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 #1844735


ViT
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 Advice please?

looking for some basic advice on water dragons. i just got my beardies from a breeder in florida and there doing well. i have had a large tank ive been building and its 7ft tall 3ft long and 3ft deep. its a fair size larger than a phone booth. i was thinking about housing 2 dragons in the same tank? is that enough room/ is that going to be possible? i know some lizards dont care to have cage mates. just looking on any advice and such. any suggestionson lighting and heating, along with wattages? its a large tank and i would rather not have to buy 4 or 5 different bulbs to get the lighting and heating temperatures just right. I know i might have to get 1 or 2 but can do a dimmer switch but any suggestions on what bulbs: UVA/UVB? MVB? Tube lights? etc etc.

basically just any advice from people that have kept these guys for a bit.

PLUS- are there any people on here selling any baby/juve.? i would rather not have to go to a petstore. the last reptile show i was at didnt have any water dragons... go figure...

thanks for any help,
Wayne
08/27/08  10:56pm

 #1844747


Tarkah
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   Message To: ViT   In reference to Message Id: 1844735


 Advice please?

a cage that large would be perfectly fine for two. though two males (like beardies) cannot be kept together.
which is difficult cause you cant tell for sure the sex until they are around 18 inches.

uhmm for lighting in a viv that tall i’d suggest a Megaray. its a MVB mercury vapour bulb. you can buy it here www.reptileuv.com its alot better then the tubes.

i have one and its great. i have the 100watt. but i think 160watt would suit you better. its great cause it provides the uv lighting needs and emits heat. so it’ll help provide that needed heat. it also lasts up to a year or more. so you can just use maybe another basking light for the day, and depending where you living you might get away with having nothing for the night, or having a CHE on a dimmer or w.e for night.

for humidity you could use a human humidifier. theres a post here somewhere with the setup.

Sorry can’t help with the breeders. i live in Canada lol. though there are alot of Wd’s up on classifieds like kijiji and craigslist.

Ashley



08/27/08  11:16pm

 #1844764


4Kitara
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   Message To: Tarkah   In reference to Message Id: 1844747


 Advice please?

I totally agree with Tarkah. Sorry I can’t really help with breeders either, but a couple of our members here may have some babies, Cloud or Lela, just have to see if they post that they do or not.
08/27/08  11:48pm

 #1844779


Mama42
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   Message To: ViT   In reference to Message Id: 1844735


 Advice please?

yknow...if you were to add a foot to the top, you could possibly devide it--upper and lower levels, you could do it that way. but, they should be kept apart until they are sexed properly. two males will not get along. two females, maybe, different sexes maybe...even different have been known to fight. these are pretty much solitary creatures....
08/28/08  12:12am

 #1844819


Dislimbed
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   Message To: ViT   In reference to Message Id: 1844735


 Advice please?

Water dragons get close to 3 feet, so i would consider adding a foot in length..

Just my $O.O2

But if not then that is alot of height.
08/28/08  02:01am

 #1844835


Mama42
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   Message To: Dislimbed   In reference to Message Id: 1844819


 Advice please?

not really. they need a lot of height for their climbing. his viv, being at 7 ft, if he were to add a foot, making it 8’...he could then devide it into 2- 4’ vivs, as some have done this in the past. get my meaning? it gives you 2 vivs and saves space and at the same time saves you from building another complete viv.
08/28/08  03:07am

 #1845211


Tarkah
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   Message To: Mama42   In reference to Message Id: 1844835


 Advice please?

well if you want the best of both worlds you can always make it 6 feet high and 4 feet long. lol

now they have space and height

mama has a nice idea of have two seperate vivs too.

with more than one dragon your gonna need two basking spots too



08/28/08  04:27pm

 #1846030


Cphill58
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   Message To: Tarkah   In reference to Message Id: 1845211


 Advice please?

Hi Vit ...been kinda busy lately... I have tons of info available to you ..and I will dig up some threads from previous posts for you to review ...this is primarily pertaining to the Mecury vapor bulbs ...that I so strongly recommend..... the best value for your money ...and the best name brand available...less expensive than any retailer ....As Tarkah said and I reiterate


Mega Ray far surpasses the quality in manufacturing of these bulbs and offers lower prices. They also have available the Temp gun you seek and will include that with your order ...no extra shipping charges!!

