Has anyone actually had young female gravid w/out a male!?

[melissa102787]

One of my girls is digging like crazy and is only 6-7 months old. She is only 14 inches or so and still obviously tiny(hasn't filled out like an adult yet). She had NEVER been with a male. Not in a bath or anything. I decided to check her out because she also has stopped eating(usually she is a huge piggy). I feel small marbles in her belly, a bunch!!!

She is nowhere near big enough to lay eggs. I'm worried... I have a vet handy but am nervous regardless. Has anyone else had this happen? I know females can lay infertile eggs, but never would I think it could happen with an immature female. Any advice would be great. Even similar stories! I have a lay bin warming up to see if she will lay w/no problems....

 

[AHBD]

It's highly unlikely that she's developing eggs at that size.....but there can be exceptions to every rule. How long has she not been eating ? All dragons may dig when they are bored, anxious, wanting out. I have had both males and females go through a " digging all day " phase, as well as a " hunger strike" for a few days seemingly out of nowhere. But, you will just have to wait and see. For peace of mind, you can always get an X-ray....then you'll know for sure.

 

[AHBD]

BTW, yes, females often do lay infertiles with no male, but usually not as such a small size.

 

[melissa102787]

It's highly unlikely that she's developing eggs at that size.....but there can be exceptions to every rule. How long has she not been eating ? All dragons may dig when they are bored, anxious, wanting out. I have had both males and females go through a " digging all day " phase, as well as a " hunger strike" for a few days seemingly out of nowhere. But, you will just have to wait and see. For peace of mind, you can always get an X-ray....then you'll know for sure.

I think the last 2-3 days it has been decreasing, her appetite. Today she still had dubia in her dish from yesterday, I'm not even sure if she ate any.
She has been digging for a week or so.... I didn't think much of it. It never ONCE crossed my mind that it could be due to eggs until today when I felt around her belly. She has in the past had days where she runs around more and seems to want out. Her digging now seems more focused/constant. I just put up a new tank near here, one with another juvenile female. I thought maybe she was having a hard time getting use to seeing another dragon.
I guess I'm just stressed. The past week I have had to bring two different dragons to the vet. I have had a URI going around to some of the dragons. I bought a dragon the beginning of April, she seemed very healthy, a little over weight. She was gravid and went down hill fast... I had to bring her to the vet to find out what was happening. Turns out she has a possible MBD going on. Her back legs on the x-ray were eaten away, the vet said it was something going on for 6 months or so. We had to do pitocin for two days, she passed most of the eggs sporadically. Then had to stop because of a possible uterine prolapse risk. So I have been nursing her back to health( she hit rock bottom), thought everything was getting better then she lays another egg last night So obviously they were not all out, even though the second x-ray seemed like she had probably passed them all. On the bright side, she started eating again since that egg last night being passed.

If this little one does not stop digging and lays nothing...I'm going to have to bring her in too. I'm just flustered

 

[AHBD]

Sorry to hear all the trouble and expense ! Hopefully, IF this young one has eggs, she will lay them without incident. A healthy dragon, having been given proper calcium supplementation, can lay eggs without a problem. You should put her in the lay bin for a few hours at a time....if she's gravid, she may be ready to lay after all that digging.

 

[Vulgarism]

Yes! My female was about two years old when she laid her clutch, a fairly large one of about 25 give or take. She's been been around a male, and hasn't laid another clutch since.

 

[melissa102787]

Wanted to give an update:
Furgie( the little female) is digging and making a nest. She currently has a little "den" dug out. I'm hoping she will do whatever she needs to do. It DOES seem like she is definitely gravid though... I have never seen a dragon make nests unless they are about to lay. So bizarre!

I'll have to take some pics after so you can see what I mean about her being small, i have one of her 2-3 months ago: