Reptile & Amphibian Forums

My dragon unexpectedly laid eggs back on May 10th.
I don't have an incubator, so I just put the eggs in margarine containers (holes punched in lids) half full of potting soil, and kept them in the dragon tank.
I was beginning to think they were no good because they are so old, but I just came home and two of them have hatched. I almost threw them out last week.
I wasn't worried about them hatching because my pet shop told me they would take them as soon as they hatched, so I didn't bother setting up a tank for them. I just called them. The pet shop just changed their minds and won't take them until they are a few weeks old. I said they could take them for free because I'm more worried about them being okay than getting money for them, but they aren't interested.
I have nothing set up for them, nothing to feed them, and know next to nothing about looking after them.
I rinsed them off in luke warm water because they were covered in filth, and put them in a tupperware container (holes in lid) lined with paper towel.
I'm really worried about one because it has a "nub" of reddish stuff hanging out of its stomach. It couldn't get out of its egg by itself and I had to help it. The other one has a normal stomach.

What do I do?

Dont help them out of the egg. They will come out naturally, sometimes it can take a full day just to get out. The nub you speak of was connected to the yolk sac that the dragons absorb when they are coming out, or sometimes they absorb them after coming out of the egg. Get lots of little crix within the next day or two, get your heat(110-115) and lights setup and whatever tanks you will be using to house them.......or cheap plastic tubs will work also. Mist them couple times a day, start offering food in a day or so.......tiny crickets and greens. Not sure what else you need to know...............just ask though. And next time you think of incubating or breeding........think of the many little babies you may have to take care of. Chris

Maybe if someone is close they could come pick them up. You have 2 days before they really need crickets. When they do start eating it will get expensive quickly. They need to eat 1/4 inch crickets at the BIGGEST! Leave them in the container they hatched in until you get them a setup. Don't touch them until they are active. If they have the thing on their belly be extra careful with them.

Tell us where you are, if someone can take them I am sure they will even drive a ways to pick them up.

Also, females don't usually lay just one clutch of eggs....did she lay more. How many eggs total?
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MY Dragons!!

I'm in Toronto, Canada.

I have 3 clutches with a total of 49 eggs. Another egg is hatching right now.
I think I'm okay. I can keep them warm, and I can get food after work tomorrow. The store said they would take them when they are 2-3 weeks old. However, if they are not willing to buy them, I will have to give them away. Money would be great but I'm more concerned with them being okay.

Wish I were closer, I would help you out with them.... I think we have a couple of people from Canada on this forum... maybe they will catch this post....

Good luck

Oh and on a side note.... I would NOT give them to a pet store after you have cared for and paid to care for them for 2-3 weeks.

>>I'm in Toronto, Canada.
>>
>>I have 3 clutches with a total of 49 eggs. Another egg is hatching right now.
>>I think I'm okay. I can keep them warm, and I can get food after work tomorrow. The store said they would take them when they are 2-3 weeks old. However, if they are not willing to buy them, I will have to give them away. Money would be great but I'm more concerned with them being okay.
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Lisa
www.beginnersbasics.com

you might be able to find someone there that might be williing to care for them.. hope that helps a bit.. good luck

>>Wish I were closer, I would help you out with them.... I think we have a couple of people from Canada on this forum... maybe they will catch this post....
>>
>>Good luck
>>
>>Oh and on a side note.... I would NOT give them to a pet store after you have cared for and paid to care for them for 2-3 weeks.
>>
>>
>>>>I'm in Toronto, Canada.
>>>>
>>>>I have 3 clutches with a total of 49 eggs. Another egg is hatching right now.
>>>>I think I'm okay. I can keep them warm, and I can get food after work tomorrow. The store said they would take them when they are 2-3 weeks old. However, if they are not willing to buy them, I will have to give them away. Money would be great but I'm more concerned with them being okay.
>>-----
>>Lisa
>>www.beginnersbasics.com
>>
>>
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reiko
photos

If you are worried about the babies going to a good home and being well looked after, don't sell them to a petstore. Most petstores don't know much about how to care for reptiles or take the time to properly care for them. I can't understand how your dragon unexpectly had eggs unless you bought her as an adult and gravid. Otherwise she would have been housed with a male dragon inorder to produce fertile eggs. Since you are obviously ill prepared and unwilling to care for dragon babies, you should keep your male away from your female from now on.

Now for some helpful information. Go get small crickets, 1/8th to 1/4th inch as soon as you can. Newly hatched babies usually are ok for a couple day without food. Get at least 1000 crickets as you will go through them fast. There is a reptile Show this sunday in Missaussauga, spend the $5 entrance fee and go there...get more crickets and talk to the breeders. Some are local and may be willing to take the babies off your hands (don't bring them to the show though...just talk with them and after the show they could arrange to meet with you or whatever. Not sure if they would want your babies at all, you will have to ask). Others here have already mentioned what you need to do to take care of these dragons for the next 4-6 weeks. (not good to sell them to a petstore or anybody else new to dragons till at least 6 weeks old and 6" long).

Thanks Chris.

Is it okay if I don't get them any food until after work tomorrow? Like I said, I thought the pet shop was going to take them off my hands immediately, but now they won't, so I'm not ready for this at all.
I can't get any food until after work tomorrow unless I take time off work, but I don't want to do that unless I really have to.

You should be fine doing it after work.... generally good for a day or so after they hatch.

>>Thanks Chris.
>>
>>Is it okay if I don't get them any food until after work tomorrow? Like I said, I thought the pet shop was going to take them off my hands immediately, but now they won't, so I'm not ready for this at all.
>>I can't get any food until after work tomorrow unless I take time off work, but I don't want to do that unless I really have to.
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Lisa
www.beginnersbasics.com

Oh you need to order crickets. It's amazing how much you can go through. They eat on average 20-30 crickets each daily. I have one that eat's 50. It'll get expensive fast!

Make sure to get any uneaten crickets out of the enclosure at night..crickets chew on beardies while they sleep. Never feed babies mealworms. Crickets no larger then the space between their eyes.
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TheClassyLizard