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 #1726925


4Kitara
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 Update on Kitara!!!!

Well, as some of you may remember I got Kitara from Petsmart on 3-7-07. She was 5" STL, as dark as is possible, and soon after developed a RI. Got her treated for the RI and did my best for her. Well today she is soooo much better! She is green most of the time, still turns dark when on the ground too long. We finally built her new viv in February of this year, it is 4ft L x 4ft H x 2ft D. It was actually really easy we used a piece of oak for the floor, 2 x 4’s for the frame, hardboard with a water proof laminate on it for the back and sides, pet screen for the front and top, and 1 x 2’s for the door frame. It cost about $70 dollars for materials and hubby got to buy some new tools so he was happy, lol. We built one for our iggy, Godzilla, too. His is 4ft L x6ft H x 2ft D. I still have alot of stuff I want to do to add more climbing stuff and what-not to both of their vivs, but for now at least they have bigger homes. Also gotta add a bigger pool with a drain plug, filter, heater, and homemade waterfall, eventually,lol. She is still picky as hell too. I have come to the conclusion that she prefers legs movin to worms wiggling. She’ll eat crickets to no end. She ate superworms for 3 weeks and I got tired of getting them in 50 ct containers at the petstore and have half of em missing or dead, so I ordered 250 online. She ate them for another week and has since refused them. So I now have about 200 superworms that she won’t touch, arg. I’ve tried silkworms, butterworms, superworms, mealworms, earthworms, and waxworms, all to no avail. She will eat phoernix worms from time to time but not always. Goes right for the crickets so I thought maybe she likes the legs trying to run from her. So yesterday I ordered her some sow bugs and orange spotted roaches, hopefully she’ll like em. Anyway here are some pics.

Here is a before pic of when I first got her.



Here she is a few months later when she was sick.



Here is a couple crappy pics of her new viv.





Here is a couple of pics of her a few weeks ago.





And here she is now! Is it just me or is she starting to look a lil masculine around the head??????







And here is a pic hubby took of me while I was doing homework, figure it’s about time I posted a pic of myself, LOL.



And here is one of me with one of my brothers, Shawn.





05/06/08  11:20am

 #1726952


Seiryu
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   Message To: 4Kitara   In reference to Message Id: 1726925


 Update on Kitara!!!!

Wow she looks MUCH better.

Just curious though, why suck a tall Viv with nothing to climb on above 1.5 feet or so? Like the top half of the cage is just mesh.

Just a suggestion, but you could build like a second level. Also provides more space. But the size of the enclosure is great. I just suggest doing something with the top half. Maybe taller branches etc.
05/06/08  12:28pm

 #1726985


4Kitara
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   Message To: Seiryu   In reference to Message Id: 1726952


 Update on Kitara!!!!

Oh I intend on putting more branches and have a ramp system with shelves in mind, just haven’t been able to do it yet. Just got through my finals in college for the semester so hopefully I will be able to add more stuff and get the shelves and ramps done. We have a big branch that we are going to screw into a piece of plywood (covering the plywood in carpet first) that I need to disenfect too. Gonna wrap vines around the branches of it too so she’ll have better gripping. For now she likes to climb up and down the mesh and bask on her lower branch.

Oh and I forgot to mention that we switched both of them to MVB’s as well. I can really tell the difference and I feel better knowing that they are getting their uvb rays from a strong source.
05/06/08  01:30pm

 #1727020


Seiryu
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   Message To: 4Kitara   In reference to Message Id: 1726985


 Update on Kitara!!!!

Ah that’s good you are going to do more :). And when I said "suck" was a typo for "such" lol.

Anyways how do the MVB’s do in regards to brightening up the Viv? Think they are better than Flourescent tube UVB bulbs in regards to visible light? I have a 6x5x5 enclosure and use 3 UVB tubes for lighting and it’s decent, but was also looking at MVBs as well.
05/06/08  02:31pm

 #1727057


4Kitara
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   Message To: Seiryu   In reference to Message Id: 1727020


 Update on Kitara!!!!

Actually I’ve been thinking about adding another light on the other side of the viv, kinda pointing down and out, to add extra light. The watt I got is a lil too low for winter tempos to stay up, so I’m gonna have to get a larger watt b4 then. Right now it’s running a lil lower than what I’d like, especially since she prefers the lower branch, which is a few degrees lower. I think it’s the actual branch she prefers and not the temp if you get what I mean. But with summer right around the corner the watt I have will be perfect. But it really doesn’t "light" up the vivs like I’d like. It still seems a lil dark in there to me. But as far as uvbs are concerned I believe that a mvb does put out at a further distance and is beneficial. Oh and also the mvbs have to be facing straight down in order to work properly, so it makes it harder to position them for light. When I do add more climbing stuff to her viv I’m probably gonna put it over her cage instead of inside (don’t want her to get burned) so hopefully I’ll be able to position it over the middle and put a branch under it for basking, and maybe that will add more light, instead of being against a wall on one side.

