2 new Family members

[insaniac]

@ matty :

Thanks, I appreciate it.

I also hope so, but it's not of great concern to me now coz they're still young. Who knows if they do turn out to be 2 males, I'll just have to save up for two females ? Don't think I'd like to part with either one...

I'll post some more pics tomorrow...

I'll try to get one of them both together this time...

Hope you other guys like them as well !

[matty]

i like the way you think, otherwise i suppose ill have to accept one to help you out:)

[insaniac]

Or, you could get the female and we could sort something out ?

[insaniac]

Sorry, meant females...

[animalfanatic]

Thay look great!

Only after a year or so will you be able to tell between male and female, but none the less stunning animals, enjoy!

P.S. I'm still jealous!

[matty]

A business man:) well lets see in a year

[insaniac]

Thanks animalfanatic, it's good to know my efforts at expansion get appreciated...

I anybody decides to get some in the future, you'll know who to call for advice...

@ matty :

You got it !

[Bushviper]

Just remember that Chinese water dragons are not supposed to change colour unless they are stressed. The colours should be shades of green and brown all the time. If the animal becomes dark then it is too cold or some other stress is taking place.

Make sure they gets lots of UV light (dappled sunshine is great for this) and plenty of good quality calcium (preferably imported stuff). The cage should always be twice the size you currently have .... no matter what you have. Never ever use mesh as they rub their noses to bits on that. I have seen Water dragons in cages of 8 meters long by 5 meters deep with a huge pond. The male lizard had a head the size of a tennis ball.

I hope you can get more so that it is easier to sell off excess once they have been sexed than trying to get a mate if you have two of the same sex.

[insaniac]

Hey B.V.

Thanks for the advice...

These two have never really changed colour, just got the information on a caresheet.

Anyhow...

At the moment I have a nice long UVB light in there as well as 2 big waterbowls and enough heat from lights and pads to keep them toasty warm even at night.

The cage they are in at the moment is big enough for a while, but I'm already building a big ass one for when they grow bigger. I've never, and will never use mesh... It wont be as big as the one you talked about, but I'm aiming for at least 2m x 1m x 1.8m

I'll post some pics of my progress as I get on.

Please explain "dappled" sunshine... ( sorry for my ignorance ) Oh, also could you recommend a good quality calcium supplement please..

[Bushviper]

If you can put them in a cage which is placed outside and the sun comes though a medium which is not glass like shade cloth or soft rubber encased nylon mesh like the kind used to stop carpets from slipping, then the animals get direct sunlight (under a slightly shaded tree) which is better than all the UV light in the world. Once or twice a week will make sure the UV requirements are easily met when coupled with the lights in the terrarium. The cage can be wooden with just a lid which allows the sunlight in and then this can give some shading too. With Shade cloth roofing use the one with the biggest holes in it.

I like the T-Rex calcium products but I am sure there are others as well. A few of the local ones have proven to be as effective as baby powder and I nearly lost some animals on these.

[insaniac]

That's the powder I was thinking of...

The Cage will be standing in my room as around here you really can't leave anything outside thanks to our great judiceal system.

What I want to do is place the cage so the sunlight can come through my open window and have a clip on mesh screen that stops them getting out when I leave the cage open for a bit...

What you think ?

[Bushviper]

Uncontrolled sunlight could be a problem. Possibly just a smaller cage for a few hours over a weekend in the garden where you can watch them will do it. They become tame and should not stress while being moved as long as you use slow deliberate movements when catching or moving them.

[insaniac]

How bout one of those big screen mesh cages for chams ?

[fredsmith]

Will their claws not rip the mesh to shreds?
My uncle's iguana had one of those cages, but it didn't last long...

[insaniac]

I reckon not hey,

The mesh on there is quite strong and they are significantly smaller than the igs...

I could be wrong though...

Anyone ?