Reptile & Amphibian Forums

I was wondering if I could ask you a couple questions about bearded dragons and breeding them. My friend is wanting to breed and i just feel like he is going about it alll wrong but I dont know enough about lizard breeding and genes to tell him so haha!
1. Should you use calcium with D3 or a 2:1 ratio of calciumhosphorous?
2. Are translucent beardies considered unhealthy and will breeding two of them together up your chances at unhealthy offspring?
3. Whats the earliest age you can breed a bearded dragon safely?
3. Is their a site I can research beardie morphs at?
4. Whats the earliest age you can correctly sex a beardie?
5. What is the deal with in-breeding dragons? Does it matter? Does it produce weak genes and unhealthy lizards?
Thank you in advance I really appreciate it!!!!

1. Should you use calcium with D3 or a 2:1 ratio of calciumhosphorous? Use calcium with D3, no phosphorous at all. They get enough of this in the diet, calcium is more important.

2. Are translucent beardies considered unhealthy and will breeding two of them together up your chances at unhealthy offspring? Far as I am aware, translucent dragons are no more unhealthy than any other dragon morph. As for breeding them together, I don't think there's any issue...but I don't breed translucents myself (don't like the morph at all).
3. Whats the earliest age you can breed a bearded dragon safely? Females should be at least 15 months old with over 18 months idea. Males should be at least 12 months old. Both are capable of breeding younger, but there are higher risks.

4. Is their a site I can research beardie morphs at?
There are more dragon sites out there than ever. Start with reading back posts in these forums, checking out the various dragon breeders who both post here regularly and sponsor the forum (see banner ads above). Google 'bearded dragon care' and you will get tons that way too. www.beautifuldragons.com is a good one, but there are many others.

5. Whats the earliest age you can correctly sex a beardie?
This varies...many breeders say they can accurately sex at birth..personally I would say at least 6 weeks. Best way to sex is to play the dragon on a flat surface or palm of your hand, facing away from you. Lift the tail up to about 90 degree angle and look at the space on the tail side of the vent. If you see two bulges or a central dimple, you have a male..if you see only one bulge, its female.

6. What is the deal with in-breeding dragons? Does it matter? Does it produce weak genes and unhealthy lizards?
Main reason for inbreeding is to isolate genetic traits, especially recessive traits. For the most part, breeders will then out breed these dragons to keep the gene pool from getting stagnant..(cont below
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PHLdyPayne

Forum Princess

6. What is the deal with in-breeding dragons? Does it matter? Does it produce weak genes and unhealthy lizards?

Responsible breeders will out source their dragons to keep the gene pool fresh. Too much inbreeding can result in deformities and failure to thrive. Just how much inbreeding (sibling to sibling or parent to sibling) it takes before genetic faults can be noticed..is hard to say. Its always best to avoid inbreeding when at all possible.

I think I covered all your answers. As its your friend trying to breed, definitely encourage him to do his own research. There is much more to breeding dragons than just throwing a male and female together. He will need to have a plan in place ahead of time (before he even puts the dragons together) on how to house the babies, purchase needed heat and UVB lights, have a reliable source of feeder insects (hatchlings need to be fed alot and will eat as much as 100 small crickets a day, each. Average is more likely around 30-50 small crickets each, spread over 3-5 feedings).

Then there is supplements, rearing cages to move babies as they get bigger or show signs of aggression towards cage mates. How/where he will sell all the offspring. As dragons can have anywhere between 3-5 clutches on average, each having an average of 15-25 eggs, he can easily have 100 babies by the time the last clutch hatches.

Last thing to consider, is money and space. If he doesn't sell all the babies, is he prepared to take care of them till he does find homes? (including possibility of having to move them to adult size cages, kept individually?)
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PHLdyPayne

Forum Princess

Thank you so much this helped alot! he thinks he knows everything but as I guessed he is going about everything wrong!!!
He is intending on breeding them at 8 months, has been told and believes translucents are "unhealthy" and that breeding them together will create unhealthy offspring (although he still intends to do it) and he has done no research just relies on what others tell him. I own 4 beardies and besides the vitamin question only know their husbandry nothing about breeding or their genetics. But knowing a good deal about breeding snakes and their genetics I felt alot of his information was wrong (even though snakes and lizards are different some rules of breeding just apply to anything) but again thank you so much for the information!!!

From recent research and a talk with Josh Dovenbarger here's a few things I found out. However as you will soon find out, many people have many different ideas on when and how to breed. But hope this helps..

1. Should you use calcium with D3 or a 2:1 ratio of calciumhosphorous?
I have heard go with no Phosphorus but I've also read you should try and do 3:1 ratio. As always just make sure they have enough calcium and D3 and the hours of basking light in order to process that. Babies will need more calcium supp. of course than the adults and gravid mom to so she makes nice healthy eggs and doesn't take too much from her self.

2. Are translucent beardies considered unhealthy and will breeding two of them together up your chances at unhealthy offspring?

I haven't heard any weaknesses in a trans. The only morph I know of to be of more delicate nature is the silkback because they are scaleless and have more needs.

3. Whats the earliest age you can breed a bearded dragon safely?

This is one where I have heard no early than 18 months to 2 years to build up calcium reserves. However I have also talked with breeders who say weight is all that matters. 300 grams or more regardless of age. I say it's a personal decision and without knowledge myself I can't tell you which one is better or if one is.
3. Is their a site I can research beardie morphs at?

beardeddragons.ord
exclusivedragons.com
youtube!! Tons of how to videos ect..huge help
4. Whats the earliest age you can correctly sex a beardie?

I heard as soon as birth but I agree 6 weeks seems to be more of a "accurate" time frame. That's from my personal experience.
5. What is the deal with in-breeding dragons? Does it matter? Does it produce weak genes and unhealthy lizards?

I have heard about both happening. Weaker genes and actual genetic abnormalities where you have to put the baby dragon down because it's insides are on the outside. Rule of thumb, just dont
it's not a good idea.

Hope this helped!