Reptile & Amphibian Forums

At what age do females generally stop producing eggs? I'm looking into buying an adult female for breeding and don't want to get one that's over the hill reproductively. Thanks in advance. -Scott

I recommend not to breed after 6 years...however females can produce eggs after 6 years...but most top breeders retire their females at 6 years of age.

Giving the fact most breeders are brumating or cooling their dragons at this time of year, not likely to find any available to sale. Ideally I would recommend buying a dragon that is about a year old now, keep her quarantined from your other dragons for the next month at least (3 months best so you can get three clean fecals and have a complete vet check near the end of the quarantine period). Then after the clean bill of health your dragon will be 13-15 months old, brumate for two more months (up to 4) then she will be 17-18 months old which puts her at the ideal age to start breeding. You probably have clutches later than most but it is rather late to start looking for a breeding ready female.
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PHLdyPayne

Not to second guess you, but whats wrong with buying a baby female, raising her with good care and then breeding her if she is fit to? Have you raised dragons yet, or cared for babies?

Its a tough call buying adult dragons, because there is value in being able to get a female that is ready to breed, but you could be taking on someone else's headache also. Buying dragons in the 12-14" range as subadults is a good way of getting a jump on raising them, but yet you still get to make sure you are using good quality healthy virgin animals. Plus, you can get a good idea of what the dragon is going to look like at that size, or at least a better guess than picking one out as a hatchling.
chris allen