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Alternative Name
Dab Lizard, Spiny Mastigure, Spiny Tailed Lizard Scientific Name: Uromastyx aegypticus

Basic Info

The Egyptian Uromastyx is a solid yellowish color can grow up to three feet in length, but they generally remain at about a foot and half. Males are a little larger than females but generally it is best to sex them by the presence of prefemoral pores in males.

Health

It is especially important that your Egyptian Uromastyx not be kept in levels of high humidity, as this will cause respiratory infections.Be sure that hatchling or young Egyptian Uromastyx are not kept in sand, as they may ingest it and die. Newspaper works best for younger lizards.

Habitat

Northeastern Africa

Behavior

The Egyptian Uromastyx is an exotic but easy-to-care-for lizard. If you are looking for a beautiful but durable reptile pet, the Egyptian Uromastyx may be right for you! The Dab Lizard is not territorial, which means it can be kept in groups. Though extremely easy to care for, it is important that the enclosure be kept very warm. The temperature should be about 85 degrees Fahrenheit during the day, with about a ten-degree drop at night. Also, a basking spot of about 110 degrees is required. Use a full spectrum UVB light. Also, ensure that your Spiny Mastigure has lots of hiding spots - hollow logs or rocks with overhangs work nicely. This way the lizard has shade and a place to retreat should he become stressed. Because they are native to deserts, the Egyptian Uromastyx needs dry heat. When they are shedding you should mist them or soak them in water for five to ten minutes to help them shed their skins. It is often recommended that birdseed be sprinkled on their food a few times a week to aid in digestion. In addition, the Dab Lizard needs some animal protein; so feed crickets or mealworms at least once a week. Sand works nicely as a substrate, but be sure it is silica-free. Silica will tear up the insides of the digestive systems in Dab Lizards. Egyptian Uromastyx also like to dig burrows and sand that is eight inches deep will allow them to do this. As is true with most other lizards males should not be housed together or they may fight. Egyptian Uromastyxes live an average of 10 to 15 years, depending on how well they are kept.

Origin

Africa

History

The Egyptian Uromastyx is native to the dry areas of Northeastern Africa, as its name implies.

Common Foods

Your Egyptian Uromastyx should be fed lots of dark leafy greens such as collard greens, endive, and escarole. Caution should be taken when feeding vegetables such as broccoli, cabbage, and spinach as they are calcium-binding vegetables.

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Alternative Name
Water Dragon, Green Water Dragon Scientific Name: Physignathus cocincinus

Basic Info

Chinese Water Dragons are lovely green lizards that appear to be mostly tail: the striped brown and green tail makes up about three-quarters of its full length. Males grow to be about three feet and females about two feet long, though some females can grow as larger, or larger than males. They are green with vertical stripes of a contrasting green color. Green Water Dragons have colorful throats, ranging from pink or peach to brighter shades of orange. They have triangular heads and a small shiny spot between the eyes, which Water Dragons use to thermo-regulate and sense light. The hind legs are more muscular than the slim front legs, and like us, Water Dragons have five toes. They have sharp claws and the middle toe is the longest toe. It is difficult to visually distinguish between the sexes and nearly impossible until the Water Dragon is sexually mature, though generally males are larger and have more pronounced heads and jowls.

