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Keeping breeders together?

codysedlar Mar 21, 2008 12:08 PM

I have a buddy who has a breeding trio that he keeps together in a large enclosure (4x4x4). They get together fine and I am pretty sure they were kept together since they were small. I was thinking about setting up the same thing. Is this frowned upon? I know I have seen a few posts on here talking about keeping the males and females apart and then putting them together to breed and seperating them shortly after atleast that's what I used to do. I want the ease of one cage instead of three, one big bowl of greens instead of 3 seperate, cleaning one water bowl instead of three....well you get the drift. So whats the good word? Throw some advice at me.
thanks
-Cody

Replies (3)

BDlvr Mar 22, 2008 06:55 AM

Real tough to say. Often it comes down to your tolerance for dragon abuse. I've had 1.2's in the past that worked out OK. I currently have 2 m/f pairs that work well and I have 3 females in a group that work well. Then I have lots of singles that don't work well in groups at all.

One of my oldest m/f pairs had to be separated this season. It is a shame as they get along very well. But, for some reason when he breeds her now she bleeds from her vent. It's not an issue of him breeding her too much as some people think happens whem males live with single females.

Three in one cage sounds easier but it's really not always. You have 3 times the poo and three times the dragon feet to spread it all around if you're not home all the time to clean it up right away.

On the positive side. I feel that the dragons have a better quality of life if housed with others. They get more exercise and the interaction between the dragons is more mentally stimulating that just laying there looking out.

If you decide to try it, you will always need to have other accomodations available in case of problems, injury, etc.

The floor spaces of my cages are either 5' x 3.5' or 4' x 3.5', I have 6 - 5' ones and 6 - 4' ones. They each have 2 basking spots. The picture is from the winter when the 4 hides under the basking platforms are blocked and many of my dragons are brumating.

niddy Mar 23, 2008 09:57 PM

I'm sooo not an expert, but I've tried to separate my 3, and it just makes everyone upset. Just recently I took Albie out, but after a day of protesting, he just kinda "gave up and spent 24/7 in the corner of his cage, laying flat with his head in the corner. Stopped eating too. Likewise, my 2 girls would frantically "pace" looking for him. And with them being gravid, I didn't like the stress that was adding.

So after like a week, I gave up and put Albie back in w/his girls. They instantly started "tasting" each other and Albie had the biggest meal of life! As we speak they're one big happy lizard pile basking.

I also tried to take one of my gals once too, with pretty much the same results, so I guess my lil trio is meant to stay together!

>>I have a buddy who has a breeding trio that he keeps together in a large enclosure (4x4x4). They get together fine and I am pretty sure they were kept together since they were small. I was thinking about setting up the same thing. Is this frowned upon? I know I have seen a few posts on here talking about keeping the males and females apart and then putting them together to breed and seperating them shortly after atleast that's what I used to do. I want the ease of one cage instead of three, one big bowl of greens instead of 3 seperate, cleaning one water bowl instead of three....well you get the drift. So whats the good word? Throw some advice at me.
>>thanks
>>-Cody

CodySedlar Mar 23, 2008 10:41 PM

thank you both for your help/information that you provided! ill post pictures of the cage when its done and ill post pictures of my trio when i get them.

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