Hydra
Hatchling
Posts: 12
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Post by Hydra on Jan 18, 2005 21:45:09 GMT -5
I have recently purchased a one month old Eastern Water Dragon hatchling and just have a few questions. I have also got a book which was written in the city which I live which tells you how to keep them, and have been doing research on it for a month prior to buying it. At this point, I have it housed in a 20 gallon tank with all the necessary requirements. I am interested to know if anyone else has had any problems with a backing (picture of a landscape stuck to the back). My little dragon goes up on his hind legs an scratches at the landscape and tries to jump into it (there are rocks on it). It is rather tame everywhere else and I am wondering if it is a problem with the picture backing. Concerning feeding: I let a fly in the enclosure and it hunted it down and ate it. Are houseflies OK for them to eat? Or do they carry some sort of parasites? I am feeding it around 8 crickets a day with some watercress, grape, green lettuce leaves, carrot and cat food. Should there be anything else? At the moment, I measured it at 16cm from nose to tail. Is this normal for 1 month? Anyway, it is a nice little forum you have here, and I hope to stay around for a while.  Thanks. |
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Post by DibDip on Jan 19, 2005 6:07:16 GMT -5
There are other members who know more specific details then me, but hey I've managed to raise Schizo without any problems for about a year and a half now so far, so I can try answering some now. Q. At this point, I have it housed in a 20 gallon tank with all the necessary requirements. I am interested to know if anyone else has had any problems with a backing (picture of a landscape stuck to the back). My little dragon goes up on his hind legs an scratches at the landscape and tries to jump into it (there are rocks on it). It is rather tame everywhere else and I am wondering if it is a problem with the picture backing. A. It's possible, but this is honestly the first time I've heard of a backing causing any sort of problem... Maybe you should replace it just for a day with nothing or with a single color background then see if it still does that. Q. Concerning feeding: I let a fly in the enclosure and it hunted it down and ate it. Are houseflies OK for them to eat? Or do they carry some sort of parasites? I am feeding it around 8 crickets a day with some watercress, grape, green lettuce leaves, carrot and cat food. Should there be anything else? A. They're eating a lot for their age.  Well actually, I guess it depends on the cricket sizes and amounts of other foods... Sounds good to me though, except that if it's iceberg lettuce then it's mainly water and not a good source of nutrition. I hear banana is good for them. Q. At the moment, I measured it at 16cm from nose to tail. Is this normal for 1 month? A. Sounds about right considering how large mine was back then, but size does vary a bit. |
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Post by dragosmom on Jan 19, 2005 9:44:00 GMT -5
Snout rubbing is a problem with water dragons. They just don't understand glass! I don't think the backing is any more of a problem than seeing something elsein your room through the glass. They just try to get at it. Most cages for AWD and CWD are three sides wood or melamine with only the front glass. Then you can put vines, paper border, etc. to "hide" the outside world from view a little. My CWD rarely snout rubbed, but if I had had one that did, I would have used tempra paint (water based childrens/craft paint) and paint about a 6" area around the OUTSIDE perimeter of the cage. Use a color that "blends" with your cage decor. If and when you dragon stops the snout rubbing you can easily wash off the painted border and restore your tank to it's former state. Enjoy your dragon!
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Post by MoMmYoF2DrAgOnS on Jan 19, 2005 23:54:24 GMT -5
Dragos mom... You always never fails that you have a wonderful idea that I have not read anywhere else!! the Childrens Paint is WONDERFUL!!!!! I am going to get some of that and see how it works!!
Yet again thanks for one of your wondeful tips!!!
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Hydra
Hatchling
Posts: 12
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Post by Hydra on Jan 20, 2005 1:00:23 GMT -5
Thankyou very much for the replies and suggestions.
DibDip: Yes I tried taking the backing off and that seems to help a bit - but it doesn't look good, and I've read that having the entire vivarium open isn't good for them as they might get frightened. I'm just going to leave it on and see if it gets used to it.
Thanks - i will try the banana.
Dragosmom: I haven't observed any 'snout rubbing' as such clawing. If snout rubbing is as self explanatory as its name, then I haven't seen it. Thanks for the suggestions though.
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Post by Crystal on Jan 20, 2005 9:44:58 GMT -5
They make plastic plants for aquariums that you can hang from the lip of the tank or sometimes stick on with suction cups. You could attach some plastic plants all along the back and sides of the aquarium and your WD would have something to climb on AND would dress up the appearance.
Crystal
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Hydra
Hatchling
Posts: 12
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Post by Hydra on Jan 31, 2005 2:44:04 GMT -5
Thanks a lot for the suggestions, he seems to have stopped doing that now. However, when I go to pick him up he runs around and tries to get out but I think that is just because he wants to get away from my hand. A person at the pet store I bought it from says that they eventually realise they can't get through the glass and it seems to have happened here. Anyway, here's a small picture of him/her, and I have decided it will be called Claw.  (The redness is from the substrate that I am currently using) |
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Post by spike on Jan 31, 2005 4:08:18 GMT -5
Looks like a pretty good looking dragon.
