Still tiny baby Bearded Dragons??

[Stephies_Leo _Dragon]

This has had me wandering for several weeks now. I have 1 babie that hatched the first week in September along with its other clutch mates and one baby that hatched about a week afterwards. Well they were really small and at first I thought they were just runts and would catch up sooner or later. Well they are now around 9 weeks old and are still tiny. One of them I am really concerned about I haven't even seen it shed. It is right 4 inches long. Is it just me or is that weird? The other baby has grown a little, it is 4 and 3/4 inches long. I just don't get it. I see them eating, they seem otherwise healthy, get calcium, right temps, uvb, they just aren't growing. Am I needlessly worrying? Here are some pics of the smallest one next to one of it's clutch mates, not everyone the biggest clutchmate, just an average size clutch mate. Let me know what you think.

Here is the other one smaller baby, I should have taken its pic with the other dragon too. But here it is only 4 and 3/4 inches long at almost 10 weeks.

 

[fresnowitte]

Are these babies from a first clutch or like the 3rd or 4th clutch of the season from your female?

 

[Stephies_Leo _Dragon]

These were from her third clutch. Her first clutch was mostly unfertile. This was also her first time having babies.

 

[fresnowitte]

When you go past the 2nd clutch this will often happen. When a female lays her first clutch those eggs are usually the ones that are packed full of nutrients...each clutch there after is less and less especially if she lays the clutches close together less than 30 days apart. So babies from a first clutch will usually grow at a much faster rate than the clutches there after as well.

Also if your beardie is not at least 18 months old then this could also happen with any of her clutches.

 

[Stephies_Leo _Dragon]

So do you think eventually these 2 will start growing?? The mother was 2 and half years old when she was bred.

 

[fresnowitte]

I doubt the smallest will ever get very big.

 

[vickson420]

Just to add to Barbara's statement,that doesnt mean he wont thrive necessarily he just may end up much like some of the other "microbeardies" we have floating around the forum who are doing just fine and living totally normal lives just with the exception of being smaller then average so I wouldnt fret too much about it.

 

[fresnowitte]

Good catch Vicky. :wink:

There's nothing wrong with micro beardies as long as they are thriving and healthy I will agree to that. :mrgreen: As Vicky knows 3 of my adult beardies are rather small in length....but only in length. :lol:

 

[lacy_black]

I just have to say the tiny one is too adorable for words, I'd fall in love but can't have any more animals for awhile :lol:

 

[Stephies_Leo _Dragon]

Well I have someone interested in buying the bigger of the two but I was reluctant to sell it in case something was wrong with it. I appreciate the help it does make me worry less about them. They are adorable I mean the smallest one looks like it did when it came out of the egg! The bigger one is starting to develop some nice color as well. I think it would be cute to own a smaller dragon Anyways thanks for the advice I appreciate it and anymore thoughts on the subject.

 

[Twobeardieguy]

I had the same problem. Make sure that you separate them because they will be very dominant over the little one and what ever chance he has of growing is not going to be good! Mine was the same size I then separated them and he grew better and put more weight on after separating them! Good luck and just my 2cents...

 

[Stephies_Leo _Dragon]

Hey thanks I appreciate it. I do have both of htem separated together from the rest. I especially don't want them to get nipped, they don't need to be any smaller ! lol And I can watch them more closely for signs of being sick or not eating. They are so cute !

 

[fresnowitte]

Very good point Lance. :wink:

 

[Twobeardieguy]

Thank you Barbara!

 

[Bellalee]

If your looking to sell the tiny ones.... would love to buy one.