Posted by:
PHLdyPayne
at Wed Apr 19 14:03:55 2006 [ Email Message ] [ Show All Posts by PHLdyPayne ]
It only takes one mating to ensure enough sperm is in the female for more than one clutch. Multiple matings give a higher chance of more fertile eggs. Not sure if this affects the overall clutch number a female has per breeding season.
300g is often considered the minimum weight a dragon should be. Laying eggs puts alot of stress on female dragons and underweight dragons may not recover well (or at all) after a couple clutches if they started off underweight. However, the fact more and more dragons are getting smaller (some due to thinning of the gene pool, not receiving proper amounts of protein as babies or the breeding of smaller dragons), it may be more difficult to get a small female to weigh 300g without making her obese.
With the above in considering, 300g (350g is better) should be the weight of the average sized dragons (ie: 16-19" . Larger dragons over 19" should be able to get higher weights without becoming obese. (ie german giant blood, pure or otherwise. I do know somebody here has a 25" 1000g monster, though this is a male if I recall correctly)
For dragons under 17" weights of 300g or less may be acceptable (if the dragon is fully healthy otherwise, nice rounded fat pads on head and thick tailbase, clean fecals etc.)
On a personal note, I don't recommend breeding small bearded dragons. Giving bearded dragons should be between 18"-24" in length as adults, breeding smaller dragons will inadvertantly result in even more smaller dragons. However limited genepools of North American populations of bearded dragons may result in this anyway. Though genetics may not be the only reason dragons are becoming smaller as adults, it is one of the contributing factors. I also know that small dragons don't necessarily mean unhealthy dragons. A smaller version (ie dwarf bearded dragon) can be obtained in two ways, hybridization between the Inland Bearded dragon and the Rankings bearded dragon. Or through selective breeding of robust but small dragons.
Other factors that can affect the best breeding weight of the female is of course, any tail loss. A baby who had half her tail bit off by a cage mate (or any other reason) won't have that extra 'weight' so that needs to be taken account.
To make a long response short, Weight is important to female dragons that are going to be bred. However, the actual weight the dragon needs to be depends on several factors: overall length, age, genetics (ie hybrid Inland/Rankins, German Giant blood etc)
The real important factor is ensuring your dragon is mature, healthy and robust. THe female should be 15 months old (or older), show good body weight (ie fatpads rounded, thick tail base) and in excellent health, (active, clean fecals, vet inspected etc.)
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PHLdyPayne
[ Hide Replies ]
- breeding females - beachbeardies, Wed Apr 19 05:57:29 2006
 RE: breeding females - PHLdyPayne, Wed Apr 19 14:03:55 2006
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