Here ya go and have fun reading ...if you get weary of all the info , feel free to ask a specific question.

mega ray products

Also see this post I created in the bearded dragon forum.... I bought A Mega RAy

CP
08/29/08  11:42am

 #1846163


ViT
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   Message To: Cphill58   In reference to Message Id: 1846030


 Advice please?

hmm. lots of advice. okay lets get started:

i already figured on getting a MVB. they have one at a petstore,but i will most likely get one online. Going by your advice i might just stick with one and let him have the entire tank. it would be difficult to divide the tank into a top and bottom because of the fact i would have to create a shelflike area to hold the lighting. How do you guys do the bottoms of your tanks? i have an entire shower bottom sitting in the base of the tank with about a 6 in gap that i can slide a large rubbermaid in and out to catch and drainage. what do you guys do? i know humidity is a must but that also means water. so i figured drainage would be nice if i wanted to soak it down once in awhile. not to much but a nice "rain". any other ideas? im still looking for someone who has a baby/juve for sale. if anyone knows anyone or any personally. im not looking to buy off a classifieds like kingsnake or craigslist. for some reason i dont really care for those kinds. but if someone sees a really healthy one post the link on here for me. or email it to me.

thanks guys and gals,
keep the info coming.
Wayne
08/29/08  02:09pm

 #1846239


Tarkah
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   Message To: ViT   In reference to Message Id: 1846163


 Advice please?

think of classifieds as rescues ;)

not sure maybe Charly Brown has some juvies left? though it was a while ago they hatched. Someone else had some hatch too. i think...

where abouts do you live?

you can add a shelving and make a false bottom?

or you can make a hole where you can pipe in fog from a humidifier.



08/29/08  03:54pm

 #1846415


Clouddancer22
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   Message To: Tarkah   In reference to Message Id: 1846239


 Advice please?

Ummm, sounds like you got some good advice. Just remember, with 2 dragons you need to be prepared to separate them. Two males rarely will get along. Two females probably (not for sure) will. A male and a female need to be separated at times, or the female will get worn out.

As far as a dimmer goes; MVB is the best route to go but you can’t put it on a dimmer. Better to get a lesser power MVB, and a regular bulb or two that can be put on the dimmer to regulate the heat.,

I have no babies at this time. CB does, but she is in Canada. Lelareed does, and she is in Georgia. (I think?) Best off to pm her.



08/29/08  06:56pm

 #1846718


ViT
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   Message To: Clouddancer22   In reference to Message Id: 1846415


 Advice please?

I live in Maryland. i just had someone fedex overnight two beardies to me from florida and it cost i think $40 for shipping, which isnt bad. i would be willing to pay that if i knew what i was getting. i much rather trust people on here than petstores. half the ones i see in petstores look awful.

But i have also heard its hard to sex water dragons until there much older. is this true? it would be difficult for me to acquire two and know there both females beforehand.

the tank is already basically a false bottom. it has a shower bottom. like i square stand up shower. it fits right into the bottom of the tank and is supported so i have the drain right in the middle and of course since it is a shower it drains into the middle. i am thinking about a fogger using a humidifier, i just cant seem to find a humidifier i could use that would allow me to hook up PVC pipe that well.

Still looking for someone to sell me a CB water dragon or two. two if there sexes are easier to tell. if not im only going to get one so i dont have the problems of needing another cage of this size.... :/

Thanks again,
Wayne
08/30/08  12:02am

 #1846734


Tarkah
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   Message To: ViT   In reference to Message Id: 1846718


 Advice please?

yah beardies are alot easier to guess a sex at at such a younger age. some people are so god at beardies that they can guess it right after hatching.

but like i said before WD’s are harder to sexx when young. they all like the same, and feminine. CB will develop earlier, and WC tend to take longer to develope.
generally you can start telling by around 18"

have any reptile shows near you?



08/30/08  12:39am

 #1846750


Mama42
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   Message To: Tarkah   In reference to Message Id: 1846734


 Advice please?

hey...at least your considering things first before you jump in. so many people just get two, cause they want two! and they dont think of the sexes until its too late. then they have to separate or re-home one of them...very commendable of you!

im not sure if theyre easier to sex being CB or if you still have to wait. i use to think you could heat control their sex, but not sure... 18 inches is the "rule of thumb" on sexing. we can just guess before that. or even after that we could be wrong. lol my WD was a girl, until 25 inches! LOL

just have to get older ones or have an emergency viv ready and waiting.



