Posted by:
CheriS
at Sat Jan 3 10:29:48 2004 [ Email Message ] [ Show All Posts by CheriS ]
I find it hard to believe that a reputable breeder and knowledgeable herp shop told you to take a brumating female (at 8 months that is rare to start with, more like she is already stressed and needs to see a vet) and put her in with a 13 month old male without a quarantine period??? Thats is one thing that ALL knowledgeable herpers know.
Anyway,
She is too young, she is not active whether brumating or sick and she needs time, good nutrition, and extra calcium before mating and she should have a Vet check or at minimum a fecal. Both dragons should be checked and you should feel like they have qualities that should be breed and produced in young. You should also have homes for those offspring to go to (they can be very expensive to raise just to sellable age) and be prepared in the event of some sick or problem babies and the mother breed that young, that will need medical care and a lot of attention. One breeding may produce several clutches and the female needs to be in prime condidtion (besides old enough) prior to being introduced to a male to get her through those gravid periods.
Not all dragons when two or more are together will wave and bob if that is your reason for getting two together. We have several females together and I can not remember the last time they waved or bobbed to each other..... they do interact with the opposite sex, as that is normal mating ritual. But again, at 8 months and not "thriving" right now, that is not something she is ready for. You stated you were aware they may breed and had done a lot of research, so I assumed you were aware of the outcome of that.
To answer your other question, can he hurt her.... yes, he can and will if she is not ready to breed and he is insistant on it, the fact you state she just sits there tells us she is certaily not ready.
We have had others on here who's dragons lost tails, feet or serious injured from the male attempting to breed when she was not ready, which is also way you house them separate. The mother of one of my dragons took the entire leg off the father because of his repeat attempts to breed.
Its just hard to imagine that a "highly regarded breeder" advised you to do this.
Sorry if you felt that was condesending, but you had stated you had researched this and was aware. As I read the entire thread and the situation changed, along with her not eating or pooping for two weeks, it seemed a little alarming to put her in with a male period, let alone that she was only 8 months old and not grow up herself yet.
Housed separately and being able to see each other occassionally will let you see a lot of bobbing if that is what you want without risking either of them right now.
Best to you and the dragons, you might want to read Dr Tosneys site for general information on bearded dragon care, brumation and breeding.
Dr Tosney's Care Site
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www.reptilerooms.com
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 dragonz - CheriS, Sat Jan 3 10:29:48 2004
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