How do you make a dig box, and where can you get the materia

[frondew]

It turns out my bearded dragons mated, because I found an egg in their terrarium. So I guess I now need to make a dig box. So, can someone please explain how to make one and where I may be able to get the material? Thanks.

Also, my beardie is currently digging in her terrarium, i feel really bad, because I don't have anything prepared, how do I know if she becomes egg bound?

Thanks.

~fron

 

[zebraflavencs]

Hi fron, okay to make a nest box, you use a rubbermaid bin, 18 gal should work fine. Now using potting or top soil, no fertilizers or chemicals added, you dampen the soil just enough so when you pinch, you get a drop of water from it.
Cut a hole in the lid and attach a clamp light with a 100w bulb in it. Slide all the soil to one side (opposite side the lamp is clamped on) place gravid dragon in it. Start a hole infront of her, just a few inches, and leave her be. If she is ready, you will see her furiously digging in a corner, and then backing in to lay. Once she is finished, you should offer her a nice long bath, and a good feed, with extra calcium on it. Continue to allow her extras at meal time, again, with extra calcium, as those eggs leached quite a bit from her.

Now, you reallllly need a second perm viv for her. If they stay together, he will literally breed her to death. If you can, go ahead and construct a viv, to sit on top of the one they currently are in, so neither can see the other. This is a must have as soon as you can get it done. For now, a temp viv aquarium would be good, just as long as they are separated !

Also, if you are not prepared for lots and lots of hungry little mouths, that need uvb and heat, then just place those eggs in the freezer, and toss out either into the trash in a sealed bag, or the compost pit.

Let us know how she is doing !
Janie.

 

[frondew]

Thanks Janie! How much soil should I put in the dig box? Like, how much % of the dig box should consist of soil?

Also, I read that you should mix sand and soil together...does it matter? Or can I just use soil?

EDIT: This may sound stupid, but also, can I put the container IN my terrarium under the heat light?

~fron

 

[zebraflavencs]

You can use either, and if you are using a say, 10 lb bag of soil, use all of it, piled on the opposite side that the clamp light is on.

Are you able to separate these two once she is out of the lay box ?
Janie.

 

[frondew]

Ok

Are you able to separate these two once she is out of the lay box ?
Janie.

No, I only have one terrarium. I was told they were both girls when I got them, and I really don't want to separate them because they get along so well..

~fron

 

[zebraflavencs]

Okay, I need you to post a picture of both "girls". with thier tails lifted, until you feel some resistance, towards the head. The picture needs to be of the anal area. Please indicate which "girl" is pregnant, and which is not.

Honestly, the only company that any dragon needs or wants is you. In the wild or in captivity, it is a rare two that get along for life. Either there is dominance, where one is hogging all the food, the best basking spots, and the other won't eat or bask, just hides away. If you see one laying on the other, at the basking spot or any other, that is a show of dominance.

I would urge you to rethink the single viv for two dragons. This is a picture of a rescue I adopted, who suffered loss of limbs and tail, as well as toes, from a loving " viv mate".

Here is another:

Yardley is a year old, and very small ( only 14") compared to my two 6 months old babies, (Gemini-21" and Orion-20")
It only takes a second to breed, and few more for one dragon to rip off appendages.

Hope this helps out.
Janie.

Oh, yes you can try to fit a lay box in the viv, but it is better if it is external, that way it's her and the soil for the eggs.

 

[frondew]

Okay, I need you to post a picture of both "girls". with thier tails lifted, until you feel some resistance, towards the head. The picture needs to be of the anal area. Please indicate which "girl" is pregnant, and which is not.

Okay, I will when I find my camera..

Honestly, the only company that any dragon needs or wants is you. In the wild or in captivity, it is a rare two that get along for life. Either there is dominance, where one is hogging all the food, the best basking spots, and the other won't eat or bask, just hides away. If you see one laying on the other, at the basking spot or any other, that is a show of dominance.

Well, I've noticed they get along very well. They share greens, when I feed them mealworms they generally eat the same amount, and they like to 'be' together. (They bask together, sometimes. One sits on top of the other, which is a sign of dominance, but the other sits on top of..the other as well. They also lick eachother...though they like to lick everything.)

Is there any way at all that I can have them live together, and not breed (I know that's a stupid question..)?

~fron

 

[zebraflavencs]

Again, there are RARE occurances that two females ( but we have yet to determine that ) can cohabit together.

Also, if it is two females, then those are infertile eggs, and she could throw off up to 2 more clutches. Anywhere from 2 weeks to 2 months apart. Correct me Brian ! if I am wrong about that time line.

If you have two of everything, basking, uvb, feeding bowls, ect... you MIGHT be able to have them together, but it is just so much better to just build a second viv.

hope that answers your questions !
Janie.