Reptile & Amphibian Forums

I purchased two bearded dragons (2.5 years ago) that both turned out to be males. Of course, they started trying to establish their pecking order. I ended up getting rid of one of my males. Now (Its been a year) and now I found a female. We introduced them slowly (divided between a sheet of glass) Then we finally let them run around together. They were doing alright besides the fact that my male toppels my female and bites the %#$& out of her kneck. They have been together now for a good deal of time but my male still does this to my female. I figured that he was/is trying to mate with her but Im not sure. If so, isnt he being a little TOO aggressive?! If not, whats up?

I don't know how agressive is too agressive, since I don't breed beardies, so I can't get into that.

However I do think you should keep them in seperate cages. If you are prepared to mate them and want to raise the hatchlings that's fine, but mate them and then remove them to seperate areas. I just think that having a male chomp on her neck all the time could be highly stressful for the poor girl, and if she's gonna be gravid and carrying eggs she'll need her strength.

Also did you get fecals and quarantine them before introduction?
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Amanda
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2.0 bearded dragons (Ocho / Domo-kun)
0.1 kingsnake (Rio)
1.0 ferret (Playstation)
1.0 cat (Wally)
0.1 dog (Tima)

Answering your last question, yes

I originally got her so he might perk up a little. After we got rid of the other male, he just sat around all day long. Even when we took him out, he wasnt his usual spunky self. (Although I know most of his running around was due to the other male being around). But I thought he would start to liven up a little more. He seemed kinda depressed! Now he's full of life again. I tried seperating them a few times but she seems to go nuts when she can't get to him. She sits on the base of her tail up against the glass and scratches all day long. When I let them together, he does his normal head bobbing, Arching his side and puffs up, then runs over and toppels her again. After the routine is over (sometimes she runs away after this) Then she will go back near him and lay down.

Well, dragon's are pretty lazy by nature. I mean, I have two and all they do is lay around all day, it's totally normal. Of course they will "perk up" around other dragons, but it doesn't necessarily mean they are happier, ya know what I mean? These aren't animals that need or desire company to be happy, they are perfectly fine basking all day and occasionally running around on the floor to explore. I think it's a pretty common misconception that these lizards are happier with company. Of course they WANT to be together and mate, it's in their instinct, but it isn't necessarily what is best for their well-being. Unfortunately it can often lead to more stress for them in the long run, and sometimes even injuries.

It doesn't sound like your pair are incompatible at all. It sounds like they get along fine and the biting is just normal mating behaviors. Do keep in mind, though, that constant mating after the female is gravid, and directly after she lays eggs, can be highly stressful on her body. Not to mention all the responsibilities and expenses you are going to have raising dozens after dozens of hatchlings and trying to find them all homes. The market is flooded right now, and even some of the most succesfull breeders end up stuck with a few babies when they can't sell them all.

Some people keep mating pairs together with no problems and that's fine, but I am of the opinion that it is much better in the long run, for the beardies and for you, if you don't keep them together 24/7.

That's my 2 cents.
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Amanda
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2.0 bearded dragons (Ocho / Domo-kun)
0.1 kingsnake (Rio)
1.0 ferret (Playstation)
1.0 cat (Wally)
0.1 dog (Tima)

I have to agree with Amanda. I think that living together will be too stressful on both your dragons. The male will be obsessed with mating and your female will be hounded by his attempts to breed and could possibly be intimidated into not eating and get sick. I know some people successfully keep pairs together all of the time, but it sounds like your pair isn't doing so well together.

Also, not to rain on your parade, but are you sure you are ready to breed? I personally do not breed because of the huge responsibility and huge amount of work breeding beardies is. You will have probably 30 babies from one clutch to deal with. They will eat enormous amounts of food which gets very expensive and need lots of space (most breeders rec. no more than 10 per enclosure when they are little and fewer when they get bigger) and cleaning. I would rec. that you get a separate enclosure for your female and research breeding. Get all the information you can about breeding, egg laying, incubating, hatchling care and finding good homes for baby beardies. There are lots of great breeders on this forum that can help if you decide this is what you want to do. I just hope that you get as knowledgeable as you can about the topic BEFORE you start incubating eggs. And that is just my two cents.
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Stacey