Reptile & Amphibian Forums

OK, my dragon is an adult male and he's in healthy shape (weight/length), but he has wrinkly skin almost alwas (about 6 or so tight folds/ridges on either back side) that seem to be caused by hydration. BUT i mist him, and he doesn't seem to get enough that way. I"ve tried offering a bowl. He won't drink from it. I"ve tried using a dripper, (so far) he doesn't drink from it (which is weird becuase when I spray him he drinks from the screen as it's dripping)

The only way I get him to drink well is by putting him in a seperate tub of water. BUT how often should I do this if I hydrate him like this?

Is there any other clever way you all have gotten yours to drink?

give him a shallow bowl he can soak himself in and are you sure he isnt drinking from the bowl i thought that mine for the longest time but one time i saw him at night he may just do it when no one is around. Just food for thought
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Tom
1.2.0 Leopard Gecko (dot, spot, leo)
0.0.1 California King Snake (booboo)
0.1.0 Sulcata Tortoise (tank)
0.0.2 Russian Tortoise (tito and lulu)
0.0.2 Red Ear Sliders (bernie and ernie)
0.0.3 Painted Turtles (larry, curly and moe)
1.0.0 Bearded Dragon (marshmellow)
0.0.1 Savannah Monitor (beef)
1.0.0 Peachfront Conure (kermit)
0.1.0 Australian Shepheard (layla)
2.1.0 Crazy Cats (babe, sabastian, tinkerbell)
0.1.0 Lion Head Rabbit (daisy)
0.1.0 Ferret (jordan)
0.2.0 Guinea Pigs (lilly and petunia)
0.0.1 White Tree Frog (dumpy jr.)
0.0.2 Fire Belly Newts (spork and blaze)
0.0.1 Fire Belly Toad (ferdinan)
0.0.1 Red Spotted Newt ( red)
0.0.2 Bull Frogs (goliath and tubby)
0.0.1 Rainbow Ameive (jack)
0.0.1 Spectacled caiman (wilbert)
0.0.3 Green Anoles
1.0.0 Bahama Anole
0.0.1 Long Tail Grass Lizard
Lots Of Fish

If he will only drink when soaking, and he seems to enjoy being in a bath, then give him a bath once or twice a week. A good way to tell if a dragon is dehydrated (hydrated means he is getting enough moisture, dehydrated means he isn't) is pull the skin away from his body and let it go..it should fall back into place right away. If it stays 'pinched' or is slow to smooth out, then he is dehydrated. Wrinkles in skin can just mean its folded because of how he is sitting.

I find the best way to ensure your dragon has all the moisture they need is to make sure their greens are fresh, misted with water and offer soft bodied insect prey, like silkworms and hornworms. Stools should be formed and not runny, but if there is alot of clear liquid, this also indicates a well hydrated dragon.

Pictures of your dragon will also make it easier to see if he is dehydrated. A sudden loss of weight can also make a dragon seem wrinkled as well.
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PHLdyPayne

Yes. Consider that he may be losing weight. I'd get a weight scale and monitor this possibility. I have a sick rescue that was 511 and is now only 440 and his skin is always wrinkled. It seems once their skin expands it won't contract.

Loss of weight can be a sign of many health problems. You should attempt to eliminate each one until all that remains is proper hydration. I never mist my dragons except for babies. I feel it does no good at all and most dragons hate it. I give water with a dropper and make sure their salad sits in a little water and is well misted.

Also remember that in the wild, especially in the desert, drinking can be a life endangering event. Watering holes can be rare and the instinct use extreme caution knowing every meat eating creature in town is near by. coming out of hiding to the dangers edge at the water shore can trap them in between the crocs and tigers feeding grounds. That fear can run deep and they may only drink when nothing else is around and they feel safe. If you give em a bath all the time, they'll feel safe in the bath and will drink there. if you want a more visible example of their instinctive fears, try taking a herp out side or for a drive. they will pick out every bird in the sky, including every plane. and my iguana jaden who loves to ride on the dashboard of my car that i carpeted, almost has a heart attack every time we drive under an overpass

in our animal bathroom (yes, they have 2 bedrooms and a bath in the house) we have a large rain like shower head, and the beardies get a rainshower once a week, first the big ones together then the smaller ones (to prevent fights) i will aim it on their backs and heads like it would happen in the wild, some drink it off their heads, others drink it from the tub surrounding them, they will often poop in the water too, making the cages a bit cleaniner for the next day or so!
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hanging out under heat lights burns up my brain cells!!