water dragon question?

Discussion in 'Water Dragons' started by marbledsalamanderbreeder, Oct 22, 2004.

  1. marbledsalamanderbreeder

    marbledsalamanderbreeder New Member

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    What temperature does the water and air have to be for water dragons?
     
  2. JEFFREH

    JEFFREH Administrator

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  3. ziggy

    ziggy New Member

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    not sure but thats a nice salamander
     
  4. JEFFREH

    JEFFREH Administrator

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  5. HeavyMetal

    HeavyMetal New Member

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    Beautiful Salamander Pic in your sig there :D

    Anyhow, on to your question: Day time temps for the Chinese Water Dragon are recommended to be anywhere from 80--88 degrees for ambient air temperature with a basking spot (preferably on a high rock or branch) that is from 90-95 degrees. The water temps should be in the low 80's (most people just use lukewarm water and let it adjust to the ambient tank temp) Night time temps are a bit less. Recommended night time temps range from low 70's to low 80's, I prefer to have my night time temps between 72- and 75 degrees.

    Another thing I usually address when talking about temps is humidity. I use a moss and bark substarte and a mister bottle (like a squirt bottle) to keep my humidity up at the moment. Humiity should usually be maintaned from 60% on up as high as you would like to take it. The general rule of thumb I have found is within 70%-80% is best.

    Anyhow hope some of this info helps, if you have not chgecked out Tricia's Water Dragon sight I would definitley recommend it. the url is:
    http://www.icomm.ca/dragon/dragoncr.htm
     
  6. JEFFREH

    JEFFREH Administrator

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  7. marbledsalamanderbreeder

    marbledsalamanderbreeder New Member

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    Thank you I breed them.
    Any way thank you for the advice but for the humidity would a fogger do or is that too much and also if i use a squirt bottle about how many squirts a day should i give? One more thing my friend/partner uses a blanket to cover the tank air holes but not all so the hot air wouldnt escape i said just to get a bigger lamp for it you can contact him by shanebehling@hotmail.com or here his screen name is waterdragonbreeder.
     
  8. JEFFREH

    JEFFREH Administrator

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  9. waterdragonbreeder

    waterdragonbreeder New Member

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    marbeledsalamanderbreeder you don't seem to be getting many answers all you seem to be getting is i want that salamander replies
     
  10. JEFFREH

    JEFFREH Administrator

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  11. HeavyMetal

    HeavyMetal New Member

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    Here is a pic of how my setup looks right now, you may wish to do something similar or different, I just throw it up to show you how I use a towel to keep heat and humidity in my tank without putting my dragon at risk (whihc you can if you keep it covered and not observe a few basic principles)

    [​IMG]

    Notice how I have a towel (whihc is wetted down 2 times a day with a light misting from the squirt bottle) over the left hand 1/4 or so of the cage? I usually roll one corner back so that there is a hole for excess moisture and heat to escape also. It helps to keep warmer moist air in but still allow some circulation. This is a perfectly fine thing to do if your ambient and basking temps are at the correct levels. If your temps are on a bit higher (like if you use a largeer lamp) you will cook your WDs so always take temps in a few different places in the tank when first setting this up or ANY time you chnage anything in the tank or its setup. To keep humidity up I usually spray the entire substrate (what kind of substrate makes big difference) with the bottle 3 or 4 times day and and mist the towle and the fake plant at the same time (Dragons like to lap dew off the plant for water alot of the time) I use a humidity gauge to make sure it falls in the target level (target is 60-80% or so) Hope that works for ya. Again Tricia's WD sight has all this info
     
  12. marbledsalamanderbreeder

    marbledsalamanderbreeder New Member

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    Thank you very much. But i just have two more questions what size does the tank have to be for a male and female? Also what watt does the light bulb have to be and that is my last question?
     
  13. HeavyMetal

    HeavyMetal New Member

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    Ok, I have coverd this in at least 2 other threads. Please look around on this forum when you get a moment I think you'll find alot of your questions are asked by your partner and answered in kind by me or others... :)

    Ok the general guidelines is take the length of your animal (a full grown male is 3 feet, or 36 inches) and times it by 2 to get your length for the cage. then height is generally as tall as the animal is long up to 2 times as tall as the animal is long. Widthof the cage is 3/4 of the animals length to the entire animals length. so, using this formula, an ideal water dragon cage which could house male or female full grown dragons comfortably would be: 72 inches long x 72 tall x 36 inches wide OR 6 foot x 6 foot x 3 foot.
     
  14. HeavyMetal

    HeavyMetal New Member

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    Bulb wattages are gonna have to be played with a bit, there is no hard and fast rule for them. I would suggest have 2 thermometers on hand or one if you have a infared thermometer gun, and start out with a 75 watt incandescent or basking bulb. Place the lamp over your intened basking spot and place a thermometer on the basking spot in the middle of where the light falls and another about a foot away from the basking spot. Wait 1/2 and hour and check temps. If the basking spot is 90-95 degress and the other thermometer shows 82-88 or so you are all set. If the basking thermometer shows less you'll need a stronger wattage bulb, try a 100watt. If the basking spot is fine and the other spot is cooler you may want to consider some heating options like another light, a ceramic heater or a undertank heater to get ambient temps up to par. Also a higher wattage bulb can be used if connected to a rheostat to lower the heat output, hope this all helps
     
  15. marbledsalamanderbreeder

    marbledsalamanderbreeder New Member

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    Thank you for all of your help!
     

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