Hi, my husband brought me home 2 juvie Chinese Water Dragon's yesterday. Now, we usually always research before buying, but this was kind of an emergency rescue and he just couldn't say no. They were dropped off at the pet store where we buy our feeders, both are thin (one more so than the other, you can see bones ). I was up for hours last night reading care sheets and trying to follow threads and I just have a couple of questions if you don't mind. They are currently housed in a mesh enclosure, it seems large enough for now but I was wondering about keeping proper temps and humidity. Seems to me that it would be next to impossible in a mesh cage. Their color is ok, considering the stress they've been through and both have very healthy appetites, but one has been rubbing his nose. Looks like he's been at it for some time because it looks as though it is scabbed over. Is it mouth rot or could it be just irritated? I know I have to get them both checked out at the vet, but it will take some time, as we live in a small town in central Ontario (Canada) and have to travel to get to a proper one. Is there a medication (ie rot guard) that we can administer safely until we can get him there? Sorry to be a longwinded pain in the butt, but I'm concerned for the little guys. I will try to post a pic, but have been having problems doing so. Any advice would be greatly appreciated. Thanks, Rusty...ps can't post pic, says it's too large. Will try later

ohk...im ognna have to say lose the mesh cage..you wont be able to keep temps or hum. up..also, it sounds like snout damage your little dragon has not mouthrot....mouthrot is in the mouth not outside it...snout damage can be a big pain...2 of my CWDs had it rite noe you can just put some neosporin on the snoutdamage..it will help keep it clean...he will prob have to go on some antibiotics fo rthe snoutdamage....to help them gain some weight try feeding waxworms and butterworms...here is trishas page for Chinese Water Dragon..its VERY helpful!! http://www.triciaswaterdragon.com/ ... and you aren't being a pain!! we like questions and we like to help!!! for the pics I would suggest using photobucket http://www.photobucket.com/

Thanks! I was hoping it wasn't the whole rot thing. Followed a few of your threads....ghastly! Glad to hear your little guys doin better tho. Losing the mesh is pretty much not possible right now, we're getting ready to move into a house in a couple of months (in apt. now). Until then I was thinking of covering the back, top, sides and part ofthe front with heavy plastic to hold heat and humidity, should work temperarily. (I hope) for now we have put aband around the bottom foot or so of the cage so they can't see out from the floor and it seems to have stopped the rubbing. I will pick up some neosporin. Thanks again, this website seems so much freindlier than the others....nice to have advice instead of sarcasm!

Heavy plastic will most assuredly help you keep temps and humidity up, its also a good idea to put some obstruction in the way of there line of site, it will make them feel more secure and could possibly slow down the snout rubbing. Good luck and keep us posted !!!

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Ken
"Some people spend an entire lifetime wondering if they made a difference in the world. But, the Marines don't have that problem." -- Ronald Reagan

lol..thanks...for the most part my dragons are happy and healthy....heavy plastic will most def help....yeah...lol..thats what I forgot..i hang have paper all aroung their cage 6 inches up so they cant see out...i also hang artificial vines around the parts of the cage where they can see their reflections the most...as this drives them absolutley crazy..lol...juve dragons are the worst too...mine are still juve and I cant wait for them to grow into adults...ever since theyve become juve they are aggressive and biting just about anyone who isnt me..includidng their poor vet!! lol but what can I say??im a sucker for their little scales!!! and their is no room for sarcasm on serious topics here good luck!!

One more question...the smaller one is about a foot long, and the other about 1 1/2 feet, are they large enough for pinkies? They are already scarfing crix and mealworms like crazy! BTW I think I read you were from Kitchener, Ont., I'm from Gravenhrst (near Barrie)

jack is 18 inches and sally is almost 20...my youngest shock is only 12 1/2 inches....i think you should wait to feed them pinkies....the pinkies are too big for them to have rite now..brfore all the stress happened sally was eating about 30-35 crix and up to 20 mealies..jack eats about 25 crix and sometimes hes eat 30 mealies in one sitting...now shock is up to 8 crix and anywhere between 5 and 10 small mealies...lol, so they do eat alot..it also helps to mix things up sometimes...try wax worms and butter worms and small feeder fish

Here's a pic of them (hopefully it worked). Thanks for all the great info....most helpful! My hubby is covering the cage in plastic right now, we have the bottom 18 inches blocked so they can't see out, and a pile of crix and mealies ready for them to munch on . Things should be much better for them from now on!

they look good ...they seem to be a nice size too

Snout damage can lead to mouth rot if the infection goes deep. How bad is the snout damage ... is the snout scabbed or only slightly scuffed up? I worry about what hides under scabbed snouts. untreated snout damage can cause infection to go deep into the tissues and sometimes into the jaw bone. When bone gets infected- if it's not treated with antibiotics quickly bone dies. that's why you see so many dragons with missing jaws ... untreated or slowly treated mouthrot and snout damage. Neosporin will help if the damage is just surface but if it's deeply infected you need to take the dragons to a vet for a prescription of oral or injectable antibiotics and perhaps some silvadene cream (that penetrates deeply into tissues). You can also dab some betadine on the snout damage.

Proper day time temps are 84 to 88 F with a basking area of 95 F, night time temps are 75 to 80 F. since your dragons are rescued and might be ill I would keep the day time temps at about 86 to 88 F with basking area of 95 F, and night time temps between 80 and 84 F. Make sure that the plastic you put up isn't near any lights or heat elements.

If you need a reptile vet I have listings for Canadian Reptile vets on my site, here is the Ontario Vet listings I don't have an Barrie area vets listed there but perhaps you'll find one that isn't too far away listed there.

Can you try to take a picture of the snout damage? the dragons look pretty good considering they are rescues.

As for pinkies? yes they are big enough to eat pinkies. WD's can sometimes take a while to eat their first one though ... make sure they are hungry when you offer pinkies to them. You might have to wiggle them around to make the pinkies look like they are alive as well. This is sometimes known as the pinkie dance.

I'm in T.O. If you need any help with finding a vet in this area just PM me. I hope some of this info helps.

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Tricia