Your Reptile and Amphibian Resource and Information Site

Back to Bearded Dragons-Breeding Forum   Forums   Home   Members Area  

Bearded Dragons-Breeding Forum

Amiller82   Cphill58   Amiller82   Cphill58  
 Member  Message

 #2038467


Amiller82
View Profile

 Infertile clutch

Yesterday, my female laid an infertile clutch. She is a beautiful 24 month old, and has never been bred. She has seen my male a few times from a distance when he was out of his cage, but never for more than just a few minutes, and has never been with him. I was planning on breeding them next spring, but now I am wondering if I should allow them to breed now. I certainly do not want her laying repeated infertile clutches since I am easily prepared for babies (I breed other reptiles). I have read several books as well as though the archives here and have not seen this question addressed. If it is advisable to mate them this year, how long after this clutch do I wait to introduce them? If it is best to wait until next spring after brumation, is there anything I can do to prevent the infertile clutches? Thanks for any advice.
07/13/09  10:33am

 #2039007


Cphill58
View Profile



   Message To: Amiller82   In reference to Message Id: 2038467


 Infertile clutch

The age and size is important .... 300 grams plus... and at least 2 years old. Lots of protien and calcium enriched food items and supplements to enhance the egg / calcium production....including pinkie mice 2 or 3x a month as feeders... if you can / will. Otherwise good calcium enriched silk worms and liquid calcium before during and directly after laying.

It is a good idea to be prepared with an incubator or 2 if you do this. You may have a clutch every 30 days ...for some months as the female retains sperm and continues to lay