Reptile & Amphibian Forums

ok it is confirmed she has eggs inside her ... I felt them today only 12 days after they mated...I AM SOOO EXCITED.... but I don't want to make any mistakes... Is there a breeder here that would be willing to talk with me through email that I could ask questions and offer advice during my adventure with her..... Web links would be great too.... I have read up but I want to get as much info as possible... I wasn't sure if she would go gravid because it is last in the season but .... woohoo it happened... Babies for Christmas ....... WHAT A PRESENT TO RECIEVE !!!!!!

I CAN NOT STOP SMILING !!!!

is hope that she does not decided to brumate and that she is one of the rare ones that only has one clutch from a mating.

You do understand what brumating is? I assume that she did not brumate recently? I have never seen one that does in the summer, that is usually the time they are breeding and laying eggs.

Historically late season clutches do not do as well as later season ones, these will be winter babies, and I have never dealt with that as we avoid breeding them during this time for their own health sake.

So... all that said, your going to need to see that she has pleanty of good greens and protein to support being gravid this late, also they need more fluids during this time. I assume that you know she has a good fat layer to support not only this gravid and egg laying period, but the several ones that can follow from one mating.

Supplements and good UVB, heat or supplements with calcium with D3 and good heat and also light intensity is a MUST. You need the light intensity and 14 hour days to make her stay up and not slow down like most dragons are doing this time of year.

There are breeders here that will help you as we care about the dragons, not only our dragons, but others. Since you took this step to breed at this time, we will try to help her through it. We would also have been available before you decided to breed them and advise you, but its a little late for that now.

Now, the eggs, you have the option on not incubating them and freezing them. But if you decide to incubate them, have at least 3 set ups ready for babies, you will need to divide them by size shortly after hatching so the larger ones do not eat the smaller ones and avoid nip tails and toes. Best to get all these things together and ready prior to them hatching.

For both her and the babies, you are going to have to simulate spring/summer so they get through this and survive with the best possible outcome.

to high heat on eggs will damamge them and produce a multitude of birth defects, you need to have the eggs at a constant temp and a gravid female on a heat rock is sure way to have problems for them, not even thinking about beardies should never be on them to begin with.

overheat heat is what dragons seek and thermorugulate from. Notice that funny scale area on the top of their head? That is called the third eye and they measure light intensity with it to seek heat source, they have little ways to gauge temps on their tummies.

Also, since she has been on this type of heat, what UVB source has she had and also, has she been checked for parasites and worms prior to breeding?

okay the hot rock is going...They are still on a summer cycle... I was planning on bringing the winter season in... but when i saw them mate I knew that it would be a bad thing for her... so to my dragons it is still summer...she is healthy and fat... not with eggs fat but good body fat.... she was not under feed or malnurished in anyway... her stools were great she eats well... temps are good...whe was calcium supplimented as well as other vitamins.....she has the proper lighting and set up... I have setups ready for the babies... several aquariums for them... I don't expect her to have a large clutch... this is her first and mine....
It is the first time that I have heard of anyone freezing the eggs... Is that possible ?
She can have another clutch from this same mating... In everything I have read I haven't heard of that or the freezing...
Once she lays her eggs I can start bringing in the winter season will that not stop her from producing more eggs ?
Approx. how much time do I have until she is ready to lay her eggs.. is it not 4-6 weeks from mating ? that would bring me to the end of October...I am sorry if I have upset any other breeders out here that think I did the wrong thing... but in my defense I can to this forum a couple of weeks ago and talked about breeding my female and no one mentioned anything about not being able to extend their summer season...... I have every intention of giving them time to brumate... I will probably start him on his winter season as he is not a concern....

Are you housing your male in with your female?

Freezing the eggs will kill them, its away to prevent them from developing into babies.

I am not sure if bringing winter in after she lays the first clutch of eggs would stop her from developing more. May be better to hold off till she is done laying a second clutch and maybe a third...then get her to go into hybernation. The more experienced breeders may have better advice on this than I do.

NO my male and female are in different cages... I better then that.

