Reptile & Amphibian Forums

Hey all,

Aragorn is displaying a strange orangish brown color and he's never really shown this color before. Anybody have any ideas, should I be concerned?

Also, I've never seen him go to the water bowl. He usually drinks from water droplets on the leaves and branches when I mist but I've never seen him go in the water. He has a waterfall and a big water bowl with airstones in it. Is it normal for him to not get in the water or really go near it?

Thanks
Kinsey

I think they go to the water on their own terms. Sometimes it takes them a while to discover the water. If you have airstones, they should see it moving. Just make sure to mist often and keep the humidity up and he'll be fine.

What michael said is a good suggestion. Look for signs that they have been in the water, like finding more dirt in there, or even poop in the water. I rarely see my dragons go in the water, but somehow it still gets really dirty while I am gone. Just mist a lot if he likes drinking from the droplets, but if he gets really thirsty he will jump down to the water as long as he knows it is there. You may want to try setting him down in the water next time you put him back in the tank after you take him out for a while, that way he will definately know it is there. Good luck, and let us know how it goes. Oh, and the color, I wouldn't worry about it, unless he becomes inactive or something like that.

Joe

Thanks guys! I actually did put him in the water bowl last night. He sat there for a few minutes and then jumped out and started trying to climb the glass. When that didn't get him anywhere he climbed up the back of the waterfall and has been there ever since. Goofy boy!!! His color looks better this morning, he's lightened up and is back to the green/olive. I'll try to get some new pics this weekend.

Thanks again for the help.
Kinsey

Kinsey,

Actually color change is quite normal and as your dragon gets older he will lose most of the greens and they will be replaced with yellow, gold or rust. The color you need to worry about is if he gets really dark, like a blackish brown. That is a very stressed and ill color. The other colors are related to temperatures, hunger, sleep or activity, etc.

Sounds like you are doing well with him.

Marcia

Thanks Marcia. I think he's doing well. I haven't seen him eat in a day or so but he's active and alert and watches the food when it moves. I'm sure when he gets hungry enough he'll eat. He went to the water bowl on his own today! I was so happy, apparently putting him in it yesterday did the trick. Everyday is a learning experience with him and I'm loving every minute. He has made a fantastic addition to my home.

Thanks again to everyone for your help and patience with me.
Kinsey

Now don't go thinking that you are troubling us by asking questions. Trust me, we all like helping each other out whenever we can, and I definately don't consider it troubling me when you ask. We are all still learning, and probably will be for a long time to come. I am glad your dragon is doing well and you seem to be getting the hang of everything now!

Joe

Hello, I M new here (VERY NEW) and I just got a HMD (at a pet store, I know I was bad, but she is in better care now {I hope}) and I have an appointment for her on Saturday (earliest i could get with the Herp guy)

but U mentioned a black color as being bad

my little guy (who is still getting a name, I nixxed the kids idea of 'mr. horney' so it is either toupe, or mabe arowen) has a black colored tail, the rest of the body was DARK brown and DARK green with black dots when I bought him, but it matched the picture I had found online so I was not worried. the 2nd day in the hab s/he seemed to find the water (I M getting a waterfall today) and burried his head in the water and just drank and drank. THEN she just sat in the water for a few hours (I M not kidding, did not move for over 2 hours)

Since I got her home, her color is MUCH lighter green, not yellow, but a plant green, not a navy green, and there is almost no brown, but the tail is still nearly black

When i got him/her home there was no drinking, and I only saw one cricket go down the throat but I M sure he is eating because his belly is a little bit more plump, and he is pooping (per my daughters observation this am)

Also today my daughter called me at work crying because she thought something HORRIBLE was wrong with him/her, because she had found the Dragon laying on its side in the tank, but it has moved since

sorry to go on and on, but I M hoping that this is gonna be a VERY long term pet, and from what I M reading online, I have a LOT of work ahead of me to just get him/her HEALTHY enough to survive

I need to get some better plants and perches for the environment, and will need a bigger Habitat before too long (all i have now is a 55 gal tank)
and I M in love with the little blighter