Newbie: Eastern Water Dragon

PhilV · Member Joined: Dec 26, 2006 Posts: 23 Location: Jersey, UK

Hi all,

just thought i'd join a community that talks about this sort of stuff but there doiesn't seem to have neem much activity lately, either way hope ur all still about ha ha

2 weeks ago I got myself a EWD and I am very happy, I think my enclosure is fine for now size wise, its 4.5 foot long, 1.5 foot deep and 2.5 foot tall, the Jengo (thats his name...well I hope hes male) is only 2 months old but tbh I dunno, thats just what I was told.

He is veeeeeery shy, whenever I open the doors to the enclosure he hides in his brach or in his little cave or jsut generally runs away, he did allow me to pick him up once tho but generally he just runs away, how easy are they to tame over time? will they be ok to free roam and have o your body like a beardie dragon does?

also atm i only feed hima mixture of crickets and locusts, both small in size, he seems to eat both ok but tbh i havent seem him eat as in seen him actually do it, but they seem to disappear so...i hope hes eating ok, i know they shoulod have some sort of fruit & veg in their diet, what do you recommend? i am currently gut loading the insects with bananas, apples and carrots.

anyway heres some pics (click link to view, size is too big for forum)

here he is on one of his rocks, under heat lamp
http://img401.imageshack.us/my.php?image=15december2006largema9.jpg

and again, behind his log:
http://img401.imageshack.us/my.php?image=16december2006largeph8.jpg

this is the enclosure:
http://img401.imageshack.us/my.php?image=jengotankflashlargeka8.jpg

worleygurl · Posted: Tue Dec 26, 2006 4:56 pm Post subject:

Hi! Great looking dragon you've got there!

I'll admit, I know next to nothing about them BUT for the salad/fruit portion of his diet, check out http://www.iguanaden.org for a list of fruits and vegetables and their nutritional content.

For gutloading insects and worms, I recommend using something like the gutload/superworm bedding from http://www.cricketfood.com Insects and worms need to be gutloaded with more than just fruits and veggies. You can also make your own gutload. There is a recipe at http://www.drgecko.com

Come join us in live chat by clicking the Tegu Chat (IRC) button to the left!

_________________
Kris, Herps they're not just a hobby, they're a way of life!

BrazilianKeeper · Member Joined: Jul 27, 2006 Posts: 15

Hi!
I don't know much about water dragons but maybe the forum in www.kingsnake.com can help you.
The guys here knows it all about tegus, but when I wanted something about bearded dragons I went there and It was very useful.
Good luck!!!!

PhilV · Member Joined: Dec 26, 2006 Posts: 23 Location: Jersey, UK

ah right thanks for the info, I think I had looked there before and not found anything so thought I'd try in the diff section of the forums here for other types of reptiles.

thanks anyway

i'll just do my best with him

TheNero · Valued Member Joined: Sep 28, 2006 Posts: 115

Thats one beautiful enclosure you have there.

PhilV · Member Joined: Dec 26, 2006 Posts: 23 Location: Jersey, UK

actually I have one more question and I find this one very important since my dragon is growing.

how can I go about feeding it calcium? he won't eat any veggies, haven't tried fruit yet and obviously can't sprinkle it on crickets or locusts as it comes right off, does it also work if you feed it to the crickets or locusts first then feed them to the dragon?

and thank you for the enclosure compliment, I like it too, however Jengo is gonna outgrow it quickly since its only 4x2x2 and he really needs height, i'm currently gonna either build or buy one of these tho

http://www.aqua-pac.co.uk/products_vivariums_chameleon.htm

thanks

worleygurl · Posted: Thu Dec 28, 2006 7:02 am Post subject:

Actually, you absolutely can dust your crickets with calcium and vitamins. Leopard Gecko owners have been doing it for years :0) Crickets, locusts, super worms, meal worms, silk worms, horn worms, phoenix worms, etc. all contain calcium as well. It's a good idea to feed many different insects and worms ot your lizard to provide a well rounded diet. You can dust all of the above with your calcium.

Again, he sure is a cutie and I love his cage!
_________________
Kris, Herps they're not just a hobby, they're a way of life!

PhilV · Member Joined: Dec 26, 2006 Posts: 23 Location: Jersey, UK

yeah he is well cool, very happy he came from a good breeder and has no nose rubbing

although I love my vivarium alot too I am moving it soon to a 4ft tall, 4ft wife and 2 ft deep one, its gonna be cool

gonna have water at bottom on a shelf life system so its easy to change voer and clean and shelf torwards the top for basking and another shelf midway for general exploration and stuff, can't wait ha ha

yeah I was gonna dust crickets and locusts but surely the dust just comes right off and then the calcium goes to waste???

PhilV · Member Joined: Dec 26, 2006 Posts: 23 Location: Jersey, UK

update on my EWD:

i tried a technique today and it worked a treat! my EWD an me are gettin on much better now, it takes effort but its worth it, hes also growing well, very happy

he has also almost completed his first shed, u can see in some of the pics his tail is a duller colour, thats the only part left to go.

(btw how do i get my own space in the gallery?)

here are some pics of him from yesterday and him on me lol:

click links to see image:

first water sleep:

free roaming:

on my leg:

on my hand:

Taucher76 · Posted: Sat Jan 13, 2007 5:01 am Post subject:

thats a real nice enclosure...for a very cool herp....

mark

nicolerussell · Posted: Tue Jan 16, 2007 6:52 am Post subject:

did you get him rom agama?
I have two from Bert that still thrive even though they went through a fire recently.
Mine are about 6 years old....if you have any questions fire away

_________________
Yours,
NiColeRuSSell

"I'm gonna do what I should've done in the first place. I'll find her, wherever she is, tie her up, torture her... until she likes me again."
-Spike

PhilV · Member Joined: Dec 26, 2006 Posts: 23 Location: Jersey, UK

no i'm in the UK, got them from a breeder here

hmm i'm just wondering what sex mine is? can u tell from pics or still too young? i think hes like 5 months but i actually don't know the age?

whats best to feed them, etc

any specific thing u may wanna add please do

nicolerussell · Posted: Fri Jan 19, 2007 9:05 pm Post subject:

generally you can tell the sex aftger they reach maturity...I have two males. One looks more feminine but they both have the dark red chests...what about yours?
I feed, pinks, at your dragons age crix, worms, chicken hearts, ..in fact there is a care sheet I wrote a long time ago right
here:
http://redtailboa.net/forums/lizard/27638-australian-water-dragon-physignathus-lesueurrii.html
_________________
Yours,
NiColeRuSSell

"I'm gonna do what I should've done in the first place. I'll find her, wherever she is, tie her up, torture her... until she likes me again."
-Spike

PhilV · Member Joined: Dec 26, 2006 Posts: 23 Location: Jersey, UK

ah I dunno on my dragon yet, hes so young! he seems to be growing a crest though so may turn out to be male? but his chest is still white!

thanks for the care sheet, will defo look into it

my dragon atm eats: Locusts, Crickets, Grated Carrot, Waxworm (as a treat once a week or so) and Mealworms, I have tried other veg but he hardly touches them, I heard they liked fruit so tried that too but hes not that interestedm, i will keep trying though