I've been wondering this for a while now, how big does a water dragon have to be to eat pinkies? Sousuke is 12 inches long now snout to tail length and has eaten full size crickets with no problems, in fact, he poops all the time so I know there's been no impact problem with it, also, he eats a lot of small mealies too. If the pinky was smaller than his head would it be ok? Or should I wait till he's a bit bigger?

__________________
http://dragcave.net/user/manhirwen

Hello,

Im not positive but I think I read that a WD can eat a pinky that is barely bigger than the space inbetween his eyes. Not sure though so don't quote me on it.

__________________
Josh Shrader

1.0 Ball Python (Monty)
0.1 Red-Eared Slider (Woody)
0.1 Yellow-Bellied Slider (Buz)

It is in their best interest to feed them pinks..but you should wait until shes bigger to feed them to her..I waited until Jack and Sally were 20'' svt But shes big enough for a little one, they eat them whole so you may want to watch her the first couple of times just to be on the safe side...because I just started feeding Jack fuzzies...the pinks just dont fill him up, and at first I thought it was a mistake because it looked like he couldnt handle it but it wasnt bigger then his head so it was fine..and it fit inside his mouth wiht no problem...the pinks have alot of fas and calcium... so if you start feedign pinks you should reducke calcium dusting to every other insect feeding...and since your dragon is still a juve you should be feeding everyday..after you feed a pinky skip a day to give her time to get all the nutrients and such from it

I would go with at least 14 to 16 inches snout to tail, even at that size your going to have to find smaller pinky mice to feed. The rule about finding on the same width or smaller then the space between the dragons eyes is still good here as well. Also don't go with any prey longer then 1.5 times the head length of the dragon. Regardless the first time or two be prepared for a grizzly afair. Skittle gulps them down now but when he first started he chewed them up and generally made a nasty mess. Are you considering live or frozen-thawed?

I have some in the freezer right now that are smaller then sousuke's head by a long shot. I'd probably try frozen first.

I was wondering if the space between the eyes means the flat part of the head between the eye bulges or between the actually eye balls?

__________________
http://dragcave.net/user/manhirwen

The actual eyeballs do try frozen first, because I mean by the time hes full grown he should beready for mice and what happens if he wont accept f/t? Youd be in alot of trouble then...he should accept f/t readily..i always thaw mine out at room temp then run them under hot water to make them warmer and just drag it around infront of mine...they can take up to 10 mins to start eatign them soemtimes...they will usually grab the head and hold it in their mouth for some time before they eat it...good luck and let us know how it goes!!! LOl, I remember the first time I fed Jack and Sally pinks...*sighs* good times..good times

Since I can get pinkies that are small enough (about the size of an adult cricket) then I might try to get him started on them soon, I don't know when but soon. Chidori is a little bit smaller than him so it will be a while before I start her on them.

__________________
http://dragcave.net/user/manhirwen

well if you are housing them together you shoud start them on pinks together...just an idea because they will be able to smell the pinks on eachother...could be fine, but ya never know..I know I have to feed Jack and Sally seperatly but one rite after the other, I feed one in their enclosuure and one in the feeding enclosure...or Jack would be at Sallys throat trying to get the pink from her...Sally wouldnt be aggressive with him because hes the dominant male but im sure shed be less then happy..lol

They aren't going to be housed together very soon. One of my friends has been wanting a water dragon and I told her that if she wanted that she could have Chidori because Sousuke is still a little bit of a bully and Chidori gets stressed about it. I could keep them seperate here but I know that my friend has all the equipment and the knowledge to care for her because she has had water dragons before.

__________________
http://dragcave.net/user/manhirwen

First of all - I would only ever feed f/t - if your lizard doesn't accept the pinkie straight off try a few more times but don't be disheartened if he never takes them; some do not like them, and they are certainly not a crucial part of their diet. They do quite well on a varied diet of insects.

Secondly - you do not need to reduce the calcium supplementation if your WD does accept pinkies.

Thirdly - do not feed too many pinkies! They are very high in fat content and should be fed as treats. Insects - crickets, locusts, worms - should make up the main part of the diet, with the odd pinkie offered, at most one a week IMO.

Lastly, I would have no problem with trying him with a pinkie at his size. Make it a small one and make sure no substrate is ingested as he eats it. Our bearded dragons used to take pinkies when they were several months old and two of our leopard geckos love their pinkie treats!

__________________
"If you know everything you may as well blow your brains out because the reason for existence is to learn more everyday." - Mark O'Shea, 2004