Female Laying Eggs

Darthedraggo · Nov 9, 2017

I have a young female dragon named D'artagnan, and while it will be a bit before she is old enough to lay any eggs, I want to be ready in case it happens. She won't be bred or introduced to a male enough to produce fertile eggs, does that mean she won't lay? Will she develop any infertile eggs, and if so, how would I know, and what should I do? Thanks!

Here's a few pictures. They aren't really relevant to the topic, but she's pretty cute.

The last one is pretty old, she was about two months old.

HylianHealeys · Nov 9, 2017

She is very cute! Always good to plan ahead.

Some females produce infertile eggs, while others don't, so you'll have to pay special attention to her after she reaches sexual maturity around 18-24 months. There are certain signs to look out for, ways you can make sure she has enough food to fuel egg production, and she will need a safe place to lay.

This article should be able to answer your questions: https://www.reptifiles.com/bearded-dragon-care-packet/bearded-dragon-illnesses-health/egg-laying/

If you have any other questions, let me know!

diamc · Nov 9, 2017

It is true, not all of them lay infertile eggs. It is possible for them to lay them very young though, one of our girls laid 21 at only 11 months of age! She never laid any other clutches though thank goodness.

HylianHealeys · Nov 9, 2017

diamc":nyql1z5d said:
It is true, not all of them lay infertile eggs. It is possible for them to lay them very young though, one of our girls laid 21 at only 11 months of age! She never laid any other clutches though thank goodness.

21 at 11 months?!?!?!?!?! :shock:

diamc · Nov 9, 2017

Yes ma'am and it was only a month after we got her from a breeder.

AHBD · Nov 10, 2017

Diamc those eggs look fertile. I wonder if they let her mingle with a male just before you got her, or if she had already even laid a clutch before you got her.

Darthedraggo · Nov 10, 2017

How do you tell if they are fertile?

AHBD · Nov 11, 2017

Most infertile eggs will not be plump like those, they will look like half filled water balloons, deflated and saggy.

Some infertiles are plump but not usually that perfect.

diamc · Nov 11, 2017

That's actually what I was thinking, that they looked TOO perfect. I did contact the breeder and he said a few of her sisters had just laid infertile eggs too. Wouldn't you think that if they were fertile though, she would have laid another clutch? We got her in May and she laid them the end of June.

She acted shocked by the whole thing though like she had no idea what had happened and didn't want any part of them. In fact, I had to hold her to comfort her to help reassure her that all was ok.

HylianHealeys · Nov 11, 2017

That's very normal. Bearded dragons don't have maternal instincts; very few reptiles actually do take care of their eggs/babies. It may seem cold to you as a human, but she's probably just exhausted from the ordeal — eggs take a huge toll on a female dragon's body, especially in one so young. Give her extra bugs and calcium for the next month to help her recoup her losses. Giving her extra soaks will also be beneficial, since she's probably dehydrated.

diamc · Nov 11, 2017

Believe me, I know they don't have maternal instincts, this wasn't the first time I have had a gravid female in over 16 yrs of having beardies.I have instructed many owners on what to do to help build up their females after laying fertile & infertile eggs.

Anyway, this was last June that she laid this only clutch. She recooped very quickly.

AHBD · Nov 11, 2017

At 11 months old it would be odd for all the female siblings to be laying eggs. I think the breeder got mixed up on their age [ ? ] and possibly even had a male in among them. Maybe your girl laid a clutch or 2 before you ever got her, or maybe just this one.

diamc · Nov 11, 2017

Thanks for your thoughts. He said only a "few" of her siblings had also just laid infertile eggs. I know her exact hatch date 8/14/15 and that was one reason why I chose her because she hatched on my birthday. I had followed her for months before I purchased her. The way she acted though, I don't think she had any other clutch and hopefully she won't lay anymore. Hopefully too, she is still a virgin.

AHBD · Nov 11, 2017

I've never seen infertile eggs look that good but maybe it does happen. She's a healthy girl to lay such big slugs.

HylianHealeys · Nov 11, 2017

diamc":2lmon9ob said:
Believe me, I know they don't have maternal instincts, this wasn't the first time I have had a gravid female in over 16 yrs of having beardies.I have instructed many owners on what to do to help build up their females after laying fertile & infertile eggs.

Anyway, this was last June that she laid this only clutch. She recooped very quickly.

Sorry diamc! For some reason I thought this comment was from the OP.

Female Laying Eggs

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