08/30/08  01:18am

 #1846854


ViT
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   Message To: Mama42   In reference to Message Id: 1846750


 Advice please?

yeah... i want two and i have room for two, but it would be two kept together. so ill just get one and let him have the entire mansion. :) i still need someone to sell me a CB one though. i sent out a few emails to different people and places. hopefully i get a response. i always try to get my reptiles enclosure set up before and i think about things thoroughly... sometimes to much. :/

thanks again. ill keep ya posted on the standings and when/if i get one soon.
Wayne
08/30/08  09:14am

 #1846886


Tarkah
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   Message To: ViT   In reference to Message Id: 1846854


 Advice please?

i know you said you didnt like classifieds but sometimes its easier to find the gender you want lol

maybe you can get a baby and then when you find the sex of it you can get one fro mthe classifieds or somthing.

there was a breeder, Sapphire dragon ranch. if you google it the site is down at the moment but he breeds waterdragons. his name is Mike Spears i think... and if you google it you might be able to find more information on it. again unfortunately the site is down =(



08/30/08  10:02am

 #1846912


Clouddancer22
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   Message To: Tarkah   In reference to Message Id: 1846886


 Advice please?

I have been emailing Mike for about two years now, trying to get a female myself. He usually sends me an email back saying that they don’t have any in stock at this time, lol. The main reason I wanted one of his is not for the stunning colors (but that is a big plus, lol) but for the fact that they are/were multi-generational captive bred - which SO FEW ppl actually appreciate.

If you have followed Saphire Dragons at all, you will note that they were originally located in the path of Katrina, then moved for obvious reasons. This may well be the reason for the emails I got, but I never asked specifically. He does breed other species of lizards I noticed.

CB dragons are generally healthier. First generation CB b/c the parents were well taken care of; multi-generational b/c strong genes have hopefully been passed down. They generally grow larger and have fewer health problems and vet bills along the way - saving you piles of cash and grief. They also tend to have longer lifespans, although that is also a function of the husbandry you provide.

Do it right and just get one. They are solitary creatures anyway and do not desire the company of another. If you plan of breeding eventually, you need another viv anyway or your female will have a very short lifespan. Plus - what about inbreeding, as they would probably be siblings if purchased at the same time.

Sounds like you are doing the right thing, which is awesome! Research, research, research! And setting up the enclosure correctly beforehand. Yay for ppl like you!



08/30/08  10:42am

 #1847136


Tarkah
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   Message To: Clouddancer22   In reference to Message Id: 1846912


 Advice please?

aww bums Cloud. i ws hoping to be able to get a female one day form Mike.

do you still contact him? i’d try calling but long D for me x.x



08/30/08  03:54pm

 #1847617


Cphill58
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   Message To: Tarkah   In reference to Message Id: 1847136


 Advice please?

When it came to humidity I struggled at first ...always hand / manually misting the enclosure...3-4 x a day...or as much as possible due to work schedules. I kept 1/3--1/2 of the floor coverd with coconut husk substrate which I saturated /dampened as needed ...I changed my ventilation to come from the bottom and move upwards ...drilling 1 inch holes at the lower side of the left and right panels....just higher than cricket or critter height. I sealed all other exits / gaps to contain any moisture, it smelled and felt like a rain forest.

Then I found POCOCHUS thread about her humidifier and PVC pipe system ...I purchased a Vicks 5100 series ULTRA SONIC model ...avoiding the warm mist and cool mist units for reasons explained to me.

They are available for 49-69.00 at various pharmacies and drug stores ....some weeks they had what I was looking for and other times they changed inventory. I lucked out and got 1 on ebay for 19.00 + shipping. A good deal for me .

The final product looked like this ...and the misc parts were in expensive.





Heating the 2" ABS/PVC to a warm workable state allowed me to get a perfect fit in the humidifier top...just twist and press to finish the form ...cool rapidly with water...being careful not to over heat and cause damage to the humidifier itself....





here are other examples which I copied from....
Link


Here is a multi event digital programable timer from INTERMATIC HB88RC (20.00) at Home Depot...it has 7 on and 7 off per day ...with intervals as short as 1 minute ...a gem for auto timing the humidifier.






