The female should be at least 14 months old (18 months is better), in excellent health (should also have a fecal done to ensure she is parasite free, same with the male as if one is full of parasites, both most likely will by the time mating is done). They should be introduced in neutral ground (ie floor or breeding tank) so neither will feel they have a territory to defend. Keep a close watch on them to make sure they don't fight. The male will fight the scruff of the female's neck to hold her still while he mounts. But if she struggles to get away, she isn't ready to mate and he can hurt her in his attempts to mate.



Before mating you should consider the cost of hatching, raising and keeping these babies. A female can have anywhere between 3-6 clutches from a single mating, each clutch can have between 15 - 30 eggs, that's a potental of 180 babies. Within a few weeks after mating you will need an incubator. To buy one could cost a few hundred dollars though it is cheaper to make one yourself. Even then there is some cost involved. Once the incubator is set up, you will have to buy incubating and egg laying soil (vermiculite is good for both). Once the first clutch hatches, you probably will have at least one if not two more clutches in the incubator from the females second and third laying. Once the babies hatch you will have up to 30 ravenous mouths to feed. You need to have several 20 gal tanks (no more than 5 dragons per tank to prevent accidental nips on toes and tails) set up with proper lighting and heating. Then you have to feed these hungry critters...with a single bearded dragon baby eating an average of 70 crickets a day, your box of 1000 crickets wouldn't last a day. Sure it may only be $12 per 1000 but you more realiztically will need to get closer to 5000 crickets a week to feed all the babies. (10 babies x 70 crickets a day = 700 crickets per day = 4900 crickets a week). SO you will be spending at least $50 a week to feed 10 babies. Triple that if you get 30 hatchlings. This isnt' counting suppliments, greens, fecal checks and the unforeseen happening.



Keep in mind that before the first clutch is old enough to be sold to new homes, the second clutch most likely will hatch, meaning more cages, more crickets (probably two different sizes of crickets now, bigger ones for the older dragons, smaller for the newborns). SO there is overlap in the rearing of these dragons.



Now, after all that spending to feed the babies, you will have another problem in about 2 months (should nto sell the dragons till they are at least 6 inches long and eating well, greens and crickets). How are you going to sell all these babies? Sure maybe you can sell some locally but unless there is a high demand for bearded dragons in your area, you will find it difficult to sell them all. Most small breeders do not make alot of money selling dragons (most may barely if at all, break even). The only real potential for profit is producing an unusual colour morph or pattern that is in demand or there is alot of demand for dragons in your area. Sure you can put up a website and sell them online but that adds a whole new list of problems. Shipping costs, packaging costs, ensuring overnight delivery etc. Not to mention harder to be sure your dragons are going to good homes.



All that said, do you really want to breed your dragon? (can't remember if you have the female or the male but if you have the male, is your friend ready for this responsibility?)

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