Egg Laying

[GizandGir]

Gizmo who is 2 years old and not in the same cage as Gir who is the same age, all of a sudden she started laying eggs. Over the past 3 days, she has layed approximately 13 eggs. I assumed that they were not fertilized since she has not mated with Gir (we are not in a position to start breeding). Is this common, how long does the laying last? She hasn't eaten but I have been giving her baths and she has been drinking a lot of water. She is healthy (fat) and is alert but agitated a lot. Any comments would be most helpful.

Leslee

 

[Ethelia]

Hello,
Gosh what a shock for you!
I know the feeling, my "boy" laid 21 eggs earlier this year.
Some dragons can lay infertile clutches a few times in their lives. Looks like you just got lucky!

Where has she been laying her eggs? All over? or in one spot?
To incorage her to lay the rest you should look into making a laybox for her.
You want to get a plastic box and fill it at least 6 inches deep with damp soil or sand, or a soil sand mix. It needs to be damp so she can dig and lay her eggs without the soil collapsing on her.
Dragons generally prefere to lay in private in a closed in location.

If you see her digging at all I would put her in the box and leave her for a couple of day to see if she has any more eggs to lay. You neednt worry about UVB for her for two days, but do makesure she's warm enough.

My dragon actually laid two clutches of eggs about a week and a half apart.

Your dragon might not be interested in food at this stage, some get fiesty and just want the laying over with. But when it seems like she's done laying you want to get calcium into her asap because they use all their stores to make the eggs. Id dust her food with calc for a whole week, or if you have liquid calc give it to her daily.

Keep us posted.
Holly

 

[GizandGir]

Giz seems to lay them all over, and usually it happens in the early morning when their lights come on. Went to a party New Year's eve and she layed two, woke up New Year's day and there were 10, then one in the evening, then one this morning! Go figure. She doesn't seem to scratch but she seems to rub her "bottom" area on the rocks, that's what caught my attention because my male Gir does it when he starts to shead! I will get some bedding and a box for her and hopefully she will be done soon since my 13 year old son (Giz is his!) watched her and is freaking out! it would be nice to get this done!

 

[GizandGir]

Well, after 2 weeks of being aggitated and scratching/eating very little, Gizmo has laid approximately 11 eggs today (since 5 this afternoon). this is in addition to the 21 she laid between Christmas and New Years. Is this normal? She is in one location this time laying them, which unlike the last time (first time) where she laid them all over. Again, is this normal? I know that snakes can get egg bound and will have a clutch (over a long period of time) then lay another clutch all at once. Let me know your thoughts on this.

 

[Ethelia]

Hello there,
Its quite normal for your female to double clutch. My girl laid about 15 and then a week later laid the rest.

It would be my guess that she laid on at a time whilst she was moving around her viv because it was her first clutch and she didnt really understand what was happening. By the second clutch she probably recognised the signs inside her body and knew to stay still until the deed was done.

Next time I really would recommend making your girl a laybox to make things less stressful for her.

Holly

 

[GizandGir]

Thanks for the suggestion! Giz laid 17 eggs, I gave her a drink and a bath, pampered her and then this morning she was her perky little self. Eat 6 crickets and had another drink! She is dehydrated so we are getting her back to her normal self!

Thanks

 

[Ethelia]

After egg laying its important to get her calcium levels back up as they deplete theirs when laying.
I would move your calcium supplimentation to 7 times a week for a single week to help boost her stores.

Holly

 

[GizandGir]

I have been giving her calcium everyday since she laid the first clutch. Will continue for another week, as well as dusting the crickets! UVB lamps are replaced and good so everything should be good for her. She is really perky this morning and ate like a little pig!

 

[GizandGir]

Not sure if this is normal, but since New Years, Gizmo has laid a total of 60+ eggs. She would lay one here and there then have a small clutch, the scratch at her cage walls, eat, poop a little, then scratch like she didn't want to be in there, then lay a egg or three, be fine then have a clutch. Help!! I thought she may be egg bound but this is beginning to worry me. My vet won't be in until Thursday. Any thoughts?