Reptile & Amphibian Forums

I have a juvenile water dragon, he's 4" from snout to vent and currently in a 33 gallon tank. I'm using bark chippings for substrate, he has a silk plant, driftwood, a reptile hammock and a plastic water dish longer than him (incl his tail). Lighting, humidity and temps are correct.

I have a tank 5' by 2' by 2' for him when he grows up and I want to make it more natural. I want to make 1/3 of the tank water using a glass partition and the other 2/3 will be bark chippings. How deep should the water part be? I also want to use live plants, does anyone have a list of suitable plants?

He currently shows no interest at all in eating crickets, he only eats super worms dusted with calcium and apple. I have to hand feed him the apple. Any ideas on how I can get him to eat a wider range a foods, and what kind of foods should he be eating?

I know that water dragons can get scared if they are put in a large tank too early, how big should he be before I put him in the big tank?

Sorry about all of the questions.
Thanks Ellie.

first of all your "big" tank isnt going to be big enough, the length is the minimum i would recommend, but these lizards are arboreal and need height, and with your tank only being 2 feet tall it isnt going to provide sufficient height, and the depth of 2 feet isnt either because short tanks can result in the breakage of the tail, when the wd turns fast and smacks its tail against the wall they have been known to lose part of their tails.

Now he probably wont eat the crickets because he probably considers it baby food, your wd is 4" svl he could be eating pinkies/fuzzies, guppies, gold fish, mealworms, grass hoppers, earthworms (mine are really fond of these), and they could also eat silk worms, and thats to just name a few.
As to get him to eat just do whatever way he will eat, basically just do "whatever floats his boat" ya know?

Hope ive help

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CHONG188