With them... dont feed them banana, its not that it isnt good for them but it can stuck in thier gums and teeth and become all mouldy and be a health danger to them.
Try some bright couloured stuff such as strawberries, pumkin etc.
As i would know, they take a long time to settle down and get used to you. Handle him about 10mins a day and in a month or two he should start to calm down.
Mine are 10 months (but i've only had them for 2) and they are still very skittish.
Good luck with everything else.
Also i think it might be good to add a hide spot. Mine are always in thiers, it may just stop them from stressing when you handle them, knowing that they are out of your view
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Post by dragosmom on Jan 31, 2005 11:25:06 GMT -5
Claw is a beatuiful little Aussie. I'm glad she has decided to stop fighting the glass! If you want to gentle her somewhat, once you catch her, lock your self in the bathroom (or another small room with few places for her to get away from you) and let her "roam" for a half hour or so. Just enough time that she knows you are not going to catch her again and immediately put her back in her viv. Do this a few times and offer her food at the same time. It should help her become accustomed to you and to a limited amount of freedom. Sometimes they will then begin to come willingly to the cage when you come in the rrom in hopes of some "out" time! Good luck!
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Post by spike on Feb 1, 2005 5:25:42 GMT -5
That sounds like a pretty good idea, dragosmom, i might even try it myself |
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Hydra
Hatchling
Posts: 12
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Post by Hydra on Feb 1, 2005 19:54:58 GMT -5
To me, it seems funny that people are posting pictures of their respective pets, and the pets are none the wiser that they have become a centre for discussion...
Spike: The information about the banana was greatly appreciated - I haven't fed him/her that again. Yes, I have been doing my best to handle him/her for 20 minutes per day and the effect isn't noticeable yet but i'm sure it will become evident soon.
About the hiding spot, the object Claw is on in the picture is actually a cave where he/she can go to hide, but he/she doesn't seem to use it too much.
Dragosmom: Another great idea! I was handling Claw in the kitchen where he/she cannot get much grip on the linoleum floor we have but the bathroom seems like a better place.
I'm curious about one thing though - you referred to Claw as a 'her'. Is that just instinct or can you tell that it is a female at that age? I was actually hoping for the opposite gender (I don't intend to become a breeder because I'm not well equipped).
Once again your advice was most helpful.
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Post by dragosmom on Feb 1, 2005 20:09:08 GMT -5
The "she" just came out of thin air! LOL Between my daughter and I we have 3 "she's" and 1 "he" so we call most of them "she". You probably won't know until 16-20 months of age. At least "Claw" is not terribly gender specific. If you decide to let "it" (LOL) run around the bathroom, you can drape a thick bath towel over the edge of the tub and provide even more "running" room. The towel will allow Claw to exit if desired.
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Post by spike on Feb 2, 2005 3:52:16 GMT -5
Hydra, no problem with the banana, a actual herpetologist told me that..
and with the cave, i have exactly the same one in my tank. Coincidence LOL. Does yours use it a lot, mine are barely ever out of it
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Hydra
Hatchling
Posts: 12
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Post by Hydra on Feb 4, 2005 4:07:16 GMT -5
Yeah, that's what I thought - that you'd be used to calling things 'she' instead of 'it' or 'he'. No big deal there, I was just seeing if you knew more about the gender than I did. I also tried your bathroom idea, I thought the floor might be a little cold but Claw seemed to be enjoying it. He/she did try to run up the walls a bit and didn't really want to go in the water. It kept swimming very quickly and hitting is head against the side so I just took him out. Spike: Yes, that's interesting, because that opinion contradicts that of DibDip who posted on this thread and says banana is good for them. Claw seems to like strawberry and carrot the best. Concerning the cave: Actually no, he/she has gone into it about 3 times since I've had him/her. Maybe it just isn't scared of us. He/she used to go behind the potplant that I have in there but now Claw usually hangs around on the branches. I'm actually living in Adelaide, and by your profile I se you're in Melbourne, so that's probably why we have the same cave. In Adelaide there is an abundance of Eastern Water Dragons for sale, the usual price for babies is $50. The place where I go is excellent: www.reptilecenta.com.au. It is huge and there is a great range of items there. They actually keep about 10 of them themselves. (fully grown) |
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Post by spike on Feb 10, 2005 6:29:19 GMT -5
Hydra: With wat dibdip said, i'm sure he/she meant well, and it is good for them if they didnt get it stuck in thier gums. Yes, i havent personally bought anything from the people at www.reptilecenta.com.au, but they have been very helpful with any questions i have asked them I think that the supplier who gets the caves in stock is called WATERWORKS OF CALIFORNIA, i havent seen a website from them or anything, so they must just be local (Australia) Visit these sites: www.animalattraction.com.au (very nice people and very very good prices) www.ultimatereptiles.com.au (these people are... well im pretty sure they are, the main suppliers in Australia) < very competitive prices and i think they are adelaide |
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Thanks.
Well actually, I guess it depends on the cricket sizes and amounts of other foods... Sounds good to me though, except that if it's iceberg lettuce then it's mainly water and not a good source of nutrition. I hear banana is good for them.
