AHBD":3cp2o6jh said:Hi there , you can put one in the tank or make a larger one out of a medium plastic tote filled about 10" deep with damp sand. Pile it high on one side and start a tunnel for her by hand.
The smaller one can look like this, filed with damp sand + put right in her tank.
https://www.beardeddragon.org/media/30026/full
My girls used this all the time.
AHBD":315mz28i said:Hi there , you can put one in the tank or make a larger one out of a medium plastic tote filled about 10" deep with damp sand. Pile it high on one side and start a tunnel for her by hand.
The smaller one can look like this, filed with damp sand + put right in her tank.
https://www.beardeddragon.org/media/30026/full
My girls used this all the time.
AHBD":384vr1hh said:It's about 22 long X 13 wide X 7-8 high.
AHBD":2j90p6lw said:It's about 22 long X 13 wide X 7-8 high.
EllenD":11g89fue said:That's fine, but you do need to dampen it so it clumps, but you don't want it "wet" or "soaking". Just so she will be able to dig a tunnel to bury the eggs in.
The vet shouldn't have scared you about "spaying" her, lol. They all first develop follicles which in-turn form into eggs, just like all female creatures pretty much do, even people. So if she's only in the stage where she's developed follicles then she won't be ready to lay eggs yet, as she won't have actually made the eggs yet, and follicles can't always be seen on an x-ray, only calcified eggs can be seen on a plain-film x-ray. You can see follicles on an ultrasound (usually), which would simply tell you that yes, she's going to be laying eggs soon. The process in which they develop eggs is very similar to how female people do, they develop a follicle when triggered by the correct hormone to do so, and eventually this follicle forms an egg, which is released, the difference obviously being that their follicles turn into shelled eggs, which require a large amount of calcium to form them, so please do make sure that you're giving her extra calcium, I'd be dusting her insects in a calcium powder every day and a multivitamin maybe 4 days a week, and giving her extra live insects so that she is getting enough nutrition and hydration so that no calcium and other vitamins/minerals is leeched from her body to make the eggs.
The problem the vet was referring to was that sometimes they actually end up reabsorbing the egg-follicles before they form actual eggs, and this can result in a severe calcium deficiency, gout, and other health issues. But you're not there yet, and the vet had no reason to even alarm you like that without even doing an ultrasound and knowing if she has even developed follicles yet. She may actually have some eggs inside her already, the vet doesn't know that or not, so bringing up problems that can arise without even knowing what's actually going on is not cool...Most dragons develop the eggs and lay them just fine without any issues at all, just as long as they get enough calcium, multivitamins, and extra food. That's key.
EllenD":847nm2rv said:So this vet talked to you about her possibly needing to be spayed, but he didn't do an ultrasound or even an x-ray to see if she even had follicles or eggs? I'm confused now, lol...no wonder you're freaking out, I would be too.
Trying to sell you pet insurance in case she needs to be spayed, yet he didn't even do any imaging to confirm she even has follicles or eggs? That's horrible...seriously, please, find a new vet...
Just as an FYI, I don't know about the UK, but in the US pet insurance covers basically nothing for a reptile at all, and is definitely worthless, and that's from all insurance companies. So first of all don't purchase insurance based on what's going on right now, that vet didn't even look to see if she had follicles/eggs yet he scared you to death telling you she probably needs spayed (which she doesn't), and then he has the balls to try to sell you pet insurance to cover this spay surgery when again, he didn't run imaging tests to even confirm whether or not she has follicles/eggs, and even if she does that certain does not in any way mean she needs to be spayed. In fact most dragons lay their eggs just fine with no issues at all, and only after a couple of troubled clutches do they even talk about spaying them, as it's a very invasive surgery.
I'm sorry, but this is one of the worst vet experiences I've ever heard of. It's totally ridiculous. Just keep putting her in the lay box when she scratches, and if she's not digging a tunnel after an hour or so then put her back in her tank. It can take time for them to lay their eggs and it does take patience, but you don't even know if this is her issue...
AHBD":76n0q1aq said:There's no real need to worry, this is perfectly normal behavior for a young, restless female that is possibly carrying eggs. Can you post pics of her ? And did you add water to the sand, mix it so it's just enough to hold it's shape if you clump it up and then put the lid on ? Without the lid she will not feel like she has a cave. And some dragons will surprise you and just decide to lay them outside the box after all their fretting. But nothing is out of the ordinary, no need to spend money at the vets. I've had plenty of females lay eggs, none ever had a problem. The only time you would worry is if she stopped moving + just laid around, black beard, possibly gaping. Then you'd want to get her to the vet.
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