"Holy Zarquon's Singing Fish" wrote in message
...
HC wrote:
G'day all
[snip]

Now today from the kitchen window I could see a dragon on the ensuite
windowsill as well as something else??? but what??? so I sneaked
outside (because this little guy is still VERY shy) and I soon found out
what he was up to. I can now say HE because you guessed it.....he was
'otherwise engaged' with a smaller, darker (brown) water dragon. In my
haste to get the camera I disturbed them....maybe it was a shock that a
human saw what they were doing....anyway I missed the photo opportunity,
but it started me thinking that at what age do these little darlings
start to reproduce??? I would have thought they should have been
older.....or is that what I used to tell my kids many years ago??? LOL

There's also a rather wonderful coffee-table/scientific text on
Australian Lizards. Unfortunatlely I can't remember the name/publisher
or whatever, but it is about 10cm thick and full of useful info. You
could also phone the Australian Museum who should be able to put you in
tocuh with someone who can help.

I think the book you refer to is Cogger; 'Reptiles & Amphibians of
Australia'. Unfortunately, it specifically doesnt mention anything much
about habits or breeding or anything outside idnetifying the animals. Not a
lot of use in this case. Identifying a water-Dragon doesnt seem to be much
of a problem. Uncovering its sex life seems to be quite a challenge!

There is also a new book on the market called 'A field Guide to Reptiles of
Queensland', by Steve Wilson. I havent seen the book aside from its cover,
but the blurb suggests it might assist in helping out with behavioural\habit
info. The following web site is one place you can source this publication,
and the owner (Mike Swan) is very good to deal with(my experience, anyway).

www.mikeswanherpbooks.com.au

Unfortunately, this doesnt really help with the original question much, but
I would assume a dragon is ready to breed as soon as he has the adult
colouration. Some of the Gilberts Dragons that are laying eggs around here
are quite small, even for females. I just wish Mrs Gilbey didnt feel it
necessarry to dig some 50 or so holes before she finds the right one for her
eggs....

It is criminal what cats and foxes are doing to our native ecology. I spent
a few nights over christmas spotlighting and shooting cats around our
property, and everywhere we saw cats was where we were seeing Pratincoles
(ground-nesting bird) with freshly-hatched chicks. There was much
satisfaction with every dead puddin... I think the tally for the end of the
week was about 10, so I was most pleased. It was also amusing to watch elder
brother trying to herd 2 Pratincole chicks off the road, when they were
pretty much convinced that Mum(lurking nervously in the shadows off the
road) was somewhere under the Landcruiser...

Cheers,

Rod.......Out Back