Reptile & Amphibian Forums

I have a question for the experienced breeders. I have a pair of frilleds that are about 7-8 months old and around 17"-18". I've been housing them together... the female is a bit longer and seems to be the dominant one (she always gets the prime basking area and the waterfall when she wants it). I don't think the male has tried to breed her, BUT I've found them in this position a couple of times (see photo--male on top).

I'm just wondering how easy the eggs are to feel (compared to beardeds) if she should develop them this early?

Female on bottom, head down, male on top, they are breeding. I would seperate them. Females frilleds that breed to young are much more likely to become egg bound. If you keep them together. keep a close eye on her.
James

Yeah I know she is in the submissive head-down posture... I've never caught them in the act or seen any head bobbing/frilling. But you're probably right... he has a guilty look on his face =)

I probably will separate them. If she develops eggs, will I be able to feel them like with bearded dragons? How deep should the nest box be for frilleds?

Hi James !!!
Hi Rich! LOL.
Yea, I'd have to agree. Naughty boy--and girl for letting him!
Unfortunately, it is nowhere as easy to see/tell eggs as it is for beardies. I'd just have a lay area ready, watch for her to look like a balloon, maybe see some lumps, maybe not. My guys fool me all the time. And it can even be hard to tell when they lay. I'd say about 6in to a foot of soil/sand/substrate deep--similar moisture level as a beardie. You can do it in a cat litter pan, or I found my girls like mounds at the corners of their enclosure.
Hopefully she wont build eggs, young frillies make me nervous--they can bind up very easily--eggs are pretty big.
good luck.,
dana

Thanks guys... I really hope she doesn't develop eggs (she hasn't been cycled at all). I'd love this to happen late in the summer if she puts enough size on. In the meantime I'm just making sure she gets a lot of calcium/multivits.

Yea, you really want the frilly females to be about 2 years old before breeding. They take a little longer to develop than some lizards (and shorter than others I guess--some you need to wait 5 years!).
good luck
dana