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

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