ASIAN WATER DRAGONS
These 2 would be MITH (Man in the House) and B&E. They are brothers but look at the differences in appearance. Although MITH didn't chase or harass B&E, B&E (Break and Exit), is trying hard to hide the fact that he is male. The colouring, the black band at the eye, the head crest, and chin colouring are all duller and much more what you would expect in a female. Because B&E is my special little friend, MITH was rehomed shortly after this picture was taken. He was a stunning example of a male, with only the flaw of having lost the end of his tail.
Males can attain a length of 3 feet but don't let that intimidate you, they rarely hit the 2 pound mark and a full 2 feet of their length is tail. They are one of the most gorgeous reptiles, we were blessed with. Though, not usually recommended for beginners. Water dragons can be challenging and my experiences have been both good and bad. B&E is watched over carefully, with the added disabilities, caused here in the house. Fairy Dust I believe is going to be a male...which means housing all three separately. Unless you have an 8 foot structure keeping 2 males in a healthy condition in the same space likely isn't possible.
Tree climbers by nature, hanging out on a limb, quite often above a water source. When threatened they look to the water for cover. Dive in and stay at the bottom. I have seen mine do this in the outside enclosure, being able to stay under for 20 minutes or more. The first 5 times it happened I freaked and dived in after them. There was one other time that I saw this behaviour and that was when my female was dying, and she stayed under for much more time than 20 minutes.
I lost my first full grown male water dragon within 6 weeks of bringing him home. He had escaped on a chilly March night and wasn't recaptured until the next day. Witinin a few days we noticed wheezing and coughing. We took him to the vet who provided a 10 day antibiotic. The antibiotic seemed successful and he bounced back enough that he was chasing the female and mated with her.......2 days later he had a convulsion and died almost immediately.
GIRLFRIEND AND BOYFRIEND ~ R.I.P.
The female died last summer at approximately 8 years of age. I believe it was egg binding.
B&E'S STORY
B&E and MITH were brought home to keep Girlfriend company after she lost her mate. They went into the hexagon as soon as they were brought home. I don't think that MITH ever escaped, but B&E did so a dozen times. I actually got so that I could recognize the sound from another room of him jumping onto the floor. I used a canister filter on this tank and B&E would climb the tubing and wriggle his way out. The first time it happened the cat got him. He was likely about 4 inches snout to vent at the time. The eye area was very damaged, bite marks from head to foot. It took a full 4 to 5 weeks of feeding him by siringe, I used sugar and water, I used pedialite, I used banana baby food. Eventually he did begin to heal and perk up. I used polysporin on the wounds.
The second time he was about 9 months of age, I was away. My husband was working and didn't notice that he was gone. Again, the cat had gotten him, but this time so had the Staffie. He was generally in pretty good health at the time and healed quicker. Nor were the injuries as severe as the first time. I followed the same routine as in the first episode. The dog had bitten through the tail with his incisors. B&E complicated his life by growing 3 tails. All the tails were in healthy shape actually so I left them, one day he got them caught in a rock and damaged it. It was amputated so he only has about 6 inches of tail.
B&E has been the most gentle and cordial lizard I have ever seen. My other males were pretty good as well and wouldn't argue with another species over territory and have shared quite well. Unless the other species was the aggressor and then they will defend. The brown basil is also the smallest and began having trouble with her sibling within a few months. The little brown is VERY skittish, B&E is her valium. The 2 have used B&E as their protector since day 2 here. Sleeping with him. Basking on top of him. Girlfriend was of the same mind set as B&E and has gotten along fabulously with room mates.
Health wise B&E needs a close eye kept on him. He does tend to go into unexpected spirals once or twice a year. At which time he needs a week or two of extra care. He doesn't eat many crickets, he has a difficult time getting them. B&E does like the red wigglers and earth worms I bring him in, as well as snails.
Again, I will mention that none of my buddies get anything larger to eat than an earthworm. But I have had some that liked small fish, my little african clawed frogs :(, and snails of every kind. (I have never been able to keep snails in the hexagon or the turtle pond.) Putting in anoles or frogs would not be advisable. But larger slower moving species, especially a wall walker, are more likely to be accepted.
Water dragons are unforgiving of husbandry mistakes. KNOW their needs intimately prior to optaining one. I recommend setting up a running water area. Water is hugely important to these guys. Big enough they can submerge in it. If a light blows on a Bearded Dragon environment I might not worry overly for a day or two. If it happens to a Water Dragon...it is replaced immediately upon seeing it. I want to say that water dragons get a 10 out of 10, but I am going to drop it to a 7 with the complications I have seen here.
I am no husbandry expert...so your next stop should be Click here: Tricia's Chinese Water Dragon, Reptile and Amphibian Care Page (Water Dragon care, Reptile care, Amphibian care)
Fairy Dust may not be appreciating his name...as he is developing his male features the last few weeks. He is no more than 5.5 inches in length, snout to tail and at minimum 1.5 years. Fairy Dust has recently joined the crew in the "Apartment Complex" and is settling nicely. But the prominence of the features developing so quickly also says to me that he is aware that there are other water dragons in the room. I will really make an effort to block his view of both the hexagon and the sanctuary.
B&E in great shape at the moment.
R&R
A word or two about my Australian Water Dragon ~ My Australian is a little over 2 years of age, brought home at about 3-4 months old with a tail already broken. He has been a very healthy guy who was moved out of the hexagon about 5 months ago. This guy is FAT. He is very food aggressive. Became aggressive with cage mates as he matured. Not nearly as laid back as the Asians. Currently, he is living with the veiled chamelion and a basilisk. ~These 3 are doing well together. A wonderful site not to miss is: Click here: agama international water dragonsClick here: :: View topic - Eastern Water Dragons