Health

Should you care to have more than one, a male and female or several females will get along nicely. Please be sure not to put two male Water Dragons in an enclosure, as they will fight. Water Dragons should be misted every day because they need the humidity to be above 80% all the time. Chinese Water Dragons need a large enclosure, four feet by two feet by two feet should provide the proper space needed to house one adult, though the larger the enclosure the better. Multiple dragons will require more space. Provide them with a water bath for drinking and bathing and a basking spot of about 85 to 90 degrees. Water should be cleaned daily, as they tend to deficate in their water. The rest of the enclosure should remain about 75 to 80 degrees Fahrenheit. At night the temperature should be in the lower seventies. Provide full-spectrum UV light for 12 to 14 hours a day. They also seem to like a good misting every few days. Chinese Water Dragons also need plants and branches to climb on, and females need a box about eight inches deep filled with moist soil in which to lay their eggs. Female Water Dragons may lay eggs even if they have not been bred and could become egg-bound if they can not find a suitable nesting spot, so this is very important. Water Dragons can jump, so it is important to make sure their enclosure is covered with a ventilated screen to prevent escapes. Be sure to handle your Water Dragon for only a few minutes each day until it has become used to you, and beware of its tail! If nervous, the Water Dragon will whip its tail at you, which can be very painful, and if terrified, it may bite. Breeding Chinese Water Dragons are easy to breed and this should be attempted only when the throats have reached their final bright color, indicating sexual maturity. Be sure the female is given a place to hide from the male, as he may become aggressive during the mating season. Generally, eggs require two months to hatch and before laying the Water Dragon may lose her appetite. Hatchlings are generally five to six inches long, with four to five inches of this comprised of their tails alone. They are a dull brown-green color with lighter vertical stripes and a lighter, whitish underside.

Habitat

Live in the tropical, wet forests of Thailand, Southern China, Cambodia, and Vietnam, loving especially areas near a water source

Behavior

The Chinese Water Dragons, or Green Water Dragons, are well known and appreciated for their appealing personalities. Native to the tropical rainforests of Southeast Asia, Chinese Water Dragons are arboreal lizards that are active during the day. They swim on occasion and can even run standing only on their hind legs! Some may also occasionally eat pinkies. Water Dragons have calm, amiable personalities with handling and will grow to be very rewarding pets with proper treatment. With patience and kind and gentle treatment the Chinese Water Dragon will usually become very easy to handle. They average Chinese Water Dragon lives for fifteen years.

Origin

Asia

History

In the wild, Chinese Water Dragons live in the tropical, wet forests of Thailand, Southern China, Cambodia, and Vietnam, loving especially areas near a water source. Unfortunately, because they are so valued as pets, they are stolen from the wild. To prevent their extinction, keep only captive bred animals as pets. Captive-bred Water Dragons generally have more calm and docile personalities than wild-caught animals.

Common Foods

Chinese Water Dragons are omnivorous and eat lots of insects and small amounts of fruit. In captivity, crickets, mealworms, earthworms and fruit such as bananas, with a calcium supplement (that is phosphorous and D3 free) should be dusted on the food.

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Alternative Name
Scientific Name: Physignathus temporalis

Basic Info

The Striped Water Dragon is a beautiful lizard. They are a beautiful, deep green, and they get their name from the stripes that trail all along their bodies. They have long, thick bodies and legs built for swimming and running. The Striped Water Dragon has a crest on the back of its heads that runs all along the back. Striped water Dragons are smaller than the more common Green Water Dragon, reaching only about 17 inches in length. Males tend to grow slightly larger than females. It is quite difficult to visually sex Water Dragons and they will need to be probed should you wish to breed them.

Health

Striped Water Dragons are diurnal lizards, so they should have full-spectrum UV light for about 13 hours a day. During the day they should have a basking spot that is about 90 degrees Fahrenheit with a cooler area that is between 80 and 85 degrees. At night the enclosure should be about 78 degrees. The enclosure’s humidity level should not drop below 50%.

Habitat

Usually found in the exotic expanses of Thailand and Southeast Asia

Behavior

The Striped Water Dragon can be a beautiful and excellent pet. Striped Water Dragons, beautiful water-loving reptiles, are usually found in the exotic expanses of Thailand and Southeast Asia. These lizards spend a great deal of time in and around water, and their enclosure should have a water area that is at least large enough for them to soak in and preferably, large enough to swim in. Striped Water Dragons are quick, so keep a close eye on them and don’t let them wriggle out of your grasp.

Origin

Asia

History

The Striped Water Dragon is truly a beautiful lizard. They are native to Southeast Asia, including Thailand, China, and the Indo-Australian Islands.

Common Foods

Striped water Dragons are for the most part carnivorous, but do eat some fruit and vegetable matter.

Source of the article : Water Dragon - Striped

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