It's all about Emmie & Zoey

Emmie is my female water dragon that I have raised since she was just a tiny little hatchling.  Looks can be deceiving if you aren't familiar with water dragons.  To most people, Emmie might just have been an ordinary little green lizard - but, three (3) years later, she is about two (2) feet long, if not longer.  And, the living space and care she needs is very crucial to her survival.  Zoey is my other female water dragon, a rescue from Escondido, California, that I found while searching Craigslist for a male water dragon.  Jennie, whom worked in a pet store, had rehabilitated Zoey, after a rescue from people who were not prepared to care for her.  Zoey had severe snout damage, she was even missing a part of her jaw bone.  This is what happens when a water dragon is not properly cared for and is in distress, they rub their snouts on their enclosures or the items in it.  This causes permanent damage and can be life threatening, if an infection sets in.

The girls have their own separate enclosures but get to play together, or in this case, just lounge around on the couch.  They cannot share the same enclosure because dragons are very dominant and must have their own space or they will often fight or cause the other dragon distress by not permitting it to eat, etc.  Although, this is not always the case.  Some housing of dragons together are very successful.

My girls are trained to let me put their harnesses on.  I very rarely take them out of their enclosures without these - because if they hear a loud noise, such as a dog bark or something that startles them - they will make a run for it.  It could be dangerous for them if this were to happen, so my practice is "better safe, than sorry".  There are occassional times when I will take them out and cuddle them without the harness but this is only when all is peaceful in the house, usually very late at night.

There are many people that are disillusioned in thinking that dragons are not social, that they are not affectionate - but, I have to tell you that this simply isn't the case.  My dragons love to be held, pet, loved and talked to.  When I come home from work, they will actually scratch at the doors of their enclosures to let me know that they want my attention.  They are almost as demanding as my children - whom tend to get a bit jealous.

Dragons love water, this is why they are called water dragons after all.  In the wild of Cambodia (or Thailand), water dragons live high up in the trees and jump down into the rivers to swim or hunt.  They are terrific swimmers, powered by their long, strong tails.  You must be very careful in handling them, as they whip their tails with such force - it can leave a very nasty sting (if you are in its path).  My girls like to lie around in the kitchen sink - and even have a little wadding pool in the yard, that I fill up, so they can take swims.  After a while, they get very relaxed and sort of zonk out into long naps - they may even appear to be dead because they get so relaxed and are difficult to wake back up.

Dragons need lots of height in their enclosures and love branches and vines to climb on or just to lie around.  Both of my girls sleep up in their vines.  They always seem to startle my pit bull terrier, Noah, because he'll be sniffing around the enclosures and suddenly, out of nowhere, the girls will just fly down from the vines and spook him. 

Sometimes, Emmie will have a decrease in appetite, sleeps a lot and her belly swells up.  Around this time, I will increase calcium supplementation and also place a tub filled with moist, clean sand (or organic soil) in her enclosures.  Even without a male to fertilize them, a female water dragon will still lay clutches of eggs.  It is important to toss these out the moment you notice them, otherwise, these smell very foul after time, especially if they are broken.  The eggs are soft at first and then, they harden.  I usually flush them down the toilet as they are laid.  Emmie will usually just let them drop to the ground while she is still resting on her branches and vines.  The size of a clutch will vary, Emmie's first clutch was laid over the course of about eight (8) days and the total was about 14 eggs, if I remember this correctly.  Please note, if your dragon is having difficulties passing eggs or showing any signs of distress, you should seek the attention of a vet that specializes in reptiles.  If your dragon does become, what is called "egg bound" - this can be a very serious and potentially fatal condition.

Zoey has never laid a clutch of eggs for me -however, before she was shipped to me from Escondido, CA (by way of DHL next day) - I was advised that a clutch of eggs was found in her enclosure buried in the soil of a potted plant.  Sneaky.

There are many useful websites to help you in the care of a water dragon.  Please consult these sites whether you currently own one or are considering ownership.  This takes both knowledge and dedication.  My favorite is Tricia's Water Dragons (link provided).  I love her care pages - these have come in great use over the years.  I also enjoy the forums at the Herp Center Network (link also provided).  Beware - the experienced owners in the forum are very passionate, me included, however they are also very helpful.  So, don't let anyone spook you to easily.  And, no question is really a silly question - even if we all find humor in some of them.