Mixing Water Dragons

Stacy · #1 (**permalink**) 10-13-2004, 07:21 PM

Hello all I'm a newbie here but I've been reading posts on this site for over a month. My familly recently acquired a Chinese Water Dragon July 10th to be exact. We also have had a green iguana for about 6 to 8 weeks now. No we are not housing them together! Our CWD currently resides in a 30 gallon tank, he is only here waiting for his new home, which is under construction. My husband who is a crafty man is building him a beautiful, huge, currio cabinet style cage. I was just reading an earlier post about water dragons where Nicole who seems to be a resident lizard expert suggest putting an aussi dragon with a CWD. I was wondering if this would be possible for us to do in about a month. Our dragon is about 16" stl, and we've had him/her since july. The cage will be 6'W x 32" Deep x 6' tall. I did not know about the Aussies when we purchased our little guy. But have since become very interrested in them.

I also have a caging question. Anybody know if fiberglass is hazardous to lizards?

My husband was using fiberglass to fabricate a big pond at the bottom or our new cage and thought about using it for the whole back, then he can mold out ledges and such along the back wall as well. Anyone???

NicoleRussell · #2 (**permalink**) 10-13-2004, 07:30 PM

If you are referring to hard fiberglass caging? No.
Many people believe mixing species is not good because of cross contamination. What one species in Australia is immuned to, another species in Asia can die from. Where did you aquire the asian dragon?
That being said, the two WD species get along fine and what you would have housing and climate wise for a CWD will be more then perfect for an Aussie. Also, *if * one species will be threatened with an illness as a result of cohabitating it will most likely be the Asian. Asians are much weaker as a species then aussies.
I used to keep a CWD---I now keep two aussies and I can't recommend them highly enough.
If you look under ccaresheets for this site you can read more about the differences between the two and what it takes to keep an aussie healthy

Stacy · #3 (**permalink**) 10-13-2004, 07:50 PM

Thanks for the quick response! And I take that as a no then. Or that you wouldn't recomend it. I guess I will wait on the aussie till we have his own space to put him. As for now we have 2 huge enclosures to build.

As far as the fiberglass... It is a liquid that you spread over a fabric that absorbs it like felt. Then you can form it into anything. Many people use them for work on interriors of cars. My husband calls it "bondo", but I don't know if that's the technical name? But it is a fiber glass. Oh, he also says it's what bathroom tubs and showers are made out of so maybe that'll help.

NicoleRussell · #4 (**permalink**) 10-13-2004, 11:02 PM

As long as you give it ALOT of time to dry---and air out the viv (make sure even after a few days all the fumes are gone)...it's fine/
I have known many people who have cohabitating lizards of different species doing wonderfully. I also know many CWD's who die mysteriously in captivity....many being imported, others being in shared cages with other lizards.
With many things in herpetoculture, it's hard to lay down a law and say "this is the way all herpers should do things". I try and make informed decisions...and my opinion changes with time because information gets more precise and ideas change.
So, as far as CWD's are concerned, I say right now, at this point in time no---I feel they are way too delicate. But that's just one persons opinion.
Keep in mind though that aussie dragons do not need the elaborate caging asians do. It could be entirely screened , ending up much less expensive....where as you probably know the CWD's require perfect humidity and ambient tempsto thrive. Be sure and post some pics of your completed viv when your done

Stacy · #5 (**permalink**) 10-14-2004, 04:35 PM

Thanks again for your input. I will borrow someones camera when it's finished and get some pics up hopefully. It's going to be a really neat cage!

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