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Thoughts?

adamsapple Jun 28, 2010 09:08 PM

Wanted to share what happened:
I recently got back into the hobby hardcore after a 10 yr hiatus. I now have a group of 1.4 beardeds. The male is an italian leatherback.

One of my female beardies laid a clutch of 28 eggs the first week of April. This was the first clutch of bearded eggs I have ever attempted to hatch (or ever gotten for that matter). I placed the in a hovabator in hatchrite along with a thermometer and the temp was set at 84 degrees. 5 weeks went by and I got two more clutches of eggs from other females and started to set them up. I purchased some new thermometers and when I placed one in the hovabator I saw it said 91 degrees. I verified this with other thermometers of various types.

The dragon eggs had been at 91 degrees for 5 straight weeks. I then turned down the temps to 84 and 16 of the 28 eggs hatched two weeks later on june 24th. One had a bad kink in its spine but the remaining 15 all look pretty good. I upgraded to a better incubator with a digital readout for the other two clutches.

1) I was under the impression 91 degrees would kill the embryos.
2) Can I expect a male heavy group?
3) Outwordly the dragons look good but can I expect problems down the road?

Thanks in advance.

Replies (2)

Moonstone Jun 29, 2010 01:36 AM

Sex in dragons is determined genetically not by temps like alligators and turtles. I incubate at low temps, and get a mix of both sexes. The rest I cant really comment on. I just bought the new zoo med reptibator and the heat sensor (digital) is at the top of the lid and the eggs are at the bottom, so I use a probe therm. in the deli cups to measure the temps. It does a good job, but if you go by the digital read out on the lid, your eggs are not the temp the indicator keeps the unit at if that makes sense.

Good luck with your babies.
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www.moonstonedragons.com

BDlvr Jun 29, 2010 08:41 AM

This link should help you with question #1 and #2

http://www.reptileforums.co.uk/forums/lizards/92338-incubation-temperatures-sex-determination-bearded.html

As far as question #3, It has been said that longer incubation times (lower temps.) allow for slower development and result in stronger babies. I think you'll just have to see how it goes.

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