Reptiles..

[DogLover9501]

I deleted my Water Dragon thread, because my mom isn't sure about them ;)

Well, all of our fish died, so we're looking for something different.

I'm wondering about a reptile that can live in a 35 gallon tank, and can be held, and isn't too expensive to take care of.

No snakes, as my mom doesn't like them at all.

Any suggestions?

[IRescue452]

Some sort of gecko, check them out at your pet store to decide on type, they should know the average size and temperment. They are easiest to take care of I think. I used to have anoles, but they are hard to take care of and you can't really take them out because they are so quick. How about a couple of cockroaches?!

[CamCamPup33]

What about a turtle?

I have a Red Eared slider.. They're not hard to take care at all. Squirt just needs a little bit of light and food everynight. I take him out and let him walk around outside in the backyard and such. And im pretty sure a 35 gallon tank is enough, I don't really know though.

I believe RES are illegal in some states so you might have to check up on that.

:)

[DogLover9501]

My mom doesn't like turtles, not sure why.

[CathyBogart]

Some easy to care for smallish lizards...

Leopard Gecko
Fat Tail Gecko
Rankins Dragon
Sandfish Skink
Schneider's Skink
Collared Lizards
Crested Geckos


Any of those look intetresting?

[DogLover9501]

Originally posted by WolfChan
Some easy to care for smallish lizards...

Leopard Gecko
Fat Tail Gecko
Rankins Dragon
Sandfish Skink
Schneider's Skink
Collared Lizards
Crested Geckos


Any of those look intetresting?

Thanks! I've been quite interested in Skinks, I'm going to find some more information on all of them.

[CathyBogart]

www.kingsnake.com has forums for skinks where you can find lots of info.

[DogLover9501]

Thanks!

[DogLover9501]

I believe I read somewhere that Skinks don't like to be handled, is that true?

[DogLover9501]

We're getting a Water Dragon :D

We went back to the reptile place today and we talked to the owner, he said that one of them could live their whole life in a 35 gallon tank, and gave us lots of information.

So our tank will be ready for it around Tuesday :D

[CathyBogart]

Water dragons get BIG!! Like...three feet long or bigger sometimes. Please don't put one in a 35 gallon for longer than a year. :(

[CathyBogart]

http://www.reptileforums.com/care_sheets/lizards/water_dragon.htm
^Excellent water dragon care sheet^

A few exerpts...

Size: Adult males can reach up to three feet in length. Females are slightly smaller.

Enclosure: Young water dragons can start in a 10-gallon tank but will quickly outgrow this enclosure. Adult water dragons should be kept in an enclosure that is at least 4 feet by 3 feet. The larger the enclosure the better since too small of an enclosure can cause the water dragon to rub its snout until a bacterial infection occurs.



http://www.herphangout.com/caresheet.php?sheet=8

Another decent care sheet..

Max Length: 40 in.

40 gallon tank is minimum, adults will need 70+ gallon tank. Screen Lid required for air exchange. Large water bowl with airstone. Waterfall can be used to simulate natural environment.

[Suki Wingy]

oh, I just realised you already got one

I have a schneider's! She is very cute and easy to take care of.
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v643/sukiwingy/tigger_siggy.jpg

[DogLover9501]

Originally posted by WolfChan
Water dragons get BIG!! Like...three feet long or bigger sometimes. Please don't put one in a 35 gallon for longer than a year. :(

Well the owner said it was fine since 75% of their size is tail, also the adults they had there didn't look too big, and the tank also looked about the same size as ours.

However, we will probably end up getting a bigger tank in the future anyway, as I also was expecting him to say that he could live in it for a year or so, but he said all it's life.

I am prepared though, if we need a bigger tank, as we already thought we'd need to get a bigger one when he grew.

*EDIT* Actually we went there to get something else, as we didn't think we could get one, but I kept going back to them because I just love them.

So we will get a bigger tank in the future, as long as he can live there for a bit.

[ILoveReptiles]

Hey if you want Leopard Geckos, I still have 3 hatchlings from last year available - one is going for $40. the other two $50 each.

:)

[Godzilla]

Originally posted by DogLover9501
Well the owner said it was fine since 75% of their size is tail, also the adults they had there didn't look too big, and the tank also looked about the same size as ours.

