Eastern Water Dragon Care Sheet

Eastern Water Dragon Care Sheet. The Eastern Water Dragon (Physignathus lesueurii lesueurii) is from Eastern Coast of Australia. They are tolerant of humidity and cooler temperatures. The Eastern Water Dragon is hardy, not much of a fussy eater, and loves bathing in water. They must be provided a good sized water pool or pond that they can completely submerge themselves in. They also defecate in the water and very little out of the water. Therefore the water must be changed regularly. Eastern Water Dragons are a pet for anyone who wants something different and large!! Males are said to reach 100cm in length and females up to 80cm in length. They can live in captivity for approx. 25 years if they aren’t forced in growth during their first two years. If they are forced then their life expectancy is halved. 70% of their length is tail, which is slightly flattened vertically and is used as a paddle when swimming. Their tails are very strong and don’t fall off if grabbed like a Gecko or Skink. However, it is not recommended to grab their tails as this can cause irreparable damage to the tail or their spine. Like Turtles, the Eastern Water Dragon requires correct lighting, diet and specialised housing in order for them to thrive. Housing Hatchling Water Dragons can be done easily in an empty glass fish tank. We have raised two hatchlings in a tank 120 x 40 x 40cm. If I was to raise up to four hatchlings then I would recommend using a tank 150 x 50 x 50cm. A large water tray, bark on the floor, a flat rock under a heat lamp, and a UVB Reptile light above was pretty much the tank set up. It is worth mentioning here that the UVB Reptile light must be no more than 300mm away from the Dragons basking spot as the effectiveness of the light is greatly reduced the further away it is REPTILE LIGHTING Eastern Water Dragon Care Sheet. ARTIFICIAL LIGHT. When keeping Reptiles in captive environments we need to provide artificial sunlight. Not any old light will do!!! There are specific Reptile lights sold by Pet Shops. Some are different shapes and come in many different sizes. Every keeper needs to be made aware of what light is right for their Reptiles well being. So here we go, and I hope that what you are about to learn is not too confusing. UVA / UVB. What does all this mean??? The UV spectrum is broken up into three parts: UVA, UVB and UVC, all of which are present in natural sunlight. UVA and UVB are essential for Reptiles wellbeing. UVA is the visible light range, and is responsible for normal behaviours such as feeding and activity. UVB is a non-visible wavelength, and allows the synthesis of vitamin D3, which helps process calcium and prevent Soft Shell in Turtles and Metabolic Bone Disease in Lizards. (Metabolic Bone Disease is particularly common with Bearded Dragons and Eastern Water Dragons that have incorrect lighting). WHICH IS THE RIGHT LIGHT FOR MY REPTILE??? “Sun-worshippers”. Some Reptiles are described as “Sun-worshippers”, including Bearded Dragons, Eastern Water Dragons and many species of Turtles especially Red-eared Turtles. In the wild these Reptiles spend many hours a day exposed to the sun and high UVB levels. They require high levels of UVB!! If you keep any Reptile in captivity in New Zealand, you are bound to have a “Sun-worshipper”, therefore it is imperative that you purchase a Reptile specific light with the highest possible UVB output. The Florescent Tubes that you will find for sale in New Zealand currently range from 2.0, 5.0 and 10.0. These numbers represent the percentage of UVB wavelengths that they give. The higher the number the higher the percentage of UVB, the better that light is for the wellbeing of your Reptile. We recommend 2.0 for frogs, 5.0 for turtles & 10.0 for lizards & geckos. INTENSITY OF LIGHT Eastern Water Dragon Care Sheet. Glass filters 95% of UVB. Fly mesh filters 30% of UVB. It is best to have no lids on your Turtle tanks, and to mount the light on the inside of your Lizards environment. This will then ensure that your Reptile is going to get the full benefit from the UVB given off. There are two types of Reptile bulbs available, UVA / UVB Fluorescent Tubes and Compact UVA / UVB Low-energy Bulbs. In order for your Reptile to gain the highest possible UVB% from your bulb, the distance between your Reptiles sunning area and the UV bulb must not exceed 300mm (unless you are using a Lucky Reptile Compact in which case you can have your basking distance of upto 50cm). The further your Reptile is from the light, the UV light levels are greatly reduced. Also note that the Florescent Tubes and Compact Bulbs need to be changed as per the manufacturers recommendations. Usually annually, as the UVA / UVB output is reduced over time. Even though the light still goes, they are of no benefit to your Reptile at all!! AMOUNT OF LIGHT. 10 hours of artificial light is the minimum per day. An easier way to make sure that your Reptile is getting enough UVB is to turn the lights on when you get up in the morning and off when you go to bed. To view our full range of Reptile Products Click Here Eastern Water Dragon Care Sheet