I don't want to kill the eggs... I want them... that is why I was confused when it was suggested. If she can have more then one clutch from ONE mating then I will let her do what she needs to .....to finish producing eggs.... I will have to make sure she is done and then start her brumation....

Now, the eggs, you have the option on not incubating them and freezing them

That was if you decided NOT to incubate them, freezing and disposing of them is the recommeneded way to do it. That avoids landfill hatching.

Yes, most females will lay 3-5 clutches from a mating, they retain sperm. Some will lay only 2, few will lay only 1 (I think someones dragon on here only laid one). Some may lay more than 5. This will be a few weeks to a month apart and that is what is so taxing on the female.

I am not mad or upset that you bred her this late, its your dragon and your choice, but she is going to need special care for her and the babies due to it. I personally do not feel it is a good idea for a dragon to breed so late and start producing eggs when you run the risk that they may want to brumate no matter what you do.

They need the best of nutrition and supplements while gravid to produce healthy eggs, thats a huge drain on a female and a slowed down dragon or one trying to brumate is not going to get that. From past experience, I know you can not stop a dragon that wants to brumate..... its something they do. When they wake after it, I think they are more prepared to handle that stress on them.

I have two girls down and three more very slowed down, and a few that are still active and eating normally, that should probably go down this coming week, and I still have them under UVB, 14 hour days but it is not going to stop them and if one was gravid right now I would be very concerned.

There are breeders that do breed year round I think (sorry I don't know any), perhaps some of them can tell you how that goes.

...no one replied because you posted after your dragons had already mated. How old is your gravid one? Hopefully, with your watchful eye & everyone's good advice, she & the eggs/hatchlings will make it through safely. Please update us often!
-----
God Bless, Beardie Dreams, & Peace!
Pogoniacs

hi
i never force my dragon goin into brumation!!!!!
they wil hide them zelf and if i see them alseep for 14 days i put light houres back.
to 10-8 houres a day.
then after the first sunshine is coming in my window from ousite the beardies wil awake and then i put every couple days 30 min the timer ahead.
some beardie brumated in a sleep ,other come out once a while to eat some thing and then go back asleep again.
i even have some adults who not brumated .
so i would waith if you beardie shopw you the signs he wanna go into brumation then put the lights back little bit.
also when a beardie go into brumation themzelf you cant stop them .
i got one time a beardie of 39 gram and stuborn as he whas he gointo brumation.
then after 2 months asleep and not eating any thing he wake up when first sunshine whas in my livingroom round janauari.
i weight him and i whas stunned he weight 41 gram he gained 2 gram .
after thats he grow into a nice healthy female named sleepy
i gues he lenght is 14 inches and weight round the 320 gram .
she is a normal fase dsragon and i not wil breed with her.
byueee

Hi
congratulations
if you see she digging for 2,3,4 days then you know she gonnan lay them soon.
make a mix of potsoil and sand 50/50
and then make it abit moist.
make a place that is atleast 8-10 inches deep and press it alittle .
i always take 4 bricks 2 on top of eachother 1 feet away from eachother then i place a flatflastone on top .
then i put the cave i made full with the mixed potsoil/sand .
then i make a little begining of a tunnel .
that must be a good place to lay them !!
after she is ready and bumbed with her head on the sand ,then you take out the eggs while she not see it and you give the lady a bath most of time they r very thirsty.
i always use vermucilite to incubate my eggs!!
on my website i have many links !!
read them if you have any qeeustions you always can email me!!
byeeeeee

http://www.run.to/b22

Thank-you !!!!

I bath her quite often... and the last couple of times she has been drinking quite a lot.... I have definately seen mood changes and a lot of digging but she is only 12 days pregnant and I am just starting to see her stomach get bigger and today was the first day that I felt an egg... now is handling them not recommended during this time......

Below is a link to Dr Kathyrn Tosney, Professor of Biology,
The University of Michigan site on bearded dragon's eggs. She has many comments from good breeders on there and she herself breeds them and lectures on bearded dragons. At the top of each page is links to other information such as brumation and caring for the females.

Please check it out, it will answer many questions for some new to this. Thats not saying we will not help you on here also, its just easier for you and better for the dragons if you are well read up on the subject first
Dr Tosney's Care Information on eggs