Reptile & Amphibian Forums

Both my two older girls laid eggs this last week. Both infertile clutches. Pumpkin laid 24 eggs and Lava has laid 12 so far today and feels as if she has a few more coming. I have a bunch of questions to those willing to give me some answers:

Do all infertile eggs look shriveled? I'm almost positive neither of them had a chance to be with a male but a few of the eggs in both of their clutches look round and white in comparison to the others.

If I breed either of them now will they have fertile clutches? I'm almost positive Pumpkin is starting to grow more eggs...she's an absolute maniac for food right now.

I was a bit surprised Lava laid eggs. She's only about 340 grams or so last time I checked and that is pretty small for my dragons. What is the difference in energy costs between infertile and fertile clutches? Would it be wise to not breed her because it would cost her much less energy? Or is she basically going to expend the energy anyway whether I breed her or not?

Wizard doesn't seem like he's quite ready to breed. I put him with Pumpkin and he got a black beard and bit her near the neck but did not mount her. He doesn't do much of a headbob display either. Does it take a few hours to "court" the females sometimes or is it usually an all or nothing thing? If I wanted to breed them should I just leave them in the cage together or is it completely obvious if they will breed or not. He's about 400 grams now but still has a bit of growing to do.

Monarch and Casper are definitely ready to breed. If I did breed Pumpkin to either of them what would your vote be? Monarch is a very pretty orange color but Casper is huge. He's over 500 grams now and very robust.

On another note I hope everyones dragons are doing well. I haven't been around much; been super busy with school. Hopefully I'll have more time to catch up.

Here's Lava:

Casper:

Pumpkin:

Monarch:

Wizard:

I wish I had an answer for you but I don't.

But Can you put me on the list for a Pumpkin/Wizard Hatchling? LOL
-----
2.0.0 Iguanas, 3.4.0 Beardies, 1.2.0 Saharan/Nigerian Uromastyx, 1.1.1 Leos, 0.0.1 African Fat Tail, 0.0.1 Fla Garter Snake, 0.0.1 Corn Snake, 0.0.3 Fire Belly Toads, 1.0.0 Eastern Painted Turtle, 0.0.1 African Sideneck, 1.1.1 Horses {Baby VERY soon!!!!}, 2.2.0 cats, 0.1.0 dog, 0.1.0 African Pygmy Hedgehog and I'm done for now.....

WOW, beautiful dtagons. It isn't uncommon for first clutches to be infertile. No, not all infertile look shriveld, some look perfectly normal. You can also get a mix of both. Yes, you can rebreed, you may get fertile clutches even if you don't because of the sperm retention but rebreeding will up your chances. As far as energy expended in egg production, IMO if they are throwing duds, might as well breed them. There is less of a chance of egg binding with a fertile clutch than an infertile one. Who to breed to who???? I don't think it matters much, you're going to get beautiful babies no matter what.

Sean
Heart Mountain Herps

Well, the 340 gram girl isn't really that small, it all depends on the individual animal.

Some infertile eggs can look fertile at laying, but then mold and harder over time, some are soft like that at laying though. If they haven't been with a boy, then they are not fertile.

They will lay the infertile eggs no matter what obviously, but it is harder for them to lay them, see, fertile eggs are firm and harder so when the muscles the female uses to push them out have something to grip, when they are soft and mushy, they cant grip anything and it will be harder for them lay them all properly. My advice would be to breed her so you get eggs and she has less of a time expeling them and such.

Wizard may not show breeding behavior right off, I would actually leave her in the cage with him for a day or two to make sure he gets the job done, and he will he just needs some time. Other males will mate when the girl is there so it depends on the male really. He can do it just give him some time. He may only be 400 grams but that doesn't make a difference with males, when they act like they are breeding and are larger than 250grams, they usually can get the job done, but that doesnt mean breed a 250 gram guy but you get what I mean, 400 grams is just fine a size to breed him. He will put back on weight and size after he is done.

If you feel the other males are more qualified and ready, use them and give Wizard more time. Since both are ready, it is your choice as to which boy to use, I would chose the orange one because of color but the Snow would cross it just fine too, all up to you. I hope this goes well for you and let me know how it all goes.

Phil

I am going through the same thing right now. I have a big, awsome colored female that is ready to go, but Im not sure if my male is ready. My advice is to leave them together for awhile as long as neither is too stressed.

However I have not had any infertile eggs laid yet. If either is going to lay eggs anyway, you might as well breed them and get fertile ones. I also have an orange male as a backup plan.

It would be nice if you could breed Pumpkin to that other orange male and then keep trying her with Wizard. Then if Wizard doesnt do the job you still get fertile eggs. However, Im not sure how sperm retention actually works in beardies. I dont know if Wizards sperm would replace the other males sperm if he bred her. Or if you would get a mix of babies with each males genetics. Or what.

Does anyone know?

I dont know if Wizards sperm would replace the other males sperm if he bred her. Or if you would get a mix of babies with each males genetics. Or what.
>>
>>Does anyone know?

That is related to the thread I started up the top of the board this afternoon. I have recently tried this same thing with two males breeding one female within a day or so of eachother. I "think" my clutch that hatched yesterday is a "mixed clutch". I will know more once they have had their first shed, but from the looks of them right now, I am 90% sure it has happened.
I posted asking if others had researched it more because I have heard several times that it can and does happen.
-----
Lisa
Cricket free babies!
LIVE hatchling web cam 8 - 8 EST
www.beginnersbasics.com

Please put me on the Pumpkin, Lava, Wizard hatchling list. I would like two or three if possible.

Scott @ scottmcgraw05@aol.com

awesome ! Hows that Boulder doing these days ?
-----
___

Eve