Reptile & Amphibian Forums

I have researched but their isn't much out there on breeding frilled dragons. I want to know, if I buy a male and two females, correctly cycle them, and incubate the eggs... could this make a little money? Or will it even work?

~Casidhe~

There are lots of things to consider about breeding. First and foremost, you need to do want to do it for reasons other than money. For all the money that you put into your breeders (buying them, housing, electricity and lights, food, time and energy), you really do wind up making very little, if any profit. But if you organize things correctly and have a plan, you can eventually turn some profit. But, certainly, there are a lot of easier, and more sure ways to make extra money
There are lots of other great reasons for breeding though. There are not many people breeding frillies, so it is always nice to have an alternative to the imports.

You want to make sure that your breeders are unrelated, and the females should be at least 2 years old for healthy breeding--frillies have a high liklihood of egg binding if they breed too young. So, that can mean housing males separately until the girls come of age. Cycling temps and humidity helps to stimulate breeding, although is not always necessary. You want to give the females lots of calcium during breeding times and after laying eggs.
After the eggs hatch, you typically want to raise the babies for at least a month prior to selling to ensure that they have a good chance for survival.

Hope that helps.
Dana

Dana,

Thank you very much for responding. Money is definitely not my main reason for doing this. I just want to know if it would be even possible for them to breed or is it very difficult? I want to be sure that if I have babies... I will be able to find homes for them. I would also like to be able to come out even in the end but its not high on my list. I find frillies very fascinating and I think breeding would be a great experience. If you don't mind, maybe I could tell you my plan and see if it has potential to produce a few clutches of frillies.

I am planing to get a large (360 gallon) cow water traff. place washed play sand in the bottom. Have lots of sterile branches, a mercury vapor light, rep-cal calcium and vitamins, a bird incubator, nesting boxes, a fogger, a cat litter box, a timer, a spray bottle and a correctly aged male and two females breeding group. I have researched cycling and I think I can do it. I think breeding frillies would be very rewording. I would not sell the babies until they were 2 months old at least. I guess im just asking if its really hard to get them to lay eggs and have them hatch. If anyone has very detailed info on cycling or incubators it would help greatly!!! thank you so much.

~Casidhe~

I do not think breeding frillies is that difficult at all. And I do think it is quite possible to at least break even.
I'm not sure about the cattle trough. I have never seen a 360 one--the thing to consider is that frillies are really arboreal so you want more height (at least 4 feet I'd say). A lot of people build their own caging or use shower stalls if you are looking for an easy, pre-made source.
For incubators, you can just get a hovabator. You can find them at any feed store or order them online--check lllreptile.com . Nothing fancy, should run around $40.
Your hardest chore is going to be finding an adult breeding group that is "of age" (not too old, not too young, and unrelated). I still recommend buying babies and raising them yourself for the best luck in breeding--you know their full history and they are very comfortable in their territory.
dana