I really do need to get started with cluttering up their vivs and adding more climbing. Gotta catch up on the hpousework first though, LOL. All I need is some 2x4s, some carpet (cuz I’m gonna carpet it all) and a couple shelf size boards to make the ramps and shelves for both of them. When I do get it all finished I’ll be sure and post pics and more when I finally get their new pools done too.

LOL I’ve learned to read through typos, no worries.
05/06/08  03:06pm

 #1727087


Seiryu
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   Message To: 4Kitara   In reference to Message Id: 1727057


 Update on Kitara!!!!

I used Outdoor carpet for mine. Doesn’t mold and can be in intense rain (obviously not inside my enclosure lol).

I used Poppler wood from Home Depot for the framing and Luan (Sp? it’s basically a flatter wood than plywood).

I coated it all with Polyurethane so it doesn’t rot as well.
05/06/08  03:35pm

 #1727146


Fuzzra
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   Message To: Seiryu   In reference to Message Id: 1727087


 Update on Kitara!!!!

WOW! Kitara looks awesome! You’v done such a great job! The viv is looking really great too.
05/06/08  04:18pm

 #1727417


4Kitara
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   Message To: Fuzzra   In reference to Message Id: 1727146


 Update on Kitara!!!!

Thanks Fuzzra!
05/06/08  08:07pm

 #1727840


TwilightDreamer1979
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   Message To: 4Kitara   In reference to Message Id: 1727417


 Update on Kitara!!!!

4Kitara

You’re right! Your little one is starting to look a little butch *chuckle* Spikes developing already and that eye stripe is VERY dark. Can you get a clear under tail shot? If it is an early developing male I may be able to tell you with the help of a decent pic

Killer as a little boy ...



Also I’ve recently discovered the joys of using rope in a WD tank. It’s easy for them to climb and can help utilise the space you have available.

TD.x.
05/07/08  07:19am

 #1727900


4Kitara
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   Message To: TwilightDreamer1979   In reference to Message Id: 1727840


 Update on Kitara!!!!

Thanks TD! Yeah I keep lookin at "him" thinking man your lookin more and more boyish, LOL!! I’ll try to get a under tail shot sometime today and post it. I think I will check into some rope, good idea. Do you use a thick rope or a couple medium size twisted? Got ideas for both now. I have vines in hers that she uses. But Godzilla is too big for vines to support. I tried to get a pic of her yesterday, she was going down the screen and her tail was looped over her. It was so cute but by the time I got the camera out she had flipped back around.

Seiryu, Yeah I used outdoor carpet for the "substrate" for both vivs. Home Depot has this really pretty blue outdoor carpet, that’s what I plan on using for the ramp/shelf systems. Not sure what wood we are going to use for the shelves yet. The piece of plywood is going to be used for a base for her branch so it can’t tip, and can sit straight up. I’ll try to post pics of the branch later. I might use a thicker wood though just to make it sturdier.
05/07/08  09:15am

 #1727927


Seiryu
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   Message To: 4Kitara   In reference to Message Id: 1727900


 Update on Kitara!!!!

Hah, I am using a blueish/green carpet myself :P.

Just make sure whatever wood you are using doesn’t rot with spraying the enclosure daily. That’s why I Polyurethaned all mine + it helps keep moisture in.

If you do decide to Polyurethane you’d have to do it outside and once you had 2 coats on (recommended for long term use) you’ll have to leave it outside for 7-8 days for it to dry and for the fumes to dissipate.

In regards to rope, any would do that can hold the dragons body up.
05/07/08  09:56am

 #1727962


TwilightDreamer1979
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   Message To: Seiryu   In reference to Message Id: 1727927


 Update on Kitara!!!!

I’ve got massive 4 inch flatweave nylon marina rope (used to tie up and dock ships) *shrugs* Expensive stuff at £15 a metre.



TD.x.
05/07/08  10:42am

 #1728024


4Kitara
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   Message To: TwilightDreamer1979   In reference to Message Id: 1727962


 Update on Kitara!!!!

HeHe...I liked the blue as soon as I saw it. That rope is cool TD, probably a lil bigger than I’d need but it confirms my idea of taking 2-3 strands of medium-thick rope and braiding them together to make a thick sturdy rope.

Oh and I think Kitara may just be starting to eat supers again!! YEAY!!! I put 2 in her bowl Saturday after she gobbled down the last of her crickets (9) and Sunday she ate 1 then Monday she ate 1. Got her more crickets on Monday and she ate 9 Monday and the rest yesterday (8) so I put 3 supers in her bowl after her crickets were gone yesterday. She ate 2 yesterday and the last one today! So I guess if I feed her crickets first then leave a few supers in her bowl, she will slowly eat the 200 suckers that she still has! Roaches and sow bugs should be here Friday so maybe I can get her to eat more of a variety at last!
05/07/08  12:29pm

 #1728176


4Kitara
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   Message To: 4Kitara   In reference to Message Id: 1728024


 Update on Kitara!!!!

