Dragon hydration

[eddieriv]

Jersey pwns Maryland, Tom stop attacking everyone or I will have to ban you for 3 more days

 

[dragonluver83]

Hey, watch the NJ comments would you.......I might have to start teaching a class in how to whoop some ass LOL

LOL, all that ink has gone to your head?

Jersey pwns Maryland, Tom stop attacking everyone or I will have to ban you for 3 more days

OH whats that "the heat pack kid"
You asked for it...

Yea Jersey,
Dales bearded dragons gets much love, i would say chris allen but that guy is to busy playing with his tegu's But most others (with a few exceptions) Give good reason that jersey is known as the butt-hole of the herp world.

 

[Jack of all trades]

This is the post that lead to my post on here. I realize some of it gets ridiculous, but is their skin impermeable?

http://www.herpcenter.com/bearded-dragons/28821-bearded-dragons-water.html
Like I said before I don't agree, but it made enough sense to post. Just curious in that I have a lot to learn.
Gary

 

[red ink]

Article copied is by Rick Walker (leading Australian BD breeder from South Australia)

The facts come from CSIRO (Science department of the Australian Govt.)

You draw the conclusions on who you should believe.

By the way the constant soaking that our US counterparts do is a foreign concept to us.
Keepers here do soak (i personally do but quite rarely and only in the summer heatwave summer months and periods of low ambient humidity), but certainly not weekly.

Like the article says "what puddle?" Methabolically they are not adapted to constant soaking, in doing so you are changing the dragons methabolism drastically to an extent that it dehydrates without it (not a problem just keep soaking to hydrate them).

 

[angie.h]

I've never been a dragon soaker. I give mine a drink by gently spraying the top of the snout and they drink as it trickles down. The babies will drink twice daily,older ones less often. Soaking every couple of weeks is O.K.,as it aids in shedding. I mist my dragons entire body once every couple of days. I think there are very healthy dragons out there that get frequent soaks,but I also believe it can and does lead to respiratory infections....people don't know correct water temps. and may not dry and warm the dragon...sometimes carrying it around " swaddled" in a towel without thinking that it is now very cold,coming out of water,and can not generate it's own heat. So,I think people will continue to soak,but I think frequent...daily or every other day is stressful,unnecessary and could lead to respiratory infections. Oh,and spraying in the cage a little water does not raise humidity to dangerous levels...old wives tail.

 

[Jack of all trades]

Got a question for devil's advocate's sake. If they don't absorb water what does soaking do for hydration? This is the part that I don't get.

 

[Jack of all trades]

Article copied is by Rick Walker (leading Australian BD breeder from South Australia)

The facts come from CSIRO (Science department of the Australian Govt.)

You draw the conclusions on who you should believe.

By the way the constant soaking that our US counterparts do is a foreign concept to us.
Keepers here do soak (i personally do but quite rarely and only in the summer heatwave summer months and periods of low ambient humidity), but certainly not weekly.

Like the article says "what puddle?" Methabolically they are not adapted to constant soaking, in doing so you are changing the dragons methabolism drastically to an extent that it dehydrates without it (not a problem just keep soaking to hydrate them).

I've never been a dragon soaker. I give mine a drink by gently spraying the top of the snout and they drink as it trickles down. The babies will drink twice daily,older ones less often. Soaking every couple of weeks is O.K.,as it aids in shedding. I mist my dragons entire body once every couple of days. I think there are very healthy dragons out there that get frequent soaks,but I also believe it can and does lead to respiratory infections....people don't know correct water temps. and may not dry and warm the dragon...sometimes carrying it around " swaddled" in a towel without thinking that it is now very cold,coming out of water,and can not generate it's own heat. So,I think people will continue to soak,but I think frequent...daily or every other day is stressful,unnecessary and could lead to respiratory infections. Oh,and spraying in the cage a little water does not raise humidity to dangerous levels...old wives tail.

Thank you for getting this thread back on task.

 

[chris allen]

Got a question for devil's advocate's sake. If they don't absorb water what does soaking do for hydration? This is the part that I don't get.

I think the soaks can be good for them. Sometimes, especially after a female lays, I can see a difference in how they look after a nice warm soak. Some dragons will also start drinking once they hit the water, so it's a good way for them to lap up water sometimes. I mist as well, and some dragons like that also, but some dragons are not crazy about misting. Soaking also helps to clean them. You can take an old toothbrush and lightly clean any dirty areas if you have to.

Just my opinion.

chris

 

[Rockinar Dragonz]

We have only a few adult/subadult dragons that will actually drink when dripping water on their snout. These same dragons will take long drinks in the tub. We primarily soak our adults/subadults. Babies more readily lap water when spritzed. They are offered water via water dripping and baths. Although some folks find this debatable, I do believe some or most reptiles absorb water via soft tissues within their cloaca.
http://www.vin.com/proceedings/Proceedings.plx?CID=WSAVA2005&PID=10889&O=Generic
(paragraph 4)

http://www.sciencedirect.com/science?_ob=ArticleURL&_udi=B73GK-485998J-J3&_user=10&_coverDate=08%2F01%2F1970&_rdoc=1&_fmt=high&_orig=search&_sort=d&_docanchor=&view=c&_searchStrId=1326384685&_rerunOrigin=scholar.google&_acct=C000050221&_version=1&_urlVersion=0&_userid=10&md5=f51bd98bbc0c5c39c3000419bdfd5927

http://www.veterinarypartner.com/Content.plx?P=A&A=1356
'some water is absorbed through the tissues inside the cloaca'

 

[angie.h]

Chris and Rockinar are correct,soaking is good when done PROPERLY { including the proper temps. and duration of soak},and is much less risky in adults than in babies { who also have a greater chance of drowning if left unattended or in groups where one can accidentally be held under when another climbs on top} Drownings DO happen. As far as larger dragons drinking from a spray bottle,the funny thing is that my sub-adults and adults take longer to begin to drink when I spray them. I will spray a small stream,then wait,sometimes try 2-3 times before they will begin to drink,whereas the babies do so almost immediately. There are definite benefits to soaking,I just like to warn people that daily baths can easily lead to respiratory infections if not done properly or ifdone late at night and care is not taken to dry the animal and put it under the basking lamp ASAP. Thanks for the extra info Rockinar....your dragons always look robust and healthy,which says a lot for your husbandry.

 

[Rockinar Dragonz]

Thank you Angie! I can attest to the dangers when bathing little ones. We did lose one due to aspiration in the tub when it was dunked briefly by a clutchmate. I felt horrible. For that reason, I lay wash clothes on the bottom of the tub and add just enough water so that puddles will form. I keep this tub seated within another tub filled with warm water to keep the bathing tub/wash cloths warm.

 

[angie.h]

Sorry to hear about the baby...extra care must also be taken with old dragons { like people they are more fragile and probably easily chilled } and dragons that are ill.