Bearded Dragon passed away yesterday :-(

[strangestatic]

My bearded dragon passed away yesterday, she was a female and she was only a year and maybe three months. She was digging and glass surfing a lot and then finally 11 days ago we came home from work and found two infertile eggs inside her cage. We gave the vet a call, and they told us that if she was eating and drinking then she was fine. She was actually eating a lot more then she did in the past and it was nice. Then on Monday morning I woke up to her moving around the cage, I got up and looked at her and her beard was just black, and it looked like her eyes were sunk in. I took her out and her stomach was pretty hard, she ended up pooping and then I had to put her back in to go to work. My mom checked on her later and said that she wasn't responding to anything, and she could turn her on her side and she wouldn't do anything at all. We rushed her to the Animal hospital, and they found out that she still had a heart beat, and they put her in an incubator until the doctor was out of surgery. She ended up passing away. They think one of the eggs must of ruptured in side her. It sucks, and we are very hurt but there really wasn't anything that we could do. Here is a picture of our happy baby Reptar.

We plan on getting a new beardie, but I'm scared of getting one in case its a girl. I don't wanna have to go through the same thing. How many eggs do they usually lay? I think way more than two. It was a surprise so we never set up a lay box and they said at the vet if she was eating and drinking she was fine, so we figured she was done. Any advice when we get a new one? Does this happen often? How can I prevent this from happening if we get another girl?


Sorry if this is the wrong place to post this.

 

[destiny1998]

I'm sorry for your loss. The vet obviously has never had much dealings with a gravid beardie. If you get a female just watch for the signs of wanting to lay. The digging, small poops, no appetite etc. Make sure you have a lay box ready. They can lay up to 4 clutches or more. Some females don't lay at all. I have 2 that have not layed at all. I see in your picture that you are using a red light those are not good for them. They need a bright white basking bulb. Also on here loose subtrate is not recommended as it harbors bacteria and can cause impaction. Just for future reference when you get your new beardie

 

[KarenInCA]

I can understand how difficult it must be. You did all you could for her. They can sex the babies when they're about 4 months old, I know that, because ours was sexed when we got him. You might want to consider getting one that is around that age. They're less squirmy at that age as well.
Please keep us posted.

 

[strangestatic]

Thank you guys, it means a lot! We ended up getting a new baby today! He/she is a hypo leatherback and its so cute! Can't wait to see if its a boy or a girl, although the guy at the place thinks its a boy, but obviously we still have to wait! I'll be sure to post pictures and stuff soon!

 

[sue09]

So sorry for your loss,good luck with your new baby,

 

[jacody]

Condolences on Reptar.. hits home as my female went to the vet last week to check for eggs and although they found no signs of them she's still digging in a lay box so am keeping very close tabs on her ATM.. Have fun w/ your new lil' one..