08/31/08  05:56am

 #1847750


ViT
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   Message To: Cphill58   In reference to Message Id: 1847617


 Advice please?

thanks,

ive been looking for a good humidifer with the capability of hooking it into PVC. for some reason none of the places around here really have any... ill check ebay though. i think i am just going to get one dragon. it seems more logical right now. he/she will have more room and it would be easier for stress on them. i have a couple people i emailed from classifieds on here, lllreptile, and kingsnake. got a few emails back that they have some. ill probably finish the tank soon and i will figure out the temps, humidity and such and tell you guys to see what you all think.

RECAP:"

lighting.... get a MVB probably the what 150 or 160 watt?
humidity.... humidity + PVC
tank... large enough/ just gotta put on the sliding doors :P
lizard... gotta email back the breeders
food.... WE havent really talked about this yet. I just ordered lobster roaches online so i can start breeding them into a colony. i have way to much stuff to keep buying boxes of crickets. 5 whites tree frogs take down a box way to fast already. + the addition of two beardies now. a water dragon would kill it quick. Can a water dragon eat lobster roaches? i just got a reply on the beardie forum about how to dust crickets for beardies. is it the same for a water dragon?

anything else you guys think i missed or need to be reminded of before i go to town on building and attaining my new friend?

Thanks again,
Wayne
08/31/08  11:20am

 #1847816


Clouddancer22
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   Message To: ViT   In reference to Message Id: 1847750


 Advice please?

I bought two humidifiers on Ebay a few years ago. One had a design that tended to leak easily, but worked fine. The other one is perfect! And so inexpensive! Like $10 plus $5 shipping! I used flexible tubing that I got at Home Depot. I took the unit in with me and fitted the tubing right to it. No glue, no fuss, simple.

You need to put distilled water in them btw, if you plan on them working for a long time.

Yes, waterdragons eat lobster roaches. They are quite nutritious, if you can handle them being in your house, lol! Ewwww! I also breed crx, supers and mealies. Sometimes I also do silkies. You will want to dust the crx with calcium, no phosphorus, no D3, about every other feeding or so. And vits/mineral about 1-2 x week.
08/31/08  12:23pm

 #1848642


ViT
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   Message To: Clouddancer22   In reference to Message Id: 1847816


 Advice please?

hmm distilled water might be interesting to acquire. im looking on ebay now as i type this also for a good humidifier. i ordered my lobster roaches so they should be here anytime. the roaches wont be in the house. all my lizards and reptiles are kept in my reptile shed/house. i told my parents i would pay for storage and they let me take over there brand new shed they had bought and we insulated for there antique furniture. mwhahaha. it stays cool with an AC unit set on energy saver and 80 degrees. winter will be more interesting. gotta find a good heating unit that wont kill my electric. i figure breeding roaches will help me save more money on crickets. hopefully, i doubt they will have any problems, my treefrogs will eat them without any worries.

Wayne
09/01/08  12:20pm

 #1854177


Cphill58
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   Message To: ViT   In reference to Message Id: 1848642


 Advice please?

Regarding your re cap/ review.....

MVB ...you have choices depending on height and and needs ...100 watt self ballasted will produce 104 F temps at 12"minimum clearance on stone or tile..lower if moved away and still getting great UVB emission at 13-15"

If the basking area is wood @ 12"...the temps will be 94 F...this is what I measured with the temp gun unit.

The 160 watt UVb will require a minimum of 18" clearance to the animal and produce similar results with higher temps closer to the light

remember each light comes with very clear instructions and set up distances so as not to in injure your animal...as noted on the box in my other links.


The supplements ...Pure Calcium carbonate no D-3 ..No Phosphorous..plain and simple..3x a week dust live prey items except mammals if applicable. Fuzzies/ pinkies need not be dusted as they contain bone and hair ...

Link

Vitamin supplements...Proper ratio of 100:10:1 Jurrasivite
Link
dust prey items 1x per week

Look forward to seeing the set up.... and as Cloud Dancer said pool supplies tubing / hoses are great for flexibility for the humidifier...her set up is just great!allows for a more hidden device...I was in a hurry and no one offered the images of that.

Good luck

CP



09/08/08  12:04am

 #1854206


Clouddancer22
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   Message To: Cphill58   In reference to Message Id: 1854177


 Advice please?

I am confused, "distilled water might be interesting to acquire." Lol! They sell it at the grocery store, right next to the drinking water.
09/08/08  12:37am


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