Reptile & Amphibian Forums

I wanted to post something here that may help someone down the road who is into breeding dragons and raising up some babies.

I have had a high number of nips in our last two clutches.. a ton more then I have ever had with most of the clutches that we have produced this year... I could not figure out what was wrong.. nothing changed that I was aware of.. they had sticks to climb on, plenty of crix to eat and greens, proper misting and soaks.. everything that I could think of. However, last week I noticed the problem.

I have our reptile room on timers that automatically switch our lights and heat bulbs on/off at certain times. I have a bunch of different timers all running to different outlets so I don't blow a fuse in our house. Anyway, most of the nips were occuring in one particular section of the room and I just could not figure it out. I have the times set to come on about 6:30am so that way they can be fed between 6:45am and 7:00am before work.

Well, about a week ago I went downstairs at 5:30am in the morning and guess what I noticed? Yup, the timer for that section had already kicked in and the heat bulbs had already come on for that entire section of dragons... rest of the reptile room was dark and not turned on. This means that the dragons had at least 1 and 1/2 hours of heat and activity in the mornings when they are starving before being fed... you can imagine how bad that is if you've ever raised babies.

Anyway, I just thought that would be helpful for anyone raising up babies.. make sure you keep an eye on those timers. Because of my stupidity, about 15 babies that probably would not have gotten nipped got nipped. I've yet to have a single nip since last week when the problem was corrected. I'm not saying nips won't happen again, they always do it's not possible to prevent.. but I just thought i would share so hopefully someone down the road won't have this problem.

brandon
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Dragons by Nature

That is such a bum deal. Really sorry. I guess we live and learn.
Have a better weekend.
Take care,
Karen

Thanks Karen, I appreciate that. Hope you have a nice weekend as well.. it' okay the dragons are fine just wish it didn't have to be that way..

brandon
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Dragons by Nature

That's a bummer Brandon. Sorry to hear that happened to you, but thanks so much for the heads up. Always good to know this info before hand. Another thing that Rob Dachiu told me was the temps in the some baby bins being too hot, and it causing nips amongst clutch mates. Seems to make sense if you've owned snakes before and know that a hot snake is a fast more aggressive snake then a cold one. Another thing is the way they lift thier little toes off the hot basking rock when it's too hot. I could see how all those toes waving off the rock could look like a snack. Well, sorry it happend and thanks for the heads up. I've noticed that a few times that the timers need adjusting every now and then.
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Mystical Dragons

Very high temps will increase their metabolism and send them speeding around the cages all stressed out and hyper.. that can definitely cause it to happen.... however I know that's not the issue for me because I have digital therometers all over the place monitoring for overheating... luckily I have not had that problem.. very good point tho to be aware of!

brandon
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Dragons by Nature

When my first clutch of the season hatched out and they began eating crickets, I did not do a thorough job of seeking out any uneaten crickets (hidden in some cage decorations I didn't know they could get into)and pretty soon there was a swarm of hidden little crickets. Well, I ended up losing a few babies one night before I realized what was happening.

my second idiot experience happened with my second clutch of babies. I incubate them in an air tight container (always have) to keep the humidity in - but I was working two jobs and didn't check on them in time until they were all (but two) hatched out. I don't kow how long they went w/o extra air, maybe a day, but they were all very limp. Most survived a couple of days, but were not strong enough to make it any further. It was very sad. I am a wildlife rehabilitator - I save lives, and knowing I alone was responsible for their deaths was heartbreaking.

So, I believe I win the "idiot of the year" award.
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Starlight Specialties
Photos

WOW... I didnt realize crickets could do that much damage... I imagine it was a huge swarm of them... cuz sometimes I lose a few in the tank and the next morning I will find like a few (no more then 6 of them) roaming around...

now you have me all worried... gotta make sure to get rid of any extra crickets before goin to bed...

that kind of mutilation happened over night?? how lil where these Beardies? and how lil where the crickets?
-lou

The crickets were little around a 1/4", except a few hiders that were nearly
1/2". Yes, there was quite the swarm, maybe around 20-30 in with 15 babies,
and that's after they ate their fill. Keep in mind, they hid all day in one
of the decorations, so I didn't know they were there. I thought the babies had eaten all of the crickets, so I
would poor more in. Big mistake.
Yes, the damgae occurred over one night. When I woke up and turned their lights on I was greeted to that devistating site.
Best wishes,
Laura
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Starlight Specialties
Photos

i am so so so sorry that happend!! i dont know what id do! atleast you and others can learn from your mistakes. agian i am so so sorry!! i hope your next clutch will be a sucess!
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Always,
Brittany and Ozzy

RIP Sharon
2002-2003

wow laura.. that is just all messed up... very sorry to hear about those problems... i don't think i've ever seen a picture quite like that... just goes to show how damaging renegade crickets and and will be.

brandon
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Dragons by Nature

If you don't mind (with your permission), I'm going to save that pic to show people that think this can't happen, that it does. It's severe, but rest assured, you made a very important point, very clear.
I hope these pictures saved injury and death to many little dragons.
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TheClassyLizard

n/p
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Starlight Specialties
Photos

n/p
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TheClassyLizard

Not much to add to this, Laura's pics say it all really.

Just one tip to the people out there...

Forget about taking crickets out of the tanks, don't put the crickets in there to begin with.

Using a separate feeding tub REALLY is the way to go to. We've had around 30 or so dragons live with us in the past 2 years ranging from the ages of 2 weeks old to our newest girl who's 4 years old. All but one male we have will readily eat from a feeding tub after a little time to adjust.

They eat what they want, and when they're done, they will either just stand there looking at you stupidly, or start trying to find a way to get out. Either way, you know they're done and you can put them back in their tanks.

Also, this can "tame" roudy dragons that have previously not had much handling. Each time you take them out of their tank to place them in the feeding tub, and when they've finished eating and you pick them up to put them back in the tank, you're giving them something they want - Food, or basking laziness.

They soon learn to realize that when you put your hand near them, it's NOT a bad thing and will warm up to you.

So, just a tip for those that might not have thought of it
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Axe
The Reptile Rooms

Hi
make a sleeping tank it can even be a cardboard box with a nice softowel in it .
after light go out you take beardies babie out the enclosure and let them sleep in a sleeping tank so the cricks can not harm youre animal .
chasing a beardie is easer then cricks.
i always take my litle babies out the origenal tank if they r very young.
so you can do it other way around not a feeding tank but sleepingtank
byeeee