I have kept/bred/hatched/raised water dragons for over 15 years.



I use a regular household incandescent bulb for a basking bulb. For young dragons, I keep the temperature in the low 80'sF. Their small bodies dehydrate and heat up fast. Adults I keep in the mid to high 80's...or even the low 90'sF. I place the basking light to one side/end of the cage. Appropriate basking temperature allows for good digestion, thus plays a part in nutrient absorption.



I use a Repti-sun 5.0 tube UVB light. There have been health problems caused by the compacts...so I don't recommend them. Exposure to UVB (from UVB tube lights or from the sun) allows the dragon to produce D3 which allows it to use the calcium in its diet.



I have a water container that is big enough for the whole dragon to fit into and put the water only deep enough that when its feet are on the bottom of the container, its head is still able to be out of the water.



I gutload and feed the insects a nutritious diet. Crickets get an assortment of greens (dandelion, collards, mustard greens, endive, escarole, kale, etc.) and veggies (carrots, sweet potatoes, sweet red pepper, squash, zucchini, etc.).



I feed the dragons a "salad" of the same greens and veggies and a little bit of fruit (apple, pear, melon, berries, etc.)...dusted with a phos.-free calcium powder.



I dust the insects before feeding them to the dragon at most feedings with a phos.-free calcium powder. Most feeder insects have a poor ratio of calcium to phos. and this helps make up for it.



I dust twice a month with a vitamin powder that contains a beta carotene source of vitamin A. Beta carotene won't build up in the system like preformed will. Excess preformed vitamin A will prevent the D3 from doing its job and can lead to MBD.



I also dust with a phos.-free calcium/D3 powder twice a month. D3 from supplements can build up in the system though, so don't overdo it.



Calcium, phos., D3 and vitamin A are the main players in bone health and play other important roles in the body too...so its important to have them in balance. You need to look at what you feed your dragon, what you feed the insects and what supplements you use when trying to attain a balance.



Hope this helps!



(BTW..females of 2 or older can lay eggs without being mated, so its important to provide them with a place to lay them.)

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