Reptile & Amphibian Forums

she laid 25 eggs! Unfortunately all but on caved in and started to mold! I am very upset. What have I done wrong? I have them in vermiculite and I had the temp in the incubater @ about 85 degrees F... I watered them to keep it moist in the morning and at night! What have I done wrong and what needs to be done for next time!!!!

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Rebel, my bearded dragon has been confirmed as a female. We all thought she was male Athena is PREGNATE!!!

Well seems like a couple of things. The eggs should be kept in a container with Vermiculite. It should only be wet enough that when you sqeeze it together it forms a ball but does not drip any water. Sounds as though your eggs got mldy due to water log, they will collaspe if the water closes the air holes in the egg. Also watch your temps, 85 is the highest it should go, I keep mine at 83. Hope this helps.
Jenn
www.dragonclawbeardies.com

I've had a similar experience just this last breeding season. What I believed to have happened was....

first, she layed the eggs too early or at least 2-3 weeks before expected. So I wasn't even ready with the incubator being set with temperature. the temperatures were fluctuating from 82-93. I lost 11 of the 19 eggs as you explained it. I don't think that the temperature was the issue because 8 of them still hatched. The 11 that collapsed did so in the first week.

is this your dragon's first clutch? because on her second clutch she laid 43 eggs and 38 hatched! so i think that it is possible that if they lay the eggs too early the survival rate is diminished as if a human has a premature birth.

jake
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a free range dragon is a happy dragon

Well thanks for the input you two. tHIS WAS HER FIRST CLUTCH... I think she laid them too early... Thanks...
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Rebel, my bearded dragon has been confirmed as a female. We all thought she was male Athena is PREGNATE!!!