Reptile & Amphibian Forums

Hi Everyone:
We got a pair of CWD a couple of months ago. They are around 6 months old and both are doing great.
Our only concern is this: every time we pick up the male to handle him, every other day, he "poops" on us. It is like a "projectile," seems like some kind of defense mechanism of something like that. Has anyone confronted this behavior? Is there anything we can do about this?
The female does not do it, it is just the male.
Any advice or input would be greatly appreciated it.
Thanks!

He's just scared, and makeing an attempt to get away. Slowly ease him into a handleing routine, and stick to it. With time he'll be more trusting and stop useing the poop cannon.
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- Mike Fourquet

CLOACA HERPS

Thanks for your answer. I have been handling him inside his cage for a few days before taking him out and his "behavior" has improved. He is quite an active little guy as the female. But, I must admit that I was not following a "handling routine" before.
Now, in the last couple of days I have noticed an strange "odor" coming out of their enclosure. I have changed the substrate since them but the odor persists. It is not in the "water pond" but in the "land" side of their cage. To be more precise, it is concentraded in just one corner of the cage. I do not know what it could be causing it and it does worry me. Any advice about this?
Sorry to ask for more advice, but it is my first pair of water dragons, so I do not have too much experience with them. Any comments regarding this matter would be greatly appreciated.
Again, thanks for your attention
Ana

To put my thoughts into your first concern, my juvie did that when she was smaller, she was frightened and your thoughts on it being a defense mechanism are most likely correct. Mine is a female so this isnt just a male trait if thats what you were thinking. Point is, when he does this, do not put him back in the enclosure or put him down, if he does it on you find a way to clean it up while your holding him, or just leave it for the time being, if you put him back this will most likely cause him to keep repeating this because he will "know" this is how to get away.
On the odor concern, what type of substrate are you using by chance? Have you noticed any mold growing? And are they using their pool as their toilet or land area? Should be using their pool but if they are using the land, im sure the odor will seep into the substrate to the point where you would have to change the whole bedding to get rid of the smell and do a thurough cleaning.

Thanks for taking the time to answer and for the info. I will follow your advice. Good to know that females may do too. My two WD are juvis: 4 months old, a male and a female and they are a joy to have around.
About the substrate, I am using ECO-EARTH mixed with sand. I have not noticed any mold growing inside the tank, but one of the hybiscus tree was not doing too good, so yesterday I took it out and did a completed change of the substrate and also cleaned the whole tank again. The smell seems to be gone as of today. Maybe the plant fading away was causing it, I don't know. They are using their pond as their toilet, at least for "number 2", I am not so sure about "number 1".
Again, thanks for your answer and any more "hints" and advice would be greatly appreciated.

I dont really consider 4 months old juvies... but thats just me, im not quite sure at what age they are officially juvies, I should probably look that up. Usually they poop and urinate at the same time. It would be hard to guess that one is male and one is female at that age expecially. Do you have any pics? Unless of course you got them from a well experienced breeder and new what temps they were hatched at.