the eggs of other dragons, puncturing the shell with their fangs and injecting venom that kills the baby inside.

Gently Gnawing is known for his care.  Even when he is given an egg to bite, he will study it for the longest time to find the best place to sink in his fangs with the best bet of transforming it into another Vampire.  He measures every step before he takes it, a fact that annoys the dragons who are unlucky enough to walk behind him.  His caution saved his life once.  He and one of his friends went to explore a cave that was, unknown to them, filled with a poisonous gas.  The friend perished because they ran straight in but Gnawing scented the air first and got away with a terrible fever that lasted weeks, but also with his life.