DIY Chinese Water Dragon Enclosure.
- Thread starter Hoyle00cdn
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Red-Ink
Very Well-Known Member
nice bike..... oh the enclosures nice too
Hoyle00cdn
Not so new Member
Mine are still Juveniles so they aren't nearly full grown. You can google them for adult pictures. Personally I think Aussie water dragons are much more beautiful. They're very rare to find in Canada and usually cost anywhere from 300-400 dollars; whereas the Chinese water dragon can go for about 50-70 a piece. The obvious reason has to do with your exportation laws, which may be a good thing, given the amount of wild caught CWDs that don't make it past their first year from a variety of poor husbandry practises in pet stores.
I plan on breeding my pair to help lower the wild caught population. They carry very similar body structures, but no they can't be crossbred, since there are from different species. However I have heard of cohabitation between the two. As adults the CWD tend to grow more elaborate crests than the AWD, but not as colorful. CWDs don't have a brumation period either, which makes them easier to care for year round.
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peteandkel
New Member
awesome looking dragons, my son has an australian water dragon, it a juvenile too and a beautiful dragon but I love the colour of yours! 
nico77
Well-Known Member
looking god mate , is the second last pic where you are upto ? Make sure you put more pics up when your finished
cheers nico
cheers nico
Hoyle00cdn
Not so new Member
Yes the second last picture is where I am too-date. I am waiting patiently for the custom made glass sliding doors to come in. I do not want to risk building any further without being exactly sure of the window dimensions.
To give a broad idea of what I have left to do; my main goal is to make this vivarium look as natural as possible. The interior walling is going to be covered with a layer of pink insolation styrofoam. Then the styrofoam will be covered in sand grout to give a more wilderness look and feel. Also I am hoping the grout and insolation will help lower heating costs. The tub (barring any complications) will have its own pump and filter system running over a custom made waterfall. Branches and ledges will be added as necessary as well as a mixture of bot real and fake plants.
To give a broad idea of what I have left to do; my main goal is to make this vivarium look as natural as possible. The interior walling is going to be covered with a layer of pink insolation styrofoam. Then the styrofoam will be covered in sand grout to give a more wilderness look and feel. Also I am hoping the grout and insolation will help lower heating costs. The tub (barring any complications) will have its own pump and filter system running over a custom made waterfall. Branches and ledges will be added as necessary as well as a mixture of bot real and fake plants.
Gecksta
Active Member
the bike is in every photo
Serpentess
Very Well-Known Member
Looks good. Keep us posted.
Hoyle00cdn
Not so new Member
Hah, no. First major project I've ever done, but my mother's father was a handyman, so perhaps it's just an itch in my blood.
gillsy
Very Well-Known Member
Are you putting a filter in the water, I would highly recommend it.
It would save a hell of a lot in cleaning.
It would save a hell of a lot in cleaning.
Hoyle00cdn
Not so new Member
Yes I plan on running the pond like a fish tank, but NO aquatic life.
No because it's not finished.
gillsy
Very Well-Known Member
I would drill a hole in the side of the tub, going out into a filter kept in the stand. The return flow could be made into a waterfall back into the tub. I would still have a few fish in there. It would provide a bit of entertainment for the dragons to chase and would also keep the water on a stable nitrogen cycle. If they don't defacate in the water, there is nothing feeding the good bacteria and therefor will die off negating the effects of biological filtration which is by far better than mechanical.
I was going to send you the link for this, it'd be good for the Mitchelli and Mertens.
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Hoyle00cdn
Not so new Member
glass doors, Canada doesn't permit the weather for screen doors.
Thanks for the advice...I was thinking something very similar, I'd prefer a filtration system outside the tank. There are a few reasons that would make aquatic life in the pond difficult.
* Chinese Water Dragons prefer to do their business in the water.
* They will eat the fish, which would make expensive fish costly, and feeder fish like goldfish and minnows can carry disease.
* I find myself fighting red/green algae wars more than enjoying the fish.
* I'd prefer to empty the tub once a month and give it a thorough clean. Fish tanks always need to maintain 1/3 of it's water for bacteria balance.
All-in-all I know an aquatic setup is completely possible and maybe eventually I'll tackle the idea, but I'm not as good with fish as I am with lizards.
This is there current setup.
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gillsy
Very Well-Known Member
Cool no worries, I don't know what desease can be passed on from fish to reptiles, I have fish eating snakes and never had any issues.
Your algae issues are going to come from your defacation, changing the whole tub once a month with filtration is going to harm more than help, as you will kill the bacteria each time that feed on the nitrates and ammonia coming from defecates.
Your algae issues are going to come from your defacation, changing the whole tub once a month with filtration is going to harm more than help, as you will kill the bacteria each time that feed on the nitrates and ammonia coming from defecates.
Hoyle00cdn
Not so new Member
Hmm perhaps you can help walk me through a proper fish setup when the time comes.
Any for some reason you seem familiar, like maybe from another forum or something
Just take out 75% of the water
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