Reptile & Amphibian Forums

What is the best weight a breeding female should be? and whats the lowest it could go?

From everything I heard and what I am doing mine at is 350 grams...
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Tom
1.2.0 Leopard Gecko (dot, spot, casper)
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Lots Of Fish

If you are concerned about a particular animal and wondering if its too far on the low end to be bred, then it shouldnt be bred. Any animal that you arent sure about should probably be larger - its a huge stress on the dragon and only animals in good health should be bred.

If its a young animal, don't breed in the first year, regardless of weight. At this point they need all the calcium and nutrition for growing, not making eggs
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they say a female shouldnt be bred any younger than 18 months and 350 grams but my female was well over 350 grams and she was 3 years old when i bred her...honestly i would wait atleast another year to breed her if shes young and i would make sure shes well over 350 grams because they lose a good amount of weight after they lay the eggs
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1.0.0 Frilled Dragon - Frank
0.0.1 Rhinoceros Iguana - Mo
2.1.12 Bearded Dragons - Magellan, Galileo, Lizzy, all the babies

I would never recommend breeding any female under 350grams.

Yes they can produce eggs fertile or infertile at smaller weights, but that for the most part the owner can't control. However they certainly can control when they put a female in with a male. So my recommendations, the female should be at least 14 months old and at least 350g.

As for what weight they can be at the lower end...well, that is also 350g. Some may say 300g is the minimum but I think otherwise.

I would also add that dragons under 16" shouldn't be bred period regardless of age and weight. But that is my personal opinion, as some breeders may want to have smaller dragons than others. Then again most dragons who are that small as adults are either hybrids (rankins(or Lawsons) dragons bred with Inland bearded dragons), suffered stunted growth due to poor husbandry during their first year or two, or genetically are prone to being small (either by too much inbreeding or other genetic defect).
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PHLdyPayne

I agree, but I would also take into consideration the weight to length ratio. I think 350 is fine on a shorter female that is nice and plump, but if you have a nice long 20" or bigger female, and she is weighing in at 350 grams, she is probably on the thin side and should wait to breed her until she gets some weight on. I have heard since getting back into the dragons alot of small dragons are being bred, but I am also seeing some really nice sized dragons out there. I wish breeders would try to set a standard and stick to it. Small dragons might be convenient for some, or appealing even, but I personally would rather have healthy large animals that exhibit size, structure, and color! If you want a small dragon, go get a rankins, which is supposed to be small.

I agree with Chris. I see a lot of breeders breeding dragons that I wouldn't consider breeding. I recently saw an add for a Bearded Dragon that was a rescue. I don't have a problem with that but, here is what I don't understand. The add went on to talk about how many eggs she produced for them that year. I read that and thought......WHAT?

Anyways. I look for a decent size in the parents of the babies I buy. I don't look for huge because larger females have been shown to have problems getting the eggs out. Larger means 700 grams plus.

I don't consider breeding the girls until they are 500 grams .

But, I am also picky when it comes to my breeders.
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www.midnightdragons.net

Very good point Chris. The dragon should be healthy , a good weight for its size, parasite free and have a clean bill of health from a vet before being bred.
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PHLdyPayne