Reptile & Amphibian Forums

OK, I've been seeing conflicting information on this. In all my research before getting my first dragons (almost a year ago now), I don't remember reading anything about keeping males and females seperate when they are of breeding age. Now that I've been reading this forum for a few weeks now, I've been noticing some people saying that.

My male (a little over 10 months old) had a jet black beard and was mating my 2 females (2yrs and 1.5 yrs old) for about 2-3 weeks. Now he's back to his calm self and isn't really displaying the mating behavior any more. I'm assuming that's because he can somehow tell that they are both gravid (at least I'm hoping they are .

I don't see keeping them all in the same tank right now as being a problem, since he is leaving them alone for the most part. The only time I would possibly see it as being a problem is right after the females lay their eggs. Would he try to mate them again right away after they lay? Some clarification on this issue would be much appreciated.

Also curious what you small breeders have found best to keep your babies in. I was thinking about just picking up a few 10 gallon tanks and putting them next to eachother (so I can use just one or 2 long flourescent fixtures). I've also seen people use rubbermaid tubs too. Really just looking for some pros and cons on the different options.

I can't wait for these girls to start laying and get some babies in here, I'm so excited !

No good. I wouldnt advise to keep your male with females. Plus your male is young. There have been reported problems with males prolapsing from trying to breed, and possibly from them being too young(I know one person personally that this happened to). Also why stress the females out that much to have to deal with a young horny male all the time? Just imagine what a pain it would be for a gravid female trying to deal with that for the first time, and plus having to deal with an annoying male chase them or the other females? I dont even let my males see my females. Keeping them seperate gives you control over what breeds and when. Also something to think of......you mate 3 females all for your first time, all at the same time........be prepared to house hundreds of babies and incubate hundreds of eggs all at the same time. Laying can be 3-4 weeks apart on average with females laying 2-4 clutches per season on average, and average incubation time being approx 60 days, and with clutches averaging say 15-30 eggs a piece. You do the math with 3 females. Keeping them seperate you can mate one at a time or spread it apart. Just some advise. Chris

The tubs may work out better.......at least I like them for my babies. Very easy to clean because they are light, they come tinted so most are either not easy to see through or you cant see through them at all which will keep the babies less stressed from seeing other movements and also keep it bright inside, and they are cheap. Most also give more floor space than small tanks without too much un-needed height. Chris

When I first started breeding I did have the male in with the females year round. Then I started paying closer attention and noticed how much stress was actually being put on the girls I now house them all alone and they are introduced for breeding only.

I also used to have 10 gallon tanks lined up for the babies, they shared a basking light and a uvb light...... but yet again I have changed to using the semi clear plastic tubs... more surface area, better gradient and super easy to clean.

>>OK, I've been seeing conflicting information on this. In all my research before getting my first dragons (almost a year ago now), I don't remember reading anything about keeping males and females seperate when they are of breeding age. Now that I've been reading this forum for a few weeks now, I've been noticing some people saying that.
>>
>>My male (a little over 10 months old) had a jet black beard and was mating my 2 females (2yrs and 1.5 yrs old) for about 2-3 weeks. Now he's back to his calm self and isn't really displaying the mating behavior any more. I'm assuming that's because he can somehow tell that they are both gravid (at least I'm hoping they are .
>>
>>I don't see keeping them all in the same tank right now as being a problem, since he is leaving them alone for the most part. The only time I would possibly see it as being a problem is right after the females lay their eggs. Would he try to mate them again right away after they lay? Some clarification on this issue would be much appreciated.
>>
>>Also curious what you small breeders have found best to keep your babies in. I was thinking about just picking up a few 10 gallon tanks and putting them next to eachother (so I can use just one or 2 long flourescent fixtures). I've also seen people use rubbermaid tubs too. Really just looking for some pros and cons on the different options.
>>
>>I can't wait for these girls to start laying and get some babies in here, I'm so excited !
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Lisa
www.beginnersbasics.com

So what do you all do then, just keep the males in tanks by themselves all the time except when you are ready to breed them? Then put them in the female(s) tank? How long do you leave them in there? I'm assuming you have each male housed seperate to avoid fighting. Is a 3'x2'x18" tank big enough for a single male?

Also, what do you mean by a young male prolapsing?

Thanks!

I hope you are prepared to deal with the loads of eggs you are going to get by having all your females gravid. You will need alot of containers to house the babies since it is always better to keep no more than 5 or so babies in the same tank. This limits the amount of nipped toes and tails. It won't iliminate the chance of it happening, only housing them individualy would do that (though this is impractical for the most part).

You will need to have several incubators set up or one large one ready now. Don't wait for the last minute to have the incubator ready cause most likely your dragons will lay when you don't expect it. Since the females will lay at least once more before the first clutch hatches, you need room for at least 120 eggs and since most small incubators (home made kinds) only have room for about 50 eggs or less, you need at least three. Quick math:

3-4 weeks between clutches, 60-72 days for eggs to hatch. In 8 weeks you can have two full clutches per female incubating. That's anywhere between 80-120 eggs or more. As some clutches can take more than 72 days to hatch (depends on temperatures etc) you may even have a third clutch to squeeze in (another 40-60 eggs).

I really do hope you are ready for 200-300 babies..

Well, I'll be getting another tank to put the male in here soon, so he won't be housed with them again until I'm ready for them to breed again. Females can't store sperm while they are gravid right?

I've got my incubator on the way right now (should be here tomorrow hopefully), so I'll get that set up and running right away, although the females haven't started digging around or anything yet.

You wrote ..
"Females can't store sperm while they are gravid right? "

WRONG!
A female can have 3 clutches of eggs from one breeding. I have a female that just laid her third clutch on Saturday and yet she was bred once only.
clutch one... 17 eggs
clutch two... 20 eggs
clutch three... 16 eggs

>>Well, I'll be getting another tank to put the male in here soon, so he won't be housed with them again until I'm ready for them to breed again. Females can't store sperm while they are gravid right?
>>
>>I've got my incubator on the way right now (should be here tomorrow hopefully), so I'll get that set up and running right away, although the females haven't started digging around or anything yet.
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Lisa
www.beginnersbasics.com