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new chinese water dragon

yourmyperfectdisease Sep 09, 2008 09:11 PM

ok i just got a new Chinese Water Dragon, and i'm new to them. have a few simple questions that might make me sound stupid but i just need to make sure i'm on the right page. his name is Houdini, so when he wants to come out he'll jump on my hand climb up my arm then just chill on my shoulder. then when he gets all riled up the only thing that calms him down is putting him in his cage *most of the time he doesn't want to go in* so why does his cage calm him down? now another question what are good things to feed him...he gets 5-6 crickets a day...or well thats how many he eats. but what else can give him? that's all i'm asking now when i get more questions i'll ask....

thanks in advance

Replies (6)

PHFaust Sep 10, 2008 01:41 AM

>>ok i just got a new Chinese Water Dragon, and i'm new to them. have a few simple questions that might make me sound stupid but i just need to make sure i'm on the right page. his name is Houdini, so when he wants to come out he'll jump on my hand climb up my arm then just chill on my shoulder. then when he gets all riled up the only thing that calms him down is putting him in his cage *most of the time he doesn't want to go in* so why does his cage calm him down? now another question what are good things to feed him...he gets 5-6 crickets a day...or well thats how many he eats. but what else can give him? that's all i'm asking now when i get more questions i'll ask....
>>
>>thanks in advance

What I would suggest is when he is chilling, before he gets riled, put him back. This is helpful in the future to condition him that he goes into his cage calm. It will prevent him associating being caged with getting out of hand.

CWD can be offered a wide variety of crix as well as veggie diet, much like iguanas and beardies. Be sure the crix are size appropriate. A nice veggie mix is dark greens, yams, parsnip, squash all chopped to an appropriate size.
-----
Cindy
PHFaust

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yourmyperfectdisease Sep 10, 2008 10:14 AM

during the day he is very calm but at night he has a fascination with one of my windows and is always jumping to that one particular window. but i just dont get why it is that during the day when everything is loud and my 3 year old twin daughters are running around and being normal 3 year olds that he's calm but when they go down for bed he just wants to run and go to that one window and just stare outside. would that mean he wants to get out?

yourmyperfectdisease Sep 10, 2008 10:17 AM

oh something else i forgot to write in the last one. the top of his back is a light brown color and he has blue dots on the top of his head...is this normal?

kinyonga Sep 10, 2008 09:52 PM

The short course on water dragons....
They need a UVB linear/tube light (NOT A COMPACT...they cause eye problems). There should be no glass or plastic between the light and the dragon. Sunlight is the best source of UVB but most people can't put their dragons outside. Exposure to UVB allows the dragon to produce D3 which allows it to use the calcium in its diet.

Most feeder insects have a poor ratio of calcium to phosphorous so I dust the insects before feeding them to the dragon at most feedings with a phos.-free calcium powder.

I also dust twice a month with a vitamin powder that contains a beta carotene source of vitamin A. Beta carotene can not build up in the system like preformed can. Excess preformed vitamin A can prevent the D3 from doing its job and lead to MBD,

Since my dragons don't get sunshine, I dust twice a month with a phos.-free calcium/D3 powder lightly. D3 FROM SUPPLEMENTS can buid up in the system so don't overdo it.

The basking temperatures should be in the high 80's to provide enough heat for proper digestion.

The dragon (depending on its size) can be fed an assortment of insects (crickets, superworms, (once in a while) waxworms, silkworms, etc.). They should be well fed and gutloaded. You can gutload the crickets with an assortment of greens (dandelion, kale, collards, endive, escarole, mustard greens, etc. and veggies (carrots, squash, zucchini, sweet red pepper, sweet potato, celery leaves, etc.)

The dragon can be fed those same greens and veggies as well as a bit of fruit (apple, pear, melon, berries, etc.)

A water container large enough for the dragon to fit into completely but not deep enough that it can drown should be provided too. The water should be changed every day or two.

Hope this helps!
(BTW...I have been keeping/breeding/hatching/raising dragons for over 15 years.

PHFaust Sep 11, 2008 01:00 AM

>>oh something else i forgot to write in the last one. the top of his back is a light brown color and he has blue dots on the top of his head...is this normal?

Post a pic and we can help with that
-----
Cindy
PHFaust

Email Cindy

Land of the Outcasts!

PHFaust Sep 11, 2008 12:59 AM

>>during the day he is very calm but at night he has a fascination with one of my windows and is always jumping to that one particular window. but i just dont get why it is that during the day when everything is loud and my 3 year old twin daughters are running around and being normal 3 year olds that he's calm but when they go down for bed he just wants to run and go to that one window and just stare outside. would that mean he wants to get out?

Actually it is the change of light and the reflection on the glass. I prefer WDs to be in non glass enclosures or where at least 3 of the sides are painted on the inside. I have one quarentine cage designed for this.
-----
Cindy
PHFaust

Email Cindy

Land of the Outcasts!

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