New reptile owner

[Dozer]

Hi, I just bought my first reptile, an Australian Water Dragon off a breeder 4 days ago (Its a month old). I expeced him to be a little skitso for a day or so, but its been a few days now and the only thing I get him to eat is a couple of waxmoths a day.
I spoke to the breeder and he said that they've been feeding on waxmoth, kitten food, carrot, pumpkin, mango, flies, and a couple other things.

Im pretty sure they eat more than waxmoths, so I was wondering is this normal? Do they usually take a while to get onto the non living food?

I was going to start handling him/her a bit more in a few more days to get it used to me. but how long can they go for without a proper diet?

[Pooka]

Hi Dozer and welcome to GD, I hope you find all the community and info you need here. Try this site www.icomm.ca/dragon/dragoncr.htm to get some in depth data for your dragons care. Its written for Chinese Water Dragons but Aussies are about the same save for minor humidity and habitat differences. I feed my dragons crickets, silkworms, red worms, waxworms, and the occasional offering of minced grap (they refused that though). Make sure all insects are gutloaded and use a calcium (vitamin d3 free) supplment every other day on all items fed that day, this along with proper UVB lighting will help steer you away from metabolic bone disease (MBD). Best of luck and I'm sure the aussie owners will be by to offer there 2 yen later on.

[dragosmom]

The best thing you can do for the first several weeks is just let him acclimate to his new surroundings. Offer food, change his water and then leave him alone. When you approach him, try not to tower over him. Be lower than him and just talk quietly to him. Good luck.

[Dozer]

Thanks for the welcome!

So are you saying I should probably just not handle him right now, give him another week? coz he seems like hes just getting more and more shy towards me.

As far as the food goes, 1 waxmoth is about all he'll take, and I have to drop that right in front of his face. He isnt gonna move for nothing.

I may just be stressing out for nothing, but...it seems like a baby water dragon should be eating than that per day!!

[dragosmom]

He'll eat more later, but right now he just p*ssed off at all the changes in his life. Just give him a little time to settle in. you might want to put some food items in a glass bowl that he can get into and let him eat as he wishes. Most of the smaller food items can't get out of the glass and if you can position the bowl so that he can't tip it over (like bury it to the lip) then you can tell how much he's eaten by counting the items.

[Dozer]

ok...give him time...but Im so impatient

Thanks for the help we'll see wat happens over the next week or so.

[spike]

I got mine at 11 months, and i am pretty sure the pet shop didnt regulary handle them so they arnt used to humans let alone me. They have calmed down a little bit, but still far from the whole shoulder perch thing.

With the feeding, it is normal for most reptiles not to eat in the first few days. Dragosmom gave some excellent advice and Pooka crushes the back legs of the crickets so they can't jump out of containers. I use cockroaches for thier live food. I have this teflon paste stuff that you paint on the side of a container and the water dragons help themsekves whenever they feel like it. Just always offer fresh greens and start handling him in a couple of days.

I know how you feel, i am pretty impatient too

[Dozer]

Ignoring the fact that im having a few problems with getting my dragon to eat for a sec.....u guys seem to only feed them on gut-loading live food. Do they not take to 'dead' food too well? Live food is very expensve here!
The breeder said the babies were feeding mainly on a specific type of dog food, carrots, banana(which I have learnt not to feed, from this forum [cheers], and flies)

I live in New Zealand, and keeping lizards is fairly rare, so Im sorry about all the 'newbie' questions.

Thanks again, in advance, for the help!

Joe

[Dozer]

handle in a couple of days?
My dragon, Dozer, is still doing the acting dead thing whenever I come close to the inclosure. I just wonder whether that is the reason he still isnt eating properly (because Im changing the food everyday, and the water every two days)

[Pooka]

A vet visit is in order in the first week or two of getting the dragon also to check for any health issues or parasites. If you havn't gotten an exam done yet you might consider getting one. Both of my water dragons had parasites that needed to be treated when I got them.

Also feeding insects is vital to the health of water dragons. Get what feeder insects you can commerically and you may also collect insects in the field from pesticide free areas, although I recommend the commerical ones to avoid the off chance of getting an insect who is poisioned but alive. Try justbugs.com for ideas on what to collect in the field in your area. Best wishes.

[Dozer]

parasites, thats an idea...I wonder if there is any vets around here that can treat water dragons...

thanks

[spike]

Some foods other than live food that can be feed is
Broccoli
Carrots
Squash
Kale
Pumpkin
Mangoes etc.
Just make sure you leave fresh food in thier and he should be alright, that is of course if he doesnt have parasites

With the acting dead thing, they think if they dont move you cant see them and wont touch them. Well thats what i think anyway. But if you do handle them, they will get used to your and know that you are not a threat

[Dozer]

Success!!!

I left this morning leaving behind a food dish with a little bit of premium dog food, 3 wax moths (couldnt get away, as I had made a circle of water around the dish) a load of grated carrot (breeder's suggestion), and two crickets with broken back legs.

When I arrived home, no waxmoths, no crickets, half the carrot, and half the dog food. Excellent! Load off my mind.

Thanks a lot guys for ur help. I will definately be sticking around (this forum) for quite some time, its been a HUGE help.

[spike]

Glad we could help!!

And congratulations... i'm sure your gonna have a very good friend for quite some time now

[Dozer]

Yup Its a good start! I wont be completly happy till I actually see him eating, but Im still pretty happy.