This will be my first Chinese water dragon. Ive read the books and I have asked other owners but they all have different opinions on the housing recommendations, and care. Is their anybody that can give me some addvice. I have the right size terrarium but from their I know nothing about what I need before I even consider finding my dragon.

Check out this link from HC Caresheets:
Chinese Water Dragon Caresheet

__________________
Colleen

Do you have a large terrarium or a small one... are you looking for an adult sexed WD or a hatchling/juvenile (unsexed)? Most petstores sell them when they are teenie weenie and send you home with a little glass aquarium (that cracks me up everytime). The important thing is that the enclosure is large and has some height... WDs need the height because they love to climb. My adult female WD, Emmie's favorite spot is at the very top of her enclosure on a vine. She hangs up there all day and scopes out the floor below - every now and again she'll just fly down out of no where and scares my dog, Noah. They also love water (obviously) but my other adult female, Zoey, falls asleep in water - so, I can't really keep it in her enclosure. Emmie loves her water tub... just an FYI - they will urinate and poop in this as well. So, you have to clean it daily. Also, plants are great but make sure they are a non-poisoness variety and planted in organic soil. If you end up with females, like me, they will produce eggs (even without a male) and so, they will either lay these in the plants or you will need a separate lay box with organic soil (for laying). If females do not have a spot to lay eggs... they will get egg binded and this is potentially life threatening. Oh, and throw the eggs out ASAP because they will smell, if left unattended and end up broken. Emmie is laying her eggs everywhere but in her laybox it seems - so, I am having to peak in every nook and crannie to find hers. It's been five days now and she has had ten eggs so far... all duds, as I do not have male yet. Check out the caresheets for temps, food, etc. As far as other stuff for the enclosure - I recommend thick vines that you can find at the petstore... my girls love these. Emmie sleeps on her vines but Zoey likes to sleep under a piece of hollowed tree trunk (also from the petstore). But, sometimes after I turn off the lights at night... I can hear her jump into the large silk plant I put in her enclosure. So, they like to have a few different options you could say. A pointer I can give is that Zoey is a rescue with really bad snout damage - important to tell you that WDs rub their snouts and can severely damage these. I have heard that glass enclosures will lead to this - Zoey's happened because her prior owner's were not educated (or just idiots) and put her in a rabbit hutch made of wood and wire material. And, they were feeding her cabbage (like you would a rabbit) but, she is strictly a moving prey kind of girl. Anyhow, she was really stressed and damaged her snout dramatically. I've had her since August and she is still healing but lucky me, no infections yet. I have to put neosporin on her snout every day to prevent that. Well, I can go on and babble some more... but, let me just say that even I have questions... and everyone here has been awesome to chat with on these posts and extremely helpful and insightful. I value their shared knowledge and experience tremendously... so, you are in good hands with us all. Good luck.

__________________
My Reptiles:
2 Female Water Dragons - Emmie & Zoey (age 2)
More About My Own WDs:
Water Dragons, Not Just Lizards
Emmie & Zoey
Wishlist:
Uromastyx
Chameleons
Sugar Gliders
My Other Pets:
1 Female Ferret - Jackie
3 Parakeets - Taj, Sprite & Willow
1 Male Pit Bull - Noah
1 Female Husky/Wolf Mix - Angel

~ Jess ~

I have a 40 liter tank that I am setting up for my water dragon "tang" right now he is staying in a small 20 litter tank. And yes I got him about a week ago and he is tiny and came in a small tank which they said I could keep him in for up to a week but I thought that was kinda crap and got him out of their when I got home. Is it better to use real plants rather than the fake silk ones that I can buy? And if so what would you recomend if you know of any?

You are gonna need a bigger enclosure. BTW welcome
Do you have the right lighting a UVB and a UVA?
What are your temps??
I would read the caresheets on this sight they are awesome.
And the people here are very knowledgable!

Any bulb that produces UVB will also be producing UVA. You don't need a seperate bulb.

__________________
Merlin,
What's Life Without A Little Magic!

l I have a rescued dragon that has Metabolic Bone Disease.
I have a UVA and a separate UVB (no heat)
She's a free roamer. Even though she sits in her tree 90% of the time basking
Thats what my vet said to do
I was just thinking of what I have and having a blonde moment I guess LOL
(I'm not blonde really)

The "UVA" bulbs that are available in the petstores are no different (except in cost)than a household incandescent light bulb. They call them UVA bulbs to confuse you into buying something that you really don't need.
They produce heat and visible light.

__________________
Merlin,
What's Life Without A Little Magic!

ak phooey.
Well she has a very pricey warm bulb lmao

There are a lot of vets that wil see reptiles but really aren't up to snuff on things. If you have a dragon with Metabolic Bone Disease you need to make sure that it is under the UVB bulb as much as possible. The UVA isn't doing anything but keeping it warm.
What type of UVB bulb are you using?

__________________
Merlin,
What's Life Without A Little Magic!