Reptile & Amphibian Forums

Do you have any pics of the parents of these guys?? Those babies look very cool. I wonder what the rest will look like!! In the first pic is it my monitor or does he have a different color eye? They definitely look like smooth backed dragons. How long did they incubate for? I always thought possibly the smoother skin or shorter spiked dragons might be from being premature?? He definitely looks like his pattern and spikes are muted like Rob Dachiu said below they look almost leather like.Good luck with them Bennett
-----

Webshots photos
www.Mystical-Dragons.com

my bd just saw that photo and is jealious!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Isn't there someone selling those as proven recessive gentic for like $500 a piece?
-----
Peace
Derek

I called and talked to Bennett when a saw this picture, this baby has a few unique things going on with it and he consented to post this information. I am hesitant to post some info publically, as people could read it wrong against a breeder, but Bennett explained the background and feels the information would be good for others to know.

For starters, this was not Bennetts dragons he bred, but some he is caring for an owner.

This baby has a possible trait that is very desirable as it is not seen often in bearded dragons, and that is anerythristic, or lessen red in the pigment in a dragon what normally carries red traits, that is why you see the whites more and not creme/tan background color in him. That can be resessive genetic and the the parents would be hets, possibly some of the sibling.

But... this baby has another defect that is not desirable, unrelated to the anerythristic. On the top of the head you will see a bulge area, this is fluids from the brain not draining properly, usually caused by something called hydrocephalus, the normal drainage canels are not there or collapsed. Babies of all species born/hatched with this often have other (about 25%) related problems, like spina bifida, heart defects, club feet, vision problems, malforms or unformed lower spinal areas and hip dysplasia. They are more often hatched or born to older mothers. It is not a genetic defect, it is random, but in animals that have clutches you can see it in more than one offspring due to the same conditions that caused it in that gravid period and this is not a rare thing in bearded dragon, this is the 5th or 6th one we have seen the past breeding season with them and 4th from someone on KS. Most those also displayed other defects that are often seen with this.

I will let Bennett go into more detail of the clutches if he wants which i think confirms this is what is going on with this baby and age of the mother is a factor. It would be great if the baby does develop and the brain fluids can drain, as the other trait it has or the sibling might, would be a nice trait to get into dragons. To CLARIFY, that is not related to the lessened red pigment, totally differnet genes involved
-----
www.reptilerooms.com

sorry I have not been around since posting this morning. Let me say thanks to everyone who posted and to all those that emailed me about this BD. A special thanks to Cheri for sharing this valuable info about this BDs situation.

wihout going into to much detail, the parents belong to one of my customers. the mother is a sandfire (about 7-8 years old), the father one of my Florida Oringes. she has laid 4 clutches. Everything has been normal as far as incubation and hatching. several of the babies have had birth defects, others did not survive hatching. As Cheri said this is probably because of the age of the mother. of the babies that end up with me, only those that are healthy and thriving will be sold (and will carry my 30 day health guarantee). they will not be sold as florida oranges.

I will continue to update this story with pics of parents and stats as soon as I have a bit of time. things around here are a bit busy right now.

stay tuned for more info, same bat time, same bat channel
-----
Bennett

Home of the Florida Orange
www.beardiedragon.com

problem with clutches, the others have produced many really nice hearty dragons in the past.

I am beginning to think that past 7 years maybe they should not be breed and incubated. All these mother belonged to very good breeders with excellent reps and care, so I think with dragon's living longer, this may the the age that mothers should be retired. Egg do age with the mother, they are all there when she hatches, just like humans and other animals, the older they are the more congenital defects are seen.
-----
www.reptilerooms.com

Now that's some useful info. That's the kind of stuff that makes this forum so useful for even experienced breeders.

Thanks.
-----
Joel R

Coming Soon!
www.SpikesAndScales.com

>>sorry I have not been around since posting this morning. Let me say thanks to everyone who posted and to all those that emailed me about this BD. A special thanks to Cheri for sharing this valuable info about this BDs situation.
>>
>>wihout going into to much detail, the parents belong to one of my customers. the mother is a sandfire (about 7-8 years old), the father one of my Florida Oringes. she has laid 4 clutches. Everything has been normal as far as incubation and hatching. several of the babies have had birth defects, others did not survive hatching. As Cheri said this is probably because of the age of the mother. of the babies that end up with me, only those that are healthy and thriving will be sold (and will carry my 30 day health guarantee). they will not be sold as florida oranges.
>>
>>I will continue to update this story with pics of parents and stats as soon as I have a bit of time. things around here are a bit busy right now.
>>
>>stay tuned for more info, same bat time, same bat channel
>>-----
>>Bennett
>>
>>
>>Home of the Florida Orange
>>www.beardiedragon.com
-----
Rob Talkington

I dont know if any of you saw the ad on the classifieds by AAA about "leatherback" bearded dragons? A new morph that they are working with. It is hard to tell with such a tiny baby, but it does sort of look like the same thing. We hatched out one earlier this year from our Coral line. They are missing the larger scales in the back and it gives a smooth or leather like appearance. It also makes the pattern look very funky--esp on a baby. This is a photo of our guy at 4 months old. I have not noticed any growth issues or any problems with this trait (like I've noticed with some others). AAA has a number of them and believes it is a simple recessive.
I guess you'll be able to tell better after a few sheds, but just thought I'd throw it out there as something to keep in mind.
Dana

The one in your pic has side spikes & head spikes. The one's Bennett posted didn't.
Did you notice if yours didn't as a hatchling & they developed?
-----
Joel R

Coming Soon!
www.SpikesAndScales.com

Yea, as a baby they are even more smooth looking.
Dana

Hi Dana, great Frilly article in Reptile Care. I usually just check out the posts now and then and keep quiet but that little guy caught my eye, my guess is that the incubation temp and humidity was compromised. I cant see that animal lasting very long, that's too bad since he does look pretty cool.
I hope I see you at Daytona #397.
Kevin Brown