Australian water dragon care sheet

<body topmargin=0 leftmargin=0 marginheight=0 marginwidth=0> <table cellpadding=0 cellspacing=0 border=0><tr> <td valign="top" height=75 BGCOLOR="#CCCC99" TEXT="#080000" bgproperties="fixed" background="21a8dfe1esnpes.jpg"> <div> <FONT SIZE="5" COLOR="#000000" FACE="Arial" ><B>index</B></FONT><B>     </B><B>|</B><B>     </B><A HREF="index.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="index"><U><B>home</B></U></A></div> <div> <A HREF="id163.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Turtle care sheet"><U>Turtle care sheet</U></A>   |   <B>Australian water dragon care sheet</B></div> <div> </div> </td> </tr><tr> <td valign="top" height=405 BGCOLOR="#CCCC99" TEXT="#080000" bgproperties="fixed" background="21a8dfc3.jpg"> <div> <I>Australian water dragon care sheet</I></div> <DIV ALIGN="LEFT"></DIV> <div> <B>Care sheet for Australian water dragons</B></div> <div> <B>Food:</B></div> <div> You may find that when you first bring your lizard home it may take a few days to settle into its new surroundings.  If you have recently arrived water dragons, it is important to have the temperature inside the terrarium high enough (80F) if you want them to start eating soon. As in Australia they will stop eating when days get shorter and cooler; they may do the same in your terrarium if temperatures and light periods decrease.</div> <div> They are known to eat crickets, cockroaches, meal worms, bananas, peaches, watermelons and other kinds of soft and sweet fruit.  Although some will not eat all these foods that are offered, however by giving your lizard a variety of food you will have a healthier and happier lizard.  Adults may also eat pinkie rats and pinkie mice.</div> <div> <B>Terrarium:</B></div> <div> The terrarium size for one pair of adult water dragons should be about 4 feet long by 3 feet high by 2 feet wide. In the terrarium you can place a tree branch or tree trunk on which they can climb and sit. A warm basking spot is also needed. They also like a place where they can both sleep and hide. The water bowl needs to be situated so that it can be cleaned easily, as they can get pretty smelly. The lizards should be able to get in and out off the water easily. Although not very elegant, we have heard of people using new paint-roller dishes as they have a sloped "beach" area.</div> <div> <B>Lighting:</B></div> <div> If you keep your water dragon inside you need a UVB lamp to provide ultraviolet radiation to the reptile. Please read and follow the instructions that accompany the lamp. It is always important to place the lamp at the correct height (as listed on the lamp's instructions) above the lizard basking spot. Just 2 inches higher or lower will greatly change the amount of ultraviolet radiation that the lizard will absorb.</div> <bR> <bR> </td> </tr></table></body>