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Sex Controlled Incubation?

ReptileGuru Jan 22, 2004 02:07 PM

I have heard that Beardeds are possibly temp sexed during incubation. What temperatures supposedly produce Males and what temps for Females? Has anyone here tested it at all? Let me know. Thanks.

Tony Alles
www.reptileguru.com

Replies (15)

grimdog Jan 22, 2004 02:08 PM

:P
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Derek Affonce
DeKeAff Exotics
dekeaffexotics.com

BeginnersBasics Jan 22, 2004 02:09 PM

>>I have heard that Beardeds are possibly temp sexed during incubation. What temperatures supposedly produce Males and what temps for Females? Has anyone here tested it at all? Let me know. Thanks.
>>
>>Tony Alles
>>www.reptileguru.com

Not true with dragons. Not that anyone has proven anyway.
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Lisa
100% cricket free babies!
www.beginnersbasics.com

ReptileGuru Jan 22, 2004 02:53 PM

In Robert Mallouix's book, "The Bearded Dragon Manual", he mentions that it is possible. I am curious what temps would lean toward the different sexes. With leopard geckos, low temps produce more females. If it is possible, would it be the same temps as leopard geckos?

Christyj Jan 22, 2004 02:54 PM
ReptileGuru Jan 22, 2004 03:16 PM

We incubate at 86 degrees and on a clutch of 20 bearded dragons we hatched out 17 that are 100% males. The other 3 appear to be females. Coincidence? I am going to incubate a clutch at 80 degrees and will see how many males show up in that clutch. I know it takes more than a couple of clutches to prove it, but it is still interesting. And, I know books can be outdated, but this book was revised about a year ago. I have seen nothing to prove it wrong since.

Tony Alles
www.reptileguru.com

paulmorlock Jan 22, 2004 06:39 PM

I have read a lot on the forum that dragons are not temp. sex dependent. I don't think the influence of temperature is quite to the degree of geckos, but I have to say lower temperatures do favor females in my experience. Normally my incubator runs at 82 degrees except for winter of course when it's 79-80 degrees. Over the past 2 years at 82 degrees I have gotten around 75% females. I don't have documented numbers to back it up, but prior to that when my incubator was set at 85 degrees I would get mostly males. This would lead me to believe that temperature does influence sex in bearded dragons to some degree.
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Paul Morlock
of CaptiveCreations and
Retail Sales Rep. for Sandfire Dragon Ranch

dach Jan 22, 2004 09:21 PM

We have used temps from 78-86.Sometimes cooler temps seem to play a role in hatching out more female,but not always.
We usually get more males as a whole. Some lizards offspring are temp sexed by the females body temp. I am wondering if a dragon lays late, if the females body temp plays any role in the sex of the offsping.
Sometimes when females lay you may have to wait 3-5 days to see any vessels in the eggs. When other females lay they are already present...Just a thought??
Rob

paulmorlock Jan 22, 2004 09:29 PM

Good point Rob. I believe the duration a female retains the eggs before laying may also be significant. Whats the average time for your animals gestation?
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Paul Morlock
of CaptiveCreations and
Retail Sales Rep. for Sandfire Dragon Ranch

paulmorlock Jan 22, 2004 09:52 PM

"I believe the duration a female retains the eggs before laying may also be significant" DUHHH.. you were talking about gestation. Thanks for the link, those guy seem to bash each other more than talk about reptiles, and they sure dislike us yanks. I registered just to give us a say. we'll see how they like that.
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Paul Morlock
of CaptiveCreations and
Retail Sales Rep. for Sandfire Dragon Ranch

dach Jan 22, 2004 09:53 PM

Hey did you get the link I sent you???
Rob

dach Jan 22, 2004 09:57 PM

Dang you are quick... They sure look to have a good time over there. Did you post up yet??? Like to see the response..Throw a couple mates in and you'll fit right in...

paulmorlock Jan 22, 2004 10:08 PM

No, I couldn't post yet, had to wait for the confirmation to go through.
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Paul Morlock
of CaptiveCreations and
Retail Sales Rep. for Sandfire Dragon Ranch

dach Jan 22, 2004 09:52 PM

Anywhere from 14 days to 6 weeks but the average is about 21 days.
I will say our breeding cages are on the hot side during the day..
Cool side about 88 degrees or so
Rob

paulmorlock Jan 22, 2004 10:04 PM

This coincides with my temps..My avg is 14-21 days. I moved my animals into the basement 2years ago and there the cold side temps are usually 79-82.
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Paul Morlock
of CaptiveCreations and
Retail Sales Rep. for Sandfire Dragon Ranch

Christyj Jan 22, 2004 10:23 PM

82-83 and got mostly males too. So, You may want to go quite a bit lower.
The recent discussion that I've seen is that there hasn't been much luck with trying to get more females by playing with temps.
Good Luck and let us know what happens with lower temps.
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www.classylizard.com

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