Water Dragons !!!?

Question

just asking for some enconters w/ water dragons.... i got a young one about 1 month ago! ive held it a few times, but i am still not totally confident with taking it out . its been fairly calm both times ive took him out ?? just asking for stories,adive, tips anything for some insight!...... thanks

Answer 1

Water dragons are great! I had one myself. You can find good care info at http://www.triciaswaterdragon.com/dragoncr.htm. Also, the "2007 Annual Reptiles USA" magazine just had an article about them. Maybe you could find a copy at local pet store or library. WDs are somewhat prone to eye infections and respiratory problems if the conditions aren't right.

I agree with the respose against heat rocks - these are really bad for animals. The animals have to sit on them to get any heat. People think their lizards like them because "they spend all their time sitting on them", when the truth is, it's too cold for them to go anywhere else in the tank! There's nothing to control the temperature, either, so what do you do if the rock is too hot? All they are is an electric cable inside a chunk of plaster. If the plaster gets wet (and dragons need a lot of misting and a large water dish) it conducts electricity. It could short out (no more heat), shock the lizard - or you! I've had this experience and will never use one again! Use a ceramic heat emitter (expensive, but worth it!) or reflector with a high wattage bulb. And make sure you have a good UVB light.

As far as handling them, they can be a little skittish when you first try to pick them up, but will calm down once you have them in your hand. And they usually don't want to let go of you when you want to put them back. If you got yours at a local store, you could go back and ask someone there to show you the proper way to pick them up and hold them.

Answer 2

I saw a Chinese water dragon yesterday when I went to get my son a gecko. He pitched a fit because that was what he wanted instead of the gecko so I went a head and bought him the dragon.
We've only had him or her for a day now and it seems calm enough. We haven't taken it out of it's cage but it eats crickets from my son's hand and doesn't bite him. The Petco guy said they were really calm lizards and were easy to take care of. I hope so, lol. My son named it Azlayn.

To the fellow who said to get a gecko, I plan to get him the gecko later on this week. My son loves lizards and turtles.

Answer 3

I have had 4 water dragons my best one lived to be about 7 she was the best lizard I ever had, it takes a year or so of handling to get them to calm down and then they will sit on your shoulder and go anywhere with you. Mine use to go out with me every where I went (on a leash of course just in case) and if I had to do something I would put her on a perch and she would sit their for hours.

Answer 4

ive also owned a water dragon,he may b calm becoz he is to cold,just watch him when he warms up or he will fly out of ur hands,an u wont have fun catching him!make sure u have somewhere for him to swim an make sure he gets heat everyday,heat rocks r great,an they love crickets!good luck1oh yeah just b careful coz they can bite,it mite not hurt but it will give u a hell of a fright!

Answer 5

i've had two, the first got a resp infection from being near a drafty window. (i didn't know until too late). spent about $1000 on xrays and treatment and she passed away at 2yrs old. my second one died 8 mo ago from old age (stroke) at about 8 yrs old.

keep the cage warm and clean. feed him as much as he wants in one sitting then remove what's left (sometimes they'll eat the leftovers but usually it just makes the cage stink). buy the calcium powder to put on the crickets unless he gets pinkies (the baby mice have plenty of calcium-bones), but don't over-do the pinkies. he needs a variety of foods. eventually i got mine on the canned food at the pet store. he loved the grasshoppers but he was full grown. it makes feeding a little easier. i used to let both of mine run around the apt, they would hide inside my hanging clothes and jump out at me. my girl broke her leg jumping off a shelf, she landed on the edge of a box. the vet set it and she was fine. the more you handle them, the more they will like being handled. never grab them by the tail if they're trying to run away, it'll drop off and give you a fright. i would rub mine under the chin and it would put him to sleep. when you have them out, make sure they stay warm. mine would sit in a potted tree i had near a window and bask. they really have lots of personality and can be funny. if he opens his mouth while being handled, it's a warning, and a bite is sure to follow so make sure your son knows to leave him alone when he does this. (but take the opportunity to look inside his mouth- it should be pink/red with no black. if there's black on the edges of his mouth, he's getting mouthrot from dirty water. if inside his mouth is pale, he's too cold and his circulation is bad). WD's also have a habit of slamming their face against the glass of their cage. the only way i found to stop this was to make a cage lined with taut screening about 1 inch inside the glass. when they bump it, it doesn't damage their face. they can really deform themselves doing this.

good luck and enjoy!

Answer 6

I just read one of your answers please please don't use a heat rock for your reptile they can burn them . the heat isnt regulated same goes for a heating pad under cage very dangerous.the best way is to use recommened heat lamps but not too close use the net get more info please inform yourself too many pets suffer &die this way.

Answer 7

the more you handle it the better