Water Dragon question...

Dark_Angel_x322 · 07-27-03, 07:37 PM

I have had my Water dragon, Joker, since the end of may and he has only shed his tail once. Is this normal or should he be sheding a lot more and his whole body? he was 12" when I got him and he is now only about 13" shouldn't he be growing more? I didn't think anything of it but now as more time has passed I am starting to worry if I am doing something wrong or if something is wrong with him....maybe her.... Please help!

Thanks

andrea88 · 07-27-03, 08:42 PM

They really don't shed their tails that often. I've had my water dragon for almost 2 years now and he's grown from 7.5 inches to 30 inches, but only shed his tail 5 or 6 times.

If you can describe your set-up we can see if there is some humidity or husbandry problems, but don't be worried yet.

Dark_Angel_x322 · 07-27-03, 09:21 PM

Joker is in a 36"lX 18"hX12"d glass tank with a screen top, 24" uvb light, 75watt basking light and nightglow light, a pink medical tub (12"lx5"hx6"d???) with a fountain in it, a little dripper, and a bendable vine thing that I took out for the picture.

the temp usually stays about 75-80 on the cool side and 85-90 by the basking light. Humidity stays above 60% but on average is about 70%.
What do you think? should I worry? Am I hurting my baby?

I am saving up money to build him a larger viv too.

Dark_Angel_x322 · 07-27-03, 09:22 PM

picture didn't work... it worked in the preview tho...

Oh well the pic is on this page...http://www.geocities.com/dark_angel_x322/Jokerpics.html

Dark_Angel_x322 · 07-28-03, 08:58 AM

Anyone have Ideas? I know i really shouldn't worry yet but it is hard since my herps are like my babies and if I am doing something wrong it would make me feel even worse. please let me know.

andrea88 · 07-28-03, 04:18 PM

Everything looks good, your wd looks happy!
You will find that when you move your wd into the larger viv, he/she will grow faster.

Our wd didn't shed for the first 2-3 months when we brought him home, even though he was growing.

As long as Joker is eating well I wouldn't worry at all. They seem to grow in spurts, not at a steady rate. If you haven't already, I would try feeding a pinky/fuzzy once or twice a week in addition to insects.

Have you had a fecal done for parasites yet? Most wd's are wc and have worms. This can affect growth dramatically if you are worried.

Big AL · 08-05-03, 04:28 PM

Everything in the setup looks fine. You didn't mention what and how much you feed him. Do you use a good calcium suppliment?

Dark_Angel_x322 · 08-05-03, 05:42 PM

Well Joker is now shedding 1 leg and his head (started last night) so i am going to guess the rest of his body will follow.

I feed him about 6-10 large gut loaded, vit or calcium dusted crickets a night (i switch off with the vit & cal dusting) and he gets 10 giant calcium dusted mealworms a week. I use Fluker's high calcium cricket feed and Fluker's calcium fortified cricket quencher to gutload with. Does that sound right? I also use Jurassi-cal calcium supplement and Zoo med's reptivite vitamins for dusting. Is there anything I should change? I am trying to get some waxworms as a treat for him and my leo gex but the stores are usually out when i get there...

Oh one more question... is there a way to gutload the mealworms?

Big AL · 08-05-03, 09:14 PM

That sounds the same as I am feeding my guy except I dont use the calcium cricket feed or quencher. I use regular cricket food to gut load and carrots or other veggies for the water. I just dust the crickets. I don't know if you are giving too much calcium and if that could affect growth? Hopefully someone with more experience with these guys can answer that. Im not sure of the age of my guy but I think he is about 8 mos old. I measured him and he is 5" SVL with a 12" tail. He was skinny until about a month ago then he started filling out. Yours looks to me about the same as mine was a couple months ago. Mine sheds about once a month. My enclosure looks similar to yours except without the waterfall. I would say you are on track unless someone thinks you are overdoing the calcium.....
The mealworms eat the food they are packed in so you dont have to do anything but put them in his bowl

andrea88 · 08-06-03, 11:34 AM

I would seriously reccomend adding some whole-prey food items. Feeder insects are ok, but they are not a complete diet which is why you have to supplement.
Try a fuzzy or some feeder minnows, the size of the prey can be selected to the size of your dragon.
Once you are up to feeding small adult mice and 1-2 inch feeder fish, there is no need to worry about supplementing. The dragon will get all it needs from whole prey.
And there is nothing more entertaining (and messy btw) than seing your adult wd grab a f/t mouse by the head and shake it like a dog shakes its toys, this usually severs the neck and the body of the mouse will go flying across the cage. Then your wd will "hunt" down the missing body, LOL :P
(I'm not a sicko btw, you will see when your wd is full grown that they are SO LAZY that any movement is entertaining...)

Dark_Angel_x322 · 08-06-03, 04:03 PM

I think i may try the feeder goldfish next payday as i am completely broke after buying school books & finishing paying for tuition and am not sure how much they cost. also should somewhere like petsmart or petco have pinkies? Oh one more very important question... how long can i keep joker in his 36"x18"x12" tank? he is 13.5 inches now.... Also would a 4'x4'x2' enclosure work for him when he is full grown if he is the only WD? I was planning on a 6'x6'x3' one but that will take longer for me to save for so if the smaller viv will work then i will probably be able to build it a bit sooner.

Thanks for your help!

Oh! you don't think i am giving to much Calicum do you?

drewlowe · 08-06-03, 04:17 PM

I highly recommend rep-cal calcium and herptivitamin over any other brand. (thats me though) and i belive you should mix a 6:1 ratio calcium to herptivitamin 3 times a week. Hope this helps out a bit.

Siretsap · 08-06-03, 04:41 PM

I have 3 water dragons and they grew pretty fast. I always dust their food with vitamin and calcium supplements. I change the uv every 2 to 3 months. I will post pics of their enclosures when I get home. They are now housed in a 6 feet by 3 feet by 3 feet cage. But they do eat much more than 6 crickets a day. You can also try night crawlers (dew worms) they love those and one of my females goes banana's on beetles (mealworm beetles). They also take pinkies when I offer them. I recently tried som tuna, they like it but my leopard geckos and fat tails are really loving it, I think the smell drives them insane and they chomp it down like no tomorrow.

Dark_Angel_x322 · 08-09-03, 12:18 AM

Thanks everyone for their help! I do have a couple more questions tho.

Joker ate his first fishy today! So how often should I give him fish and if I give him fish do I have to give him pinkies? also what is the difference from the calcium i use to the reptical?

Thanks

Big AL · 08-09-03, 01:58 AM

Rep-Cal and Reptical are two different brands so don't confuse them. Rep-Cal has been building a reputation of being the best reptile supliments with many loyal followers. I just switched to it today as a matter of fact. I kept hearing such good things I figured I would give it a try. I was using the Reptical and the Reptivite with no problems. Its just a matter of preference. Next time you run out give it a try and see if you notice a difference. Pinkies or feeder fish once or twice a week is fine. The more variation the better. They will also eat some veggies and fruit too.