Reptile & Amphibian Forums

Hi to those who remember me, it has been a long while

My questions:
Is there anything you can do to prevent egg binding in females who are not mating? I have 5 females who I do not plan on breeding, one of which has been bred before. My worry is that they will develop eggs anyways and become eggbound. Is there anything I can do to prevent this besides the obvious (proper diet, supplements, hydration, heating, uvb/uva, proper housing etc).

Do those who breed bds or have bred in the past know of a good way to have a laying box in the cage at all times (designs)? Do you have pictures of your cages with the laying box inside? Would the females be less likely to become eggbound if they have a laying box at all times? What is a good substrate for the box, that wont develop mold?

Basically is there any special care I can take in order to help my female dragons reach a nice old age like Traceys Any advice/help you could offer would be great.

BTW all my dragons are in the same room and yes males can see females and vice versa and right now I have no room to change that Thank you, LindsayMarie

My questions:
Is there anything you can do to prevent egg binding in females who are not mating?
Allow them to lay their eggs and that should prevent egg-binding.

I have 5 females who I do not plan on breeding, one of which has been bred before. My worry is that they will develop eggs anyways and become eggbound. Is there anything I can do to prevent this besides the obvious (proper diet, supplements, hydration, heating, uvb/uva, proper housing etc).
Answered previously.

Do those who breed bds or have bred in the past know of a good way to have a laying box in the cage at all times (designs)?
I actually just use a seperate rubbermaid container (30 gallon) when my female lays her eggs, works great).

Do you have pictures of your cages with the laying box inside?
No. Can't help you there.

Would the females be less likely to become eggbound if they have a laying box at all times?
No, they shouldn't become eggbound if they are allowed to lay eggs.

That is a good substrate for the box, that wont develop mold?
Vermiculite.

Basically is there any special care I can take in order to help my female dragons reach a nice old age like Traceys Any advice/help you could offer would be great.
Lots of calcium (extra time each week), uva/uvb, etc.

BTW all my dragons are in the same room and yes males can see females and vice versa and right now I have no room to change that Thank you, LindsayMarie

I think you are doing all the right things....I've not had any egg binding with any of my females, fertile or infertile.....healthy, well filled out females should lay with now issues.....I don't keep a box in my tanks....I use 48 qt rubbermaids with unfertilized soil and sand mixture....kept damp and packed with the top surface allowed to dry.....I place them in it when I see them digging. I'm sure there are cases where egg binding is a genetic thing...small pelvis or other anomolies but you wouldn't be able to predict that.....usually they lay with 3-5 days after stopping eating some sooner, some later....use your gut feeling as well, if she doesn't seem right, like she should have already layed....never hurts to see the vet....but unless one has a genetic defect or an illness during impeding laying with your husbandry I'm sure they will all do just wonderfully.
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Tracey
Tracey's Beardies
www.beardiecrazy.com

Thank you but there are many dragons out there with great owners in the 8-12 age group.....I'm just happily one of them........I'm sure yours will see that age as well.....
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Tracey
Tracey's Beardies
www.beardiecrazy.com

When/if mine start digging, I provide a laying box. My girls lay infertile eggs with no problem. Optimum health is a great benefit.
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www.classylizard.com

I thought I would ask some basic questions to those with beardies over age 8! Maybe it will help others to help there dragons reach a ripe ol age You dont have to answer all the
questions or any at all. I would just greatly appreciate it if you did! *smiles*

1.) What do you feed to your dragons as a staple? What other foods do you feed and how often?

2.) How do you provide water to your dragon (water bowl, baths, misting, greens etc)?

3.) What kind of supplements do you use, if any? How often do you use them?

4.) What kind of caging do you use (plastic, wood)? What size do you use for 1 adult dragon?

5.) Do you use UVB/UVA bulbs? If so what kind? How often do you replace them?

6.) What kind of substrate do you use for the enclosures?

7.) Do you brumate your dragons every year?

8.) Do you ever house more then 1 female to a cage? Or breeding pairs etc?

9.) What are the temps you use with your cages (cool and hot end)?

Any other tips you can give? Specific things you do that others might not be doing that you think might be helping your dragons live happy, healthy and longer then many other peoples dragons?

Thank you, Lindsay

1.) What do you feed to your dragons as a staple? What other foods do you feed and how often?

as adults....greens, veggies and more greens daily....lol, they get crickets, superworms, or silkworms 1-2 times per week, they are offered repcal pellets as well, but many don't eat them

treats: roaches, hornworms, fruits once per every 1-2 weeks

2.) How do you provide water to your dragon (water bowl, baths, misting, greens etc)?

as adults greens, soak them weekly

3.) What kind of supplements do you use, if any? How often do you use them?

as adults calcium on bug feeding days....breeding females 3 times per week, no multivits unless they aren't eating well....parazap monthly for the last couple of years

4.) What kind of caging do you use (plastic, wood)? What size do you use for 1 adult dragon?

I have wood, glass and plexi tanks.....my minimum cage for an adult dragon is 4 x 1 1/2 x 1 1/2....the over 19 inchers have 4 x 2 x 1 1/2 though

5.) Do you use UVB/UVA bulbs? If so what kind? How often do you replace them?

MVB....though 3 years ago I used reptisun 5.0's.....the MVB's are replace every 10-11 months....the reptisuns were every 5 months.....

6.) What kind of substrate do you use for the enclosures?

For several years I used washed, screened playsand, then tried bran, now use the duck shelf liner.....I had no problems with any of them, just find the shelf liner easier and cleaner

7.) Do you brumate your dragons every year?

I let them do what comes naturally to them...I have some that just slow down a bit to those who sleep for 3 months

8.) Do you ever house more then 1 female to a cage? Or breeding pairs etc?

I have some large cages with multiple females....I don't house pairs together as I have only one non-aggressive breeding male, a pastel that's only aggressive if one on one with a female

9.) What are the temps you use with your cages (cool and hot end)?

adult cages again....80-82 cool.....90-95 warm...basking range of 100-110

Any other tips you can give? Specific things you do that others might not be doing that you think might be helping your dragons live happy, healthy and longer then many other peoples dragons?

I don't think I'm doing anything different than the majority of others out there, so nope......
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Tracey
Tracey's Beardies
www.beardiecrazy.com