However, we will probably end up getting a bigger tank in the future anyway, as I also was expecting him to say that he could live in it for a year or so, but he said all it's life.

I am prepared though, if we need a bigger tank, as we already thought we'd need to get a bigger one when he grew.

*EDIT* Actually we went there to get something else, as we didn't think we could get one, but I kept going back to them because I just love them.

So we will get a bigger tank in the future, as long as he can live there for a bit.


How big is he now?

[DogLover9501]

Originally posted by Godzilla
How big is he now?

Very tiny, his head is *maybe* the size of my thumb, he's not big at all, I'll have some pictures in a few days.

We'll be getting him on Tuesday :)

[Godzilla]

Originally posted by DogLover9501
Very tiny, his head is *maybe* the size of my thumb, he's not big at all, I'll have some pictures in a few days.

We'll be getting him on Tuesday :)

Ok, good. You're cage is suitable for the time being, but as others have said, get a bigger one as it grows.

[Orca]

You WILL need a bigger tank, lol, they get big! It'll be cheaper to build you own then to buy one. Plus they need height rather than length. If you can find them, australian water dragon are very pretty too! Good luck with the little guy!

[CathyBogart]

Just because someone works in a reptile store, or even owns it, doesn't mean they know everything about reptiles. Take it from someone who has worked in a reptile store and two pet stores. :)

Yeah, they're a lot of tail, but the body can still get over 12", and they are active.

[Godzilla]

[QUOTE]Originally posted by WolfChan
[B]Just because someone works in a reptile store, or even owns it, doesn't mean they know everything about reptiles.

I can attest to that. It is a good idea to make tanks progressivley larger and not simply put a baby in an adult-sized tank. You see, I went out and bought myself a black throat monitor named Peekaboo. I loved her, and she was intelligent and personable. But because I put her in an adult sized cage (about 4'x6') she didn't get enough light 'forced' on to her, and she died of cold. Apparently, she didn't know enough to get into the light where it was warm.

Please, don't make my mistake.

[DogLover9501]

Well today we went and bought a day-light thing, and a basking temperature heat light, in red, so that it won't be too bright at night when we turn the day light off.

Also bought thermometers, a thing that weighs humitity, spray bottle, bark/birch stuff..etc

We'll be getting him tomorrow, and we'll be getting a big 100 or so gallon tank in about 5-6 months.

[CathyBogart]

Does the day light bulb give off UVA/UVB or just heat? Unless you spent a lot of money on the bulb you will need a second bulb to produce UV rays. This is important so that the lizard can process calcium correctly, and if you plant live plants they will die without a UV bulb.

Also, since Water Dragons grow rather quickly, you will want to gut-load his food for at least 24 hours before feeding it to him. Keep the food in a separate container with lots of calcium-rich veggies to eat, it makes them more nutritious for the lizard. Calcium dust is helpful for growing lizards too.

[DogLover9501]

Originally posted by WolfChan
Does the day light bulb give off UVA/UVB or just heat? Unless you spent a lot of money on the bulb you will need a second bulb to produce UV rays. This is important so that the lizard can process calcium correctly, and if you plant live plants they will die without a UV bulb.

Also, since Water Dragons grow rather quickly, you will want to gut-load his food for at least 24 hours before feeding it to him. Keep the food in a separate container with lots of calcium-rich veggies to eat, it makes them more nutritious for the lizard. Calcium dust is helpful for growing lizards too.

I *think* it's a UVB light and it's also their day-light, I'm buying it from the place where I'm getting him so it should be whatever they are using now.

But they also said that I turn his day-light off at night and then he just has the basking heat-light, so if I turn it off won't it get a bit cooler at night?

Thanks for the information on gut-loading the food, I'll do that today, as I think they said that he probably won't eat for a few days when I first get him?

Right now with only the basking heat-light layed on top of the screen, the side of the tank that it's on is 80 degrees F and the other end is about 72 F, and it's been there all night, so it definatly does need a bit more heat.

Another question(sorry!), if I use a humidity box/chamber, will he try to eat it? And is there anything else I can use for now instead of moss before I can get some?

Thanks ;)