Question:
how to tame a eastern water dragon (10 points )?
anonymous
2010-04-04 02:47:43 UTC
i have 2 eastern water dragons. i used to hold them alot and try make them friendly but even if i put my hand in there tank they,ll jump away. if anyone one knows any other ways on how to make eastern water dragons frienly or their favourite food let me know for 10 points
Four answers:
Been there: done that - I think!
2010-04-05 11:25:41 UTC
You say, "i used to hold them alot.." but you don't mention how long you've had them and if they are WC, nor their age/size. Are they still settling in? Are they new pets (less than 2 mo.)? Have you given them time to adjust and get to know/trust you?



It isn't always easy to set up two habitats for lizards that require a lot of space, but that is where I'd suggest that you start, especially if they are wild caught and you hope to adjust them to handling.



Animals take cues from other animals near them. If one jumps, then all are instantly alert and poised to flee a predator. Some jump first and "ask questions later" which is a survival mechanism. The odds of accustoming the animals to handling will be lower if they are housed together, and lower still if they are housed together and WC.



It takes time to earn trust. Just go slowly. Talk to them often when you are cleaning/misting/feeding and don't bother them beyond that at first. Soak/bathtub time is a great opportunity to strengthen the trust as the animal is more tolerant to being touched when it can easily flee from you in the water and doesn't feel trapped/chased.



Once the lizard isn't dashing so quickly and is sitting and regarding you from a branch, offer favorite food items with tongs (your large hand is intimidating - envision it from the lizard's side of things and how big it is compared to his head). Start with 12" tongs. Move to 8", then 6" and finally offer the tidbits he can't resist in your fingers. Try to give him time and let him come to you, instead of chasing him in his enclosure (which can lead to stress and insecurity in the habitat).



EASTERN WATER DRAGON:

http://www.agamainternational.com/pages/waterdragon.html

http://www.repticzone.com/caresheets/846.html

Safe plants & enclosure:

http://www.triciaswaterdragon.com/enclosur.htm#Size%20of%20Enclosure



It just takes time and patience. Good luck and enjoy your pets.
virgen
2016-10-04 06:14:59 UTC
Eastern Water Dragon
Winged Wolf
2010-04-04 08:29:40 UTC
Well, top priority before taming is to rehabilitate. Unless you purchased them as CBB, they're probably wild caught--and that means they have internal parasites, they're stressed, and they've been subjected to dehydration and starvation. Check your husbandry carefully, and make sure that absolutely everything is perfect, and get fecal exams done by a vet so they can be wormed. Once they're healthy and are good weight, and growing well, THEN worry about taming. Until then, minimal handling is best--they need less stress. The right heat, humidity, and UVB, and plenty of cover will help them succeed. Remember, most imported reptiles die from the ordeal, often within weeks of reaching their new home, if they even make it there. Many more succumb to parasites in the following year.



There are many guides online for creating salads for water dragons. If your water dragons are hatchlings, they probably won't be interested in salad. Feed them gut-loaded insects no longer than the space between their eyes. Dust them liberally with calcium powder, and once a week, with a good reptile vitamin supplement. Crickets, mealworms, wax worms, butter worms, silk worms, phoenix worms, roach nymps, isopods--these are all acceptable food items. Feed as wide a variety as possible.

Once the dragons are about half grown, they will start to add vegetable matter to their diet. Green iguana or bearded dragon salad recipes are probably the most suitable additions. When I kept these guys, I found that they loved colorful edible flowers, such as dandelions and nasturtiums. Small amounts of fruit such as strawberries will also be appreciated. It may take your dragon a while to begin eating salad--refer to the tips on getting bearded dragons started for advice on convincing a stubborn dragon to eat his veggies. I found mine more receptive if I offered the items on the same tongs I used to feed them animal foods.



At this same time, the dragon will be large enough that you can expand the animal part of its diet as well. They will take large roaches, zophobas worms, and nighcrawlers. They will also eat strips of tilapia fish (fresh is better than frozen), and young mice or rats of appropriate size. Gutload prey when possible, and dust everything with calcium or vitamin powder.



Taming the dragon.

Once it's healthy and growing, the first step is to get the dragon to understand that when you open the cage, good things happen--you're bringing food. Once it is comfortable with that routine, begin offering choice food tidbits on tongs. Eventually, place your hand in the cage while you do so. You can begin to lure the dragon onto your hand using food. When it's comfortable with this, then I would say you can begin handling.

Be patient. Hatchling reptiles are FLIGHTY--they must be, to survive. As they grow older, they automatically become calmer if they have had some exposure to humans. Sometimes it's better to go slow and wait until they're more mature before rushing in to pick them up.



Always approach from the side, and grasp the dragon gently. Coming in from above makes you look like a predator. (Front-opening cages may help with this). You may need to restrain it until it stops wriggling. Once it's relaxed, relax your grip. Be prepared to restrain it again, as dragons can flee explosively when they feel they've had enough. Keep sessions short--long enough that the dragon becomes calm, but not so long that it becomes stressed out and cool due to lower room temps. As the dragon gets more used to the routine, it will be less likely to flee.

Water dragons aren't particularly interested in being handled, and never will be, but they can get used to it. While not as personable or intelligent as green iguanas, they are full of personality (and are also half the size, lol). They grow quickly, and will reach adulthood in 3 years--if you don't have an adult-sized cage already, it's time to start planning. The bigger, the better! These active lizards love height, they love to dig, and they love to swim, so that means plenty of space. Use a plastic cat pan or even a children's wading pool for water, because you'll have to scrub it frequently--as you have probably already noticed, they prefer to eliminate in their water, and that must be cleaned promptly.



Be sure to set up the cage so that no sticks are pointing upward, and a dragon jumping from the highest point will always have a safe landing. Their response to disturbance is to launch themselves downward--usually toward the water. They will continue to do this even when tame if you take them by surprise.
anonymous
2016-03-03 12:31:52 UTC
Watch it on tv. They play episodes all the time, especially thursday!


This content was originally posted on Y! Answers, a Q&A website that shut down in 2021.
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