Reptile & Amphibian Forums

Hi,
Hoping someone can help me. I found 3 eggs in my female's tank yesterday. I have a male and female, but they have never been together where they could mate, so I know the eggs must be unfertilized but why would she lay them now? I've had her for 4 years and him for 3 yrs and she has never done this. The eggs did not have a hard shell and I know that would normally mean she was lacking nutrients in her diet, but because they are not fertilized is that normal??? I am also concerned because I know people who's beardie has died from laying too many eggs, is she in danger at all if she continues this?? If anyone has knowledge of this please let me know and images are helpful too so I can compare. Thanks!!

-Harley

Yes, usually my infertile eggs come out shelled just like fertile. Not as big or as plump as fertile, but shelled white none the less.

Femeles do lay infertile eggs from time to time. It's completely normal for it to happen from time to time. The fact that there was only 4 makes me wonder if she got them all out or not. Have you noticed her digging or scratching in the corners more then usual? I would set up a laying bin just incase she still has some left in her, or just incase she has to lay again. I've never had a clutch less then 13 eggs both fertile and infertile, so if one of my girls laid 4 it would make me wonder if she had more still yet to come. It's possible she did not have a suitable place to lay, so she just dropped 4 of them to lighten her load..

as long as you feed her heavier, and make sure she's getting a good multivitamin, and calcium with d3 she should be just fine laying a clutch here and there of infertile eggs. It's when the females are overbred, not in optimum shape before breeding, and not fed properly through their pregnancy that they start to go downhill from eggs.
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Thanks for the info. I will do my best to make her more comfortable so she can lay more if she needs to. The eggs had no hard shell at all. Sorry but were you saying that was normal or not??

-Harley

In my experiences with infertile beardie eggs they have all been fully shelled like good eggs only softer, squishy, and in most cases smaller. They did have shells though. In a few clutches of good eggs I have received a slug which is an unshelled infertile egg.. I think this may be from not having enough calcium to shell them, or all the calcium being used up on the good eggs, but not 100% sure.
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Mystical-Dragons Web Site
Webshots photos