Of my two, bubbles is a lot more sociable, and a lot less skitish, If i take the DSLR anywhere near squeaks enclosure, he scampers off and hides... He's not a people person, bubbles on the other hand loves people, likes nothing more than hopping onto my shoulder for an excursion from his enclosure to watch me process photos on my PC or sit and watch a bit of telly...
Hah – he looks a real character, not unlike like his keeper!
Is there a non-expert, non-invasive way of telling the sex of a water dragon? The wild one living under our house we called lizzie, but “she” is developing that faint, reddish tinge on “her” chest which we think may be a male characteristic?
After listening to lizzie crunching through the big grasshopper, I don’t think I would welcome her too close to me…the noise was quite awesome so these creatures must have quite powerful, crushing jaws!
There are ways of telling the sex, but not without handling the dragon, it is usually possible to determine the sex of a reptile by looking at its ventricle flap, males will have a slightly narrower opening than females.
They do have quite powerful jaws, and I can tell you that you really REALLY dont want to be bitten by an eastern water dragon past the age of 6 or 7 months. It will be rather excruciating. Its probably best that you just continue to assume its a female.. I'm quite sure he/she does not mind being called Lizzy!
My little dragons are still a bit young to determine sex by ventricle examination, however Bubbles is starting to show the personality characteristics of a female, where as Squeak is definitely acting more like a defensive male.. Time will tell.. As far as colours and markings are concerned, during summer the males will become brighter in their colour, and be quite intricately patterned, where as the females don't change much coming into breeding season.. They reach sexual maturity in about a year, and providing Lizzy has a good supply of food, basking areas and somewhere to swim, I dare say she'll still be around your house in a years time.. Then you should be able to tell...
Thanks for those details Alex! Although Lizzie is wild, we do drop the odd piece of paw paw or a red grape from the lounge room window and she seems to enjoy supplementing her diet with this tasty fruit. I noticed that her pooh was a bit soft after consuming a red grape, compared to the harder stools dotted around our pool from her grass hopper diet, so we only give her a small grape or a piece of paw paw once or twice a week.
She is still quite skittish, which is a good thing as we don’t want to domesticate her; she’ll tolerate us in the pool garden where she spends most of her day, provided we remain some 8-10 metres distance and don’t make any loud noises, or move too suddenly.
Yes Dennis, the dragons are keen on fruits and vegies.. My little guys eat apple, grape fruit, bok choi, carrot and sometimes even dandy lions if I can find them... They are definitely an omnivorous animal, and its actually very good for them to get some fruit and vegitables in their diet..
Im sure you'll love watching her grow.. The eastern water dragons can grow REALLY big... so the more she gets used to you the better, as you don't want her perceiving you as a threat when she's a 90cm long lizard... Im not by any means saying domesticate her, just dont avoid doing something if she's in the way, just go about business as usual. She will watch you just like you watch her, and start to understand that you're not a threat to her, and that you have no intention of harming her or stealing her territory, that way when she is a big (possibly 1m length) lizard in 4 or 5 years time, she'll be quite accustomed to you, and feel safe with you around...
My mate has a domestic EWD that roams around his house... its about 85~90 cm, and is a really freindly boy.. But a bit big for me to manage as a pet I think... my beardies will get to 50~60cm in 5 years or so.. thats quite big enough.
Thanks again Alex, for the helpful advice and information, we feel rather privileged that she has taken up residence under our humble abode! As we are both vegetarian (Narelle and I that is!), we’ll continue with the fruit offerings and hopefully, Lizzie can take care of the proteins and complex carbohydrates with her own foraging!
Narelle will most certainly look forward to a garden less chomped by grass hoppers! LOL!
