Just wondering if it was possible to cohab a juvenile chinese water dragon with juvenile (2-3 inch) CA/SA cichlids like red devils, flowerhorns, jack dempseys, etc. and grow them up together, making sure the cichlids were always big enough not to be eaten, yet not do damage to the water dragon. If it were possible, I realize the water dragon would need quite a large land area, and the cichlids would need a nice water area as well, but could it work? Keep the humidity around 70%, add lots and lots of pothos everywhere, some sturdy branches, and a well-filtered pond full of caves for the cichlids underneath? This is an idea I've been thinking about for a while...
Chinese water dragons and cichlids?
- Thread starter fishfreak2009
- Start date
What if you do the land area so it juts out and covers most of the water area, that way there is less of an opening for the dragon to even get to the water? And maybe have adequate water higher up(waterfall?) so the dragon isn't tempted.
Have no idea if it'll work, but I love the sound of it
Have no idea if it'll work, but I love the sound of it
See, if I ever was to do this, I would have no problem with the water dragon entering the water. I'd want it to be able to swim comfortably in the water area. I would have plenty of large branches above the water area, so it would be easy for the dragon to get in and out of the water. I'd probably also add a bunch of cheaper feeder fish (bred in another tank) so the water dragon would be less tempted by the larger fish.
The main problem that you will have is the water dragon poop. Super messy in the water. They like to poop in the water and when your water dragon goes in the water, its not gonna be swimming slow and elegant. It will make a lot water movement and disturb your cichlids .. It might work in a large tank, but im sure that your gonna encounter a lot of things..
I figured as much, but twin FX5s and rocks siliconed into place should prevent any problems in an adults tank, right? As long as everything was secured into place?
Juvenile water dragons are very aggressive hunters.... i could see it going after fish of any size that you try to co hab in there. They tend to calm down a bit as adults and it might be more doable once the lizard matures some but then you have to worry about poop. One big water dragon dump in the water could potentially kill off all your fish if you do not have a very powerful filtration system.
Ya, I don't think it would work... I put some goldfish in with the 3.5 inch flowerhorn today that were bigger than him (and bred by a friend of mine so I know they're clean) and he immediately swam up and ripped the face off the biggest one... I wouldn't want to see the dragon lose toes or the end of its tail.
u need what i got 
i had a brown basalik lizard in there. I cant confirm nor denie the fact that lizard poop will kill fish. i will tell u i had a couple mystery deaths with no damage or trauma to the fish but they were always peacock bass. they would either get killed by my jag ones the jag killed damage was evedent , or they would just belly up one day. but my jags salvini, polleni, goldnugget pleco , loachs none of them were ever afected it looks awsom with the lizard in it. Only reason he aint in there right now is he escaped yet again.
i had a brown basalik lizard in there. I cant confirm nor denie the fact that lizard poop will kill fish. i will tell u i had a couple mystery deaths with no damage or trauma to the fish but they were always peacock bass. they would either get killed by my jag ones the jag killed damage was evedent , or they would just belly up one day. but my jags salvini, polleni, goldnugget pleco , loachs none of them were ever afected it looks awsom with the lizard in it. Only reason he aint in there right now is he escaped yet again.
WckedMidas: I love the cage! Beautiful!
I would not trust my Water Dragon with any fish. She goes after anything in her water edible. I would also be worried about missing toes, and tail like you said fishfreak2009.
I would not trust my Water Dragon with any fish. She goes after anything in her water edible. I would also be worried about missing toes, and tail like you said fishfreak2009.