i got them in a better substrate now( have a 150 gal rock substrate cage with grout bottom and backing, all precautions taken to paint good acrylic layer on there to make sure safe for the beardies) and i was concerned about breeding her at such an old age. But she has never bread before, took her to the vet for a check up before i got them together and the vet said as long as she can still get prego she will be fine. Since i have moved them to the new cage they have plenty of space and have gotten along very well. two basking spots and two cooling spots, all temperatures to standard 105 in basking and 75-85is in the cooler spots. I do have other tanks set up that i can separate them out in if needed, but so far they have been great together. the picture i put up is a bad one of her, she has a good amount of dust on her so you cannot see her black, just looks like a brown blob.
here is a pic of her in the
bath. you can see her marks are really dark brown almost black at times and she has redish brown going through her back markings and in her legs.
now i have heard of some centrals getting darker but not having the red coloring coming out unless its a citrus breed, my vet has been a reptile vet in my town now for 20+ years and has a lot of experience with bearded dragons and he said he is just not sure what she might be. she is 21in long as well which i know a central can get to that size, the eastern are known to be on average 20-23 in. i know she is not a full eastern just because they are completely black on the back by the age of 10 and their legs show strong tints of reds and greens.
pic of full eastern
and you typical central, not like i even have to show a pic...
My vet just has no clue and he told me to ask around online and see what other people think. i appreciate the reply though even the ones with lecturing although i can assure you i know how to take good care of them. I have had beardies for quite some time now and all have lived over 13 years old so i think i am doing something right. not to mention the countless books, forums, reviews, vet visits, and being part of the local herp society(which btw no-one there could really tell me what she is, we all agreed that she is probably just a really dark central but who knows) Either way thought i would open it to discussion.