Reptile & Amphibian Forums

I got three beardeds....

a female 15 inches, almost a year old

a female 14 inches over a year old

a male 12 inches 9=10 months old.

These were neglected for a short period food wise by its previous owner....had a mercury vapor bulb and they are feeding and being supplemented along with good lighting now.

My question is....is the growth stunted permanently? They do not show signs of MBD or anything and all eat.

The male eats a lot less, I think he may need to be isolated as he is acting submissive to the large females.

Any advice be great...I am hoping to breed them in a year or two...if body size allows.

The females weigh 200 and 210 grams.

It's difficult to say since you don't know how big their parents are so you don't know their potential. I will say I'm sure they will continue to grow. I've had a couple of dragons brumate at very small sizes in years past (~200 g.). They all eventually caught up to their non brumating counterparts. Beardies continue to grow and fill out even afler their 2nd birthday in some cases.

Definitely separate the male from the two females, both your females are too young to bred anyway.

As for potential for further growth, it all depends on the care they receive now and how much they are fed. They still have time to grow larger and heavier.
-----
PHLdyPayne

I separated them last night....

I am feeding the crap out of them....tons of roachs, green, dragon dust, some extra calc and D and some mealworms/wax worms.

Got them setup with mercury vapor bulbs in two spacious cages.

Gonna let them grow for a year or two, then see where we stand.

Thanks!