Ok so these are crappy pics and two of them I ran through a photoshop and increased the contrast and saturation. Gonna try to get hubby to take the pics while I hold her later on if you need clearer pics, but to me it looks like there are two bumps under her vent that the light seems to move around in the photoshopped pics, but I don’t knoooww...

Here are pics that I did not photo shop.





And here are the pics that I raised the contrast with photoshop.







Soooo what do y’all think?? Do I need to get better pics??
05/07/08  03:12pm

 #1728706


4Kitara
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   Message To: 4Kitara   In reference to Message Id: 1728176


 Update on Kitara!!!!

Bump!!



05/07/08  09:31pm

 #1728968


TwilightDreamer1979
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   Message To: 4Kitara   In reference to Message Id: 1728706


 Update on Kitara!!!!

It is hard to tell cos the pics are fuzzy but I’d say male.

TD.x.
05/08/08  04:57am

 #1729155


Master Of Cold Blood
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   Message To: 4Kitara   In reference to Message Id: 1726925


 Update on Kitara!!!!

Wow that is a big improvement!

I’m so glad you were able to nurse her back to good health and now she’s a beautiful, healthy lady dragon. ^_^

And good job on the viv. =D
05/08/08  10:25am

 #1729188


DragonMyr
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   Message To: 4Kitara   In reference to Message Id: 1728706


 Update on Kitara!!!!

4Kitara, if you’re planning to take more pictures, please check out if your camera has a macro mode (it’s a little flower icon on the controls; you switch it on and off pretty much identically to how you switch the flash on and off). "Flower mode" tells your camera to focus on things at extreme close range and will allow you to get clearer pics. Hopefully this helps. :)

Based on the pictures you posted, I’d guess your water dragon is male because of the size of his pores, so I agree with TwilightDreamer.
05/08/08  11:00am

 #1729218


4Kitara
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   Message To: DragonMyr   In reference to Message Id: 1729188


 Update on Kitara!!!!

Thanks Master of Cold Blood! I am so happy too!

Thanks DragonMyr, I’ll check my camera out right now......Ahaa!!!! It has it! Thank you! I just got this cam for my B-day and haven’t had a chance to really play with it yet, I knew there was something like that on it but just didn’t know where to look. I’ll try to get better pics.
05/08/08  11:51am

 #1729232


4Kitara
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   Message To: 4Kitara   In reference to Message Id: 1729218


 Update on Kitara!!!!

Ok here’s better pics thanks to DragonMyr telling me about macro mode!!









Lookin male to me, LOL!!!
05/08/08  12:16pm

 #1729321


Minya
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   Message To: 4Kitara   In reference to Message Id: 1729232


 Update on Kitara!!!!

what a sweet little man kitara turned out to be!! LOL!!



05/08/08  02:04pm

 #1729398


Cphill58
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   Message To: Minya   In reference to Message Id: 1729321


 Update on Kitara!!!!

Have to rename em ...KITORO!!.....lol
05/08/08  03:38pm

 #1729427


4Kitara
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   Message To: Cphill58   In reference to Message Id: 1729398


 Update on Kitara!!!!

LMAO!!!!! I had actually planned on this, take off the a and you got Kitar!! Guess I’m gonna have to get used to saying him and calling him Kitar, LOL!!!!!!!!!! Oh and no more "Your such a pretty lil girl!" Boy I hope I didn’t give him a complex?!?! ROFLMAO!!!!
05/08/08  04:21pm

 #1729945


4Kitara
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   Message To: 4Kitara   In reference to Message Id: 1729427


 Update on Kitara!!!!

Well her, I mean his roaches came in today. But wouldn’t you know it they showed up AFTER he ate 10 crickets. Needless to say he didn’t try em tonight. So I guess we’ll see tomorrow...
05/08/08  11:39pm

 #1730021


Lelareed4
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   Message To: 4Kitara   In reference to Message Id: 1729945


 Update on Kitara!!!!

He looks great, you have a beautiful dragon.



05/09/08  02:19am

 #1730160


Geezle
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   Message To: Lelareed4   In reference to Message Id: 1730021


 Update on Kitara!!!!

Looks like you’ve got yourself a little boy on your hands!

Your enclosure looks pretty good, and I’m sure it’ll look awesome once you get it all ’cluttered’ up!

There are two things I’m a little curious about though. First of all, are you able to maintain proper humidity with a fully open enclosure like that, or are you constantly spraying? A simple drip or fogger system might not be a bad idea to keep the humidity up.

