melrick1 Posted April 8, 2009 Report Share Posted April 8, 2009 We are so excited, we are getting two baby (5 week old) water dragons tomorrow! We have all the stuff and a big aquarium so we can have the water for them. I was hoping the experienced reptile keepers could give us a few last minute tips for these guys. I want to do a half water half land landscape but unsure what to use for the land area on dry side of the tank. Maybe bricks covered up? Any advice would be great thanks guys! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
livingart Posted April 8, 2009 Report Share Posted April 8, 2009 when we first set ours up we used gravel behind rocks for the land area smooth river gravel and stones as they move fast if startled they kick the stones everywhere they defecate in the water so a lot of muck gets caught up in the bricks, gravel etc ended up with a divider in tank to seperate land and water bare bottom in water side with internal filter land side was small gravel with larger flat rocks on top and planted with acorus rush and other bog plants only had to clean the sponge in filter once a week Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
melrick1 Posted April 8, 2009 Author Report Share Posted April 8, 2009 interesting, the tank I have is a big aqua1 with curved sides so a divider could be tricky... with the water should I put a heater in to help with humidity? Also with the bog plants they wont eat them and get sick or anything? I think I will go with the aquarium stones and river stones to start with at the moment untill I come ip with something better ay. And put in a big branch for them to climb on. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
livingart Posted April 8, 2009 Report Share Posted April 8, 2009 yes i had the water heated, put a guard on it though didn't eat the plants we used yes and big branch or driftwood make sure it is stable Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
melrick1 Posted April 8, 2009 Author Report Share Posted April 8, 2009 thanks for the help, very helpful as usual livingart! many thanks. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
melrick1 Posted April 9, 2009 Author Report Share Posted April 9, 2009 would they eat fly maggots? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
repto Posted April 9, 2009 Report Share Posted April 9, 2009 would you?You would have to clean them out in bran etc but they will eat anything that moves and will fit in their mouth.I know someone who has fed young beardies on them before. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
livingart Posted April 9, 2009 Report Share Posted April 9, 2009 is that fed young beardies to water dragons or the maggots to beardies? maggots do need cleaning out Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lilmertz Posted April 9, 2009 Report Share Posted April 9, 2009 congrats on the new pets melrick. Can they actually swim? or is it just a small amount of water? how deep? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
melrick1 Posted April 10, 2009 Author Report Share Posted April 10, 2009 got them today cool little guys! havr there tank setup nice just need a heat lamp now, have the heat mat going for them now. Has anyone done there own heat lamp, ie using a desk lamp with a 60w bulb? Or would this not be a good idea? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Aquatopia Posted April 10, 2009 Report Share Posted April 10, 2009 Not a good idea - the purpose of the heat lamp is to provide heat - (thats what the purists say at least) - i was told that ideally a heat lamp (where a light source is used for heat) should be connected to a dimming thermostat (one which gradually reduces and increases the output rather than switching on and off) - if a light is used to do this without such a device, the frequent on and off cycles (where a normal thermostat or dimmerstat is used) for the light would stress the reptiles. theres a make called habistat that make excellent controllers. hope this helps. if you use one of these you could use an infrared lamp for heating - kinda cool. check out this link . . . http://www.eurorep.net/habistat/dimming.htm Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
livingart Posted April 10, 2009 Report Share Posted April 10, 2009 as a stop gap measure you could try a 60 wat red bulb as a heat source splashing water can break it though make sure lizards can't jump onto it Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Aquatopia Posted April 10, 2009 Report Share Posted April 10, 2009 I think we are allowed to post links to the auction site where it is to specifically discuss whether something is the right thing to buy, so here goes - this is the sort of thing you want, along with a lamp holder for it (can also be found on TMe). Some would say a guard but i never used one and had no problems. And then a thermostat too. http://www.trademe.co.nz/Home-living/Pets-animals/Reptiles-turtles/auction-211679936.htm Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
livingart Posted April 10, 2009 Report Share Posted April 10, 2009 if you are heating their water you may not need a heat lamp just a reptile light over a basking spot be careful with using a tank that there is enough ventilation Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Aquatopia Posted April 10, 2009 Report Share Posted April 10, 2009 if you are heating their water you may not need a heat lamp just a reptile light over a basking spot be careful with using a tank that there is enough ventilation good point livingart - aussie water dragons may well be different to what i kept. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
livingart Posted April 10, 2009 Report Share Posted April 10, 2009 what did you keep? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Aquatopia Posted April 10, 2009 Report Share Posted April 10, 2009 yemen chameleon, leopard geckos, beardies, western hognose snakes and rainbow boas. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
livingart Posted April 10, 2009 Report Share Posted April 10, 2009 nice reps Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Aquatopia Posted April 10, 2009 Report Share Posted April 10, 2009 yep - was pretty gutted to get here and realise i couldnt keep most of them. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
livingart Posted April 10, 2009 Report Share Posted April 10, 2009 especially the snakes Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Aquatopia Posted April 10, 2009 Report Share Posted April 10, 2009 yep - the selection of snakes over there was incredible. some of them went for dreadful amounts though - i believe a breeding pair of diamond pythons would have set you back UK3000 pounds (NZ$8000). If you are wondering... http://whozoo.org/AnlifeSS2001/jacqking/JK_DiamondPython.htm But most of them were reasonable - I was also keen on some of the king snakes and milk snakes, especially the pueblan variety;- http://www.applegatereptiles.com/species/campbelli.htm Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
melrick1 Posted April 11, 2009 Author Report Share Posted April 11, 2009 ok livingart so you think that having the water heated (24degrees) would be fine and I have the reptile uv light going over the whole tank. So I should remove the lamp? Im using a 60w bulb as the breeder I got them off said that would be fine but may have missunderstood lol... they are doing well! saw one eat a cricket today and they love their warm watter and hopping in it for a bath. thanks for the input guys, it realy helps when you are new to something. I am going to try get hold of some meal worm for them so I can see how much they are actualy eating. How much should they be eating btw? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Aquatopia Posted April 11, 2009 Report Share Posted April 11, 2009 I personally cant see heated water heating the ambient environment too - but then i dont know the ambient requirements of australian water dragons. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
livingart Posted April 11, 2009 Report Share Posted April 11, 2009 raised 7 like that so far just my opinion Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Aquatopia Posted April 11, 2009 Report Share Posted April 11, 2009 raised 7 like that so far just my opinion As i said, i dont know the ambient requirements of this particular species - do they get in the water to warm up if the outside temp is too cool ? or dont they need warm ambient anyway ? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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