Reptile & Amphibian Forums

I just bought a frilled dragon from a pet store yesterday. He seems VERY healthy, alert and curious. He is about 8.5 in. snout to tail. They had him there for a few months in a ten gal tank. I bought him a 65 gal.
MY QUESTIONS:
1.His basking spot is 95-100, cooler part is 80. Is this OK?
2.Right now he's on paper towels...in a couple months what should I put him on??? Mulch...sand???
3.Does it need humidity??? Should I spray him???
4.Does Mineral have calcium??? I wasn't sure so i bought calcium also.
5. He ate about 10 crickets in one sitting...OK??(I will feed him every day)
6. Is he old enough for 1-2 day old pinkies?
7. How old are they when they are nine inches?
8. How long will he be able to live in the 65 gal?(I was hoping at least 2 years)
9. Anything else I should know?

I am asking all of these questions b/c the petstore didn't know much about him...they said he was going to be 18 in. as an adult(but i knew they get bigger b/c i've read about them in the past...about 30 in. right?

Also, if any of you are familiar with the 36" esu combo light...answer my question please... It came with a ballast and I have no clue where it is supposed to go...HELP PLEASE!
I am thinking of naming hin sticatto??? What do ya think?It means fasy bouncing and moving in music terms.(I play the cello)
THANKS SO MUCH!!!
John

1.His basking spot is 95-100, cooler part is 80. Is this OK?
-that's pretty good.. could be a bit warmer directly under the light.. up to 110 or so

2.Right now he's on paper towels...in a couple months what should I put him on??? Mulch...sand???
-i use zoomed ecoearth (kept wet and packed down).. it's an excellent substrate and holds the humidity that they need

3.Does it need humidity??? Should I spray him???
-yes you should spray him a couple of times a day. you should have a water dish in the tank that's large enough for him/her to lay in

4.Does Mineral have calcium??? I wasn't sure so i bought calcium also.
- i believe it does.. check the back ingredients

5. He ate about 10 crickets in one sitting...OK??(I will feed him every day)
- that's good if he ate that much right away. let him eat as much as he wants each day.

6. Is he old enough for 1-2 day old pinkies?
- i waited until my frilleds were about 10" before introducing pinkies. you could feed occasional worms (wax worms, meal worms)

7. How old are they when they are nine inches?
-depends on what sex and how well cared for they were. males usually grow faster. i've seen 1 yr olds for sale that were under 12" (probably not well cared for). my male reached 20" within 9 months. my female about 18" in 10 months.

Congradulations on your dragon! It's beautiful. All of your questions have been answered but I can add a little. You have a New Guinea frilled dragon there opposed to an Australian. They are just a bit smaller. But it is a matter of opinion on which are prettier. I have a New Guinea and I really like the pattern they have. As for how old it is, that's anybody's guess. For reference, mine is about 10 months and a little over 15 inches and very well cared for but we're pretty sure it's a female. You can expect a New Guinea to reach about 26" at the end of the first 2 or 3 years. A male can be bigger. They live a long time. Probably 10-15 maybe even 20 years depending on how well you care for them. Yours looks nice and healthy. Yours is at the age where he would probably like to stick to your finger like glue if you hold him straight up. Now mine does that with my wrist. Be prepared to get attached to the little guy. Enjoy!

Mike

YOu should probably move your new frilled dragon onto cypress muclch soon and also he will need to be sprayed to keep the proper humidity you should also have some typpe of water container in there becasue fillys like to swim and or defacate in the water if any other question just reply back
-Brian-