Reptile & Amphibian Forums

My neighbor just moved out and i decided to take her juvenile water dragon, since i have experience with herps, and no one else would take it. The thing is i only have experience in many species of geckos. When i got it, him/her was in bad shape. My nieghbor only had it for 3 weeks, and i was told its previous owner, had 2 and they fought alot. When i looked at her for the first time in my house, it had scars all over, mostly arms. Lots of its toes are broken, front right hand has, only TWO TOES LEFT!! This little guy has a hard time climbing, and i can tell that it has tai paralisis, due to not sheeedin well enugh i guess...THE good thing is that it eats, crickets and mealworms, and is quite active...

BUT i would like to know if u can make its tail better, and i heard that toes grow back for water dragons some times, and how can i help this. Also can u make humid hides for them, right now i only have the humidity at 75% and i was told it shooul be in 90's. Plus do u guys have speacial diets for them and can u tell me them, this one won't take vegies, only took a bite out of a grape and left the rest. I feel pretty sorry for it, i don' want it to die...HELLLPPPPPPPPPP. It a beautiful lizard though. Lardman

1.1.0 blizzard leos
1.2.0 gold dust day geckos
1.1.0 mossy leaftail geckos
1.3.1 gargoyle geckos
1.1.0 Tokays
0.0.1 water dragon
1.0.0 Ball python
0.0.3 hermit crabs

They don't usually eat veggies or fruit, and they don't use hides. Your humidity is probably fine, he also needs a pool of water to soak in, which should help with his shedding problems. Eating is a good sign. His toes will not grow back. I would take him to the vet for a checkup, he may need some antibiotics for those cuts. If any are still healing, neosporin works pretty well, or any antibiotic ointment.
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The tail probably wont grow back either. Its not a big deal though, although they use the tails a lot for balance, as long as its eating and is active, its probably okay. But take a few things into consideration before you get too wrapped up. Although you're dragon may only be a juvinile, it will need a large enclosure very soon, if not already. Something of a 5-6 feet high 4-5 feet wide and 2-3 feet deep. Yea, takes up a lot of room, but can be built pretty cheaply. Also they need UV ighting, and in a tank that large, the flourescnet bulbs wont work.. A powersun or something is recomended. What enclosure is he in right now? If its a glass tank, watch for nose rub, its very common.
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www.mplionhearts.com

Thanks you guys. His cage is 4 feet high, 3 feet long and 3 feet deep. Its just that it has a hard time climbing on branchs.
Thanks anyway. lardman