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 #2028782


Happygarden
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 I’m a newbie

I have never had a reptile before and of course, I too, have a stupid question.

We got our Chinese Water Dragon at a pet store 2 weeks ago. He is about 18 inches long. I am pretty sure he is male from all the info I have been reading. How much should he be eating?

I don’t think he has ever turned down food. I am afraid that if I don’t stop feeding him he will just keep eating. I am taking him to the vet tomorrow to check for parasites but for such a little lizard he seems to eat a lot. When he is finished eating his stomach looks very BIG.

Does anyone have a similar sized water dragon for comparison? How many crickets? How many wax worms? How many meal worms? should he be eating?
06/25/09  05:26pm

 #2028854


Rexxaroo
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   Message To: Happygarden   In reference to Message Id: 2028782


 I’m a newbie

Hello! And welcome! Im rexx and never be afraid to ask "stupid" questions :D But first i must scold you *lightly* XD for not having experience lol jk its alright these are great pets and you will find that keeping one is very rewarding even though they are alot of work. :D


To answer your questions tho:
-Usually after eating crickets they look full because they are BUT crickets are high in phosphorous and too much can be hard on the kidneys. They also have a hard exoskeleton like the mealies. These are not great staple foods, but good as a "side" Try putting veggies in his tank to see if he will eat them keep trying and you may get lucky and he’ll take em. :) Wax Worms are very fatty and have little nutritional value like crickets. I give my Water Dragon Rexx, (who is about 19-20 inches.) crickets, earthworms,nightcrawlers, feeder fish, and pinky mice. The rule is more varitiy, the happier the dragon. Also this is key **dont feed anything bigger than the space between their eyes as they could choke**

-He should eat ALOT being that he is growing and he is so young :D Mine eats between 12-15 crickets, 3 worms and a pinky a day. I feed everyday once in the morning once in the afternoon so he is full all day. Somedays he eats more some days he eats less, but nothing to worry about.

_Last thing, being that you got him from a pet store, i would make a vet appointment to get him checked for parasites and what not make sure he is good and healthy. If you have any further questions then she may be able to help you. Make sure she is a certified Herp/Reptile Vet though. *Other vets would have no clue what they were doing XD*

ANyways!!! Sorry for the long post DX trying to help :P Good luck and have fun with your baby!!!




Rexx



06/25/09  06:48pm

 #2028927


Cphill58
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   Message To: Rexxaroo   In reference to Message Id: 2028854


 I’m a newbie

Yep ...typically you want to feed , if I steal a rule of thumb about bearded dragons...about as much as they want for a 10-15 minute period 2x a day... am and afternoon. As they get older they will taper off to every other day ..maybe with snacks in between.

Super worms are good too... as well as silk worms , horn worms , butter worm, Phoenix worms. roaches if you raise them...not wild!
Link

Save money ..order from Mike AKA Hollywood Humans...on these forums.
Link

Or mulberry farms
Link

As far as space between the eyes go ... its a general rule that often gets broken with no serious consequences...I D K who started that ...maybe Tricias website...common sense will be fine.
Tricias web site has a considerable amount of info ... best I know of....
Tricia’s

What else ...UVB light and supplements... hope you got those ??

Oh yeah ...veggies ...I know that you might think it crazy ... but most veggies are very hi in calcium ...so that is the goal ..to feed food items with calcium
Read about veggies that are healthy for bearded dragons and Iguanas...these all apply.... start reading here :

beautiful dragons dot com...in the nutrition section.

And here:
green iggy society

If you need more help ...just shout

Cp
06/25/09  07:45pm

 #2029148


Happygarden
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   Message To: Cphill58   In reference to Message Id: 2028927


 I’m a newbie

Thank you so much. I appreciate any info that I can get. The sites were very helpful and the fifteen minute rule is also very helpful. We are still learning and I was afraid that if I kept feeding he would keep eating. I swear his stomach is a black hole!

I was at the pet store today, buying yet more food and the guy that was working there said that if I fed my water dragon pinky mice he can go blind. I haven’t read that anywhere. Is that true? I can ask the vet when I go in but I thought is was weird that I haven’t heard that anywhere so I was guessing that it wasn’t true. Am I right?

I appreciate the help as far as how big of food to feed him too. I was thinking that he wasn’t big enough for pinky mice or gold fish, but both will fit between his eyes so I am excited that he is going to get even more variety. He loves to eat!



06/26/09  02:47am

 #2029154


Cphill58
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   Message To: Happygarden   In reference to Message Id: 2029148


 I’m a newbie

You’ll find most pet store folks want to help ....but don’t really know the right answers and won’t admit it...Ask them to come here and join in ... they can learn a thing or 3.

Quote:

and the guy that was working there said that if I fed my water dragon pinky mice he can go blind.


This is just poppycock... hog wash and more ridiculous dither from another so called know it all. I gave you the link to tricias site and I am glad you appreciate it ...we refer to it often and continue to find answers there... what I repeat has been said many times over ..I am just passing the torch.

You can be sure that for the most part the answers from here will be your best reference. Trust no one with a cash register...lol

Rexaroo and others will be happy to help ...we all are

Cp
06/26/09  03:46am

 #2029238


Rexxaroo
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   Message To: Cphill58   In reference to Message Id: 2029154


 I’m a newbie

Thats right CP ^^ But going blind? HA!!! Where’d he get that one??? LOL pet store ppl dont have a clue.... But! Im glad he loves to eat, shows he healthy :D GOOD LUCK! And yes im always around to help! Just give a shout ill be sure to answer :3


Rexx



06/26/09  10:51am

 #2029254


Clouddancer22
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   Message To: Rexxaroo   In reference to Message Id: 2029238


 I’m a newbie

Going blind? Lol! I haven’t heard that one yet! I am surprised that he didn’t tell you the one about cutting heads off of supers so they won’t eat your dragon from the inside out! In fact, that one hasn’t come up in a while, lololol!



06/26/09  11:36am

 #2029280


Cphill58
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   Message To: Clouddancer22   In reference to Message Id: 2029254


 I’m a newbie

Quote:

I am surprised that he didn’t tell you the one about cutting heads off of supers so they won’t eat your dragon from the inside out!



OMG ....LOL..cloud ...it cracks me up that some folks actually believe that one too....ROFL
06/26/09  12:38pm

 #2029998


Happygarden
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   Message To: Cphill58   In reference to Message Id: 2029280


 I’m a newbie

That is so funny! I am a newbie but not entirely stupid!!! I sure hope I wouldn’t have fallen for that one!!!!
06/27/09  08:29pm

 #2030076


Cphill58
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   Message To: Happygarden   In reference to Message Id: 2029998


 I’m a newbie

Quote:

I am a newbie but not entirely stupid!!!


LOL...that makes me happy to hear that HAPPYGARDEN

That is good to know ....some folks are just so flighty, they hear one thing and go off in another direction altogether ... then we have to correct those issues too. Keep a good dose of common sense about you and ask lots of questions... you will get the answers and more.

Best regards

Cp
06/27/09  10:54pm


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