My beardie is driving me CRAZY

[steveh77]

My 1 year old female bearded dragon is driving me nuts lately. Shes spending 90% of her time scratching, jumping up on, and running along the inside of her tank. She settles down perfect at night, but as soon as the timer flicks the lights on in the morning, i might as well say good bye to sleeping, because she makes such a racket. Shes been doing this for about 3 weeks now, the temps are fine, im feeding her fine, and her viv is a perfect size for her ( not too big, not too small ). I have no idea what to do with her! Also, with all this craziness, when she poops and im not home, she spreads it EVERYWHERE. She never used to be like that, but now because shes trying to get out all the time, when she poops she covers herself and everything in the tank. Any ideas on whats up? :?

 

[ziggy23]

It sounds like breeding/nesting behavior. Females can lay infertile clutches even if they've never seen a male. I would make her a laybox. You can use a plastic storage bin. I've heard some people using litter boxes. Fill it up with several inches of damp play sand (sand castle consistency), place a clamp lamp over it to keep her warm. You might have to leave her alone and it might take several days before she does anything.

It's common for them to go off food for a few days right before they lay. I also noticed that her BM became more frequent and smaller.

If she does lay eggs, she will need some TLC for a few weeks. Extra baths, feeders and calcium. Pretty much treat her like a hatchling. She will look very skinny, and be very tired for a while afterwards.

 

[steveh77]

So do i put this lay box in her viv with her? and what do i do with the eggs?

 

[ziggy23]

Some people put it in the viv, I didn't. With the eggs you can pitch them. many put them in the freezer for a day just to make sure they won't hatch.

 

[steveh77]

Theirs a possibility they would hatch ?

 

[Gail]

If she's never been with a male then no, there is no chance they will hatch.

 

[steveh77]

Haha alright, good. Are you sure she might have to lay eggs? she just just hardly a year old, about 14 inches long.