Reptile & Amphibian Forums

I mentioned you 3 specifically because over the past few years I have gathered much good info from you! Nice to see you around again, DG.
This is my 3rd winter of dragon keeping. Once again my dragons have reduced or eliminated their feeding. They appear green and healthy but are inactive and not eating. The only changes to their spring/summer habitat is a 2 hour reduction in lighting (12 hrs instead of 14) and a decrease in day-time temps (80-84 from 84-88) and a decrease in night-time temps (67 from 73). I believe that brumation in AWD is documented but I've never found mention of it in the Asian cousins. Is it something that you have noticed in your tenure as dragon keepers or am I doing something wrong during the winter? Some of the owners on the RZ forum are remarking on similar behavior. This is not a recent photo of my male. He is about the same size but weighs more and shed recently.
Diane

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dianedfisher@yahoo.com

My 3 CWD-Avanyu, Tripod and Drago
Valentino, Veiled Chameleon
Chyam, Nosy Be Panther Chameleon

Hi Diane,
Thanks for the comments about good information! I always hope what I say helps.

You said.."This is my 3rd winter of dragon keeping. Once again my dragons have reduced or eliminated their feeding. They appear green and healthy but are inactive and not eating. The only changes to their spring/summer habitat is a 2 hour reduction in lighting (12 hrs instead of 14) and a decrease in day-time temps (80-84 from 84-88) and a decrease in night-time temps (67 from 73)"...my temperatures drop in the water dragons cages too this time of year, but I don't alter my light schedule. My night time temperatures never go below 68F in the cool weather. They do slow down on the eating for quite a while this time of the year, but they don't go into what I would say was a true brumation....I don't know if the light remaining the same is what is making the difference or not. I have always kept them the same way. Generally, I don't think brumation will hurt them as long as they don't lose any fat and the food doesn't sit in their stomachs.

My uros have always gone into a true brumation even though I do the same with the lights with them. Unlike the dragons (which still eat some food) the uros stop eating completely and only come out of the hides once or twice a month to bask.

I have never lost a water dragon or a uro from this slowing down/brumation...so I guess what I do is okay.

The water dragon in the picture is awesome! He does look like he's a bit on the plump side though....at least compared to mine.

K: Thanks for the reply! Avanyu has been on a healthy diet since that picture was taken and he is now much leaner. He actually moved to a different spot yesterday (for the first time in a week). I have some nice plump crix gutloading today and Sat. AM I will hand feed him if he'll accept them. His mate prefers silkies but I'm out so she'll eat crix as well. My worrisome one will get a nice soak, some hydro-life and liquid calcium but will most likely refuse to eat. She is very small (4 yrs old-20" 150 gr) and every year we go through this until she lays eggs. I'm really afraid I'll loose her this year. She looks terrible. That's why I got male chameleons. Diane
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dianedfisher@yahoo.com

My 3 CWD-Avanyu, Tripod and Drago
Valentino, Veiled Chameleon
Chyam, Nosy Be Panther Chameleon

When did she first lay eggs? How many? Were they good? Did they hatch? How many eggs does she lay? Clutches?

What are you using for supplements? How often? Gutloading? Do you give her greens, veggies and fruit?

Does she bask? Does the male interfere with or prevent her basking or chase her to mate if she tries? Does she try to stay out of his sight? Can she get to the food without him bothering her?

Just trying to figure out what's going on with her.

Have you had a fecal done on her? Have you thought about taking her to the vets?

Wow, I can't believe anyone remembers me, I haven't posted in forever.

I lost both of my girls due to egg binding, one of whom appeared perfectly green and healthy until the day we found her dead. If I get another dragon it will be a male.
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A mans got to do what a mans got to do. A woman has to do what he can't.

Mom to:

1 little boy born 7/19/04
1 little girl born 2/2/06
2 male RES, born 1999
1 male lab mix, born 5/24/03
1 female calico cat, born 6/7/04

K: This female lives alone. I took her to the vet for her first gravid period after going through this same issue. She hadn't been eating (8 weeks) and I had begun force feeding her. She had an exam and ultrasound. She had previously had a fecal and all 3 dragons were treated for parasites. Her fecal material looks great. She had unshelled eggs and laid in 10 days. She usually lays 4 eggs. She soaks in her pool for days and lays 1 egg every few days-usually in the water. She has a lay box but never uses it. She has not been mated. My male lives with another female. My largest female is evil and refuses to leave her alone if they are together so Drago got her own habitat 2 years ago. I use a CE for heat. Ambient temps 84-88, basking area 92. 4 gallon filtered and heated (77) pool. Habitat is 3 levels, the bottom temps run about 67. She has a Mega-Ray internally ballasted MV UVB set-up. Humidity is about 55% and I mist daily with warm water. She is just very small and has great difficulty ovipositing. My larger female is age 3 and has never laid. I just wondered if there was some pattern with CWD, since this is my 3rd year of this &*(^.

DG: Yes, I remember you. I'd love to see an updated pic of that gorgeous little blue-eyed boy. You and Rick Gordon were very helpful to me when I first got Drago and I knew that you had problems with your females as well. I just hate knowing that I might lose her and feel powerless to do anything to help her.
Thanks to both of you for taking the time to post!
Diane
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dianedfisher@yahoo.com

My 3 CWD-Avanyu, Tripod and Drago
Valentino, Veiled Chameleon
Chyam, Nosy Be Panther Chameleon

I am glad I was able to be helpful!

Can you believe my little fellow is going to be three years old this year?

I have a second baby now...a pert little redhead who turns one next month.

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A mans got to do what a mans got to do. A woman has to do what he can't.

Mom to:

1 little boy born 7/19/04
1 little girl born 2/2/06
2 male RES, born 1999
1 male lab mix, born 5/24/03
1 female calico cat, born 6/7/04

What beautiful children! You and your husband are truly blessed. Happy New Year! Diane
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dianedfisher@yahoo.com

My 3 CWD-Avanyu, Tripod and Drago
Valentino, Veiled Chameleon
Chyam, Nosy Be Panther Chameleon

You said..."She usually lays 4 eggs. She soaks in her pool for days and lays 1 egg every few days-usually in the water. She has a lay box but never uses it"...my females alway soak in the water, but its usually after laying fertile eggs, which they always lay in the egglaying box. I've had them lay eggs in the water when they are infertile though. I have never had one do anything other than lay all the eggs at once though.

You said..." She is just very small and has great difficulty ovipositing"...how small compared to the other female?

You said..."I use a CE for heat"...CE?

You said..."She has a Mega-Ray internally ballasted MV UVB set-up"...I have not used MV's. I have always used a regular incandescent light bulb in a ceramic fitting with a metal hood and a Repti-sun 5.0 for my water dragons.

You said..."My larger female is age 3 and has never laid. I just wondered if there was some pattern with CWD, since this is my 3rd year of this &*(^"...some of my female water dragons don't seem to lay infertile clutches...the ones that do have always done it in their third year.

Sorry I don't seem to be of much help with this.

K: TY for at least trying. CE=ceramic emitter
She is fully grown and 20" total. Weight now 150 gr. She got to 200 gr. last year. My other female is 27" and 500 gr.
I guess I'll just keep on doing what I've been doing and see if we can get through another year. diane
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dianedfisher@yahoo.com

My 3 CWD-Avanyu, Tripod and Drago
Valentino, Veiled Chameleon
Chyam, Nosy Be Panther Chameleon

I thought that's what CE stood for...just wanted to be sure.
I hope she will get through it all for you again this year.