Second, you said that it’s made out of ’pet screen’...what is that exactly? If it’s like a fiberglass type screen like you might find on a window or screen door watch out for loose crickets in the enclosure...I’ve learned the hard way that crickets can (and will!) chew holes through the fiberglass screen and escape. If the screen is made out of metal, like aluminum, then forget I said anything about it!

Like I said, things are looking good, keep it up!
05/09/08  09:44am

 #1730238


4Kitara
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   Message To: Geezle   In reference to Message Id: 1730160


 Update on Kitara!!!!

Thanks Lelereed!

Thanks Geezle! I do have to spray several times a day to keep the humidity up. Been thinking about getting a humidifier that has settings on it for both vivs and get a timer so they go off every hour or so for a couple minutes. Not sure whether to get a cool humidifier or a warm one though, keep debating it with myself,lol. On one hand a warm humidifier won’t cool the viv down drastically, but would it be too hot to put in the viv with him? I can see the cool one lower temps and he doesn’t like being sprayed with cool water, I always use warm water for spraying now. I have thought too about getting one like Pocochu’s with the perfectly round hole on top and using pvc pipe to run it into both tanks, but would the mist be cold by the time it reached the vivs if I used a warm one? This is what I keep going over and over in my head, if anybody has any input they’d like to put in here, I’d appreciate it,lol. I had a pump in her pool that made a little fountain but it didn’t really help with the overall humidity much. Got to a hassle cuz I had to run the cord through the side of the screen or over the hardboard on top, cleaning that once a day (everytime I changed his water) was a pain cuz I’d have to pull the cord out then thread it back through, just too much for now. When I get their bigger pools with filters I’m sure it won’t be as bad to use.

I got the pet screen at home depot, it’s pet proof screen. If you have dogs or cats that like to claw at the window screens you replace it with this and they can’t tear through it. Figured this was my best bet for lizards with sharp claws. I think it’s made out of plastic, or metal centered coated in plastic. I take the legs off of all the crickets I give her and put them in a bowl that is shaped so that they can’t get out, so no worries there.

On another note, I tried the orange spotted roaches this morning. First I put 3 crickets in his bowl, which he promptly gobbled right down. Then I put 1 roach in there, he grabbed it and started chewing then looked straight at me like "Momma what the heck is this?!?" It took him almost 1 minute to get it chewed well enough to swallow, I didn’t realize their exoskeletons are so hard. I put 2 more in his bowl and he tried getting one for a second, but it was upside down and he kept hittin its legs , so he gave up and left them there. AAARRRGGGHHHH!!!! Maybe I shoul’ve ordered the other roaches, false death heads or Dubia something like that instead???? I don’t know.
05/09/08  11:36am

 #1730260


Cphill58
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   Message To: 4Kitara   In reference to Message Id: 1730238


 Update on Kitara!!!!

Kitoro...The answers that I got went like this , and btw i was thinking just like you... would it be too cold?

Warm mist creates mold and fungus in the humidifier itself...makes for more frequent cleanings. And possible problems with your lizard...don’t want fungus build up in your pipes. Coolmist / ultra sonic does not. Get the cool mist !! Easier to clean and less frequent cleaning. No mold / fungus. NO RI...Your heat and MVB will do all the work just fine...after all it is only ambient / room temp mist not refrigerated.

I had a lenghty thread with POCOCHU and others on this ...she posted to CPHILL58 I think it is still nearby
05/09/08  12:07pm

 #1730274


Geezle
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   Message To: 4Kitara   In reference to Message Id: 1730238


 Update on Kitara!!!!

How big are the roaches you have...are they full grown with wings, or are they just nymphs? Also, the orange spotted roaches *are* B. Dubia, so you might not want to get them again.

The "false death’s head" roach is B. Discoidales...these are what I have. I found that though my dragon is capable of eating the larger ones, she prefers the smaller ones...they seem a little softer and less ’crunchy’ than the larger adults.

For some reason though, she won’t eat them out of a bowl...I have to feed them to her with a pair of tweezers. Maybe give this a try with yours?
05/09/08  12:19pm

 #1730397


4Kitara
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   Message To: Geezle   In reference to Message Id: 1730274


 Update on Kitara!!!!

Thanks guys! I’ll see if I can’t find that post and see if I can make up my mind, lol. Yeah I should’ve thought more about it before I posted the "other" roaches name, lol. I ordered 1/2"-3/4" sized ones but most are 1’ or so. They are real hard bodied which is what I think Kitar doesn’t like. I’ll try hand feeding them to him and see if it helps, I know he’s still hungry so maybe I’ll give it a shot after I pick up the kids from school. If not then I still got sow bugs coming too, and I’ll order the DISCOIDS, lol, next time.
05/09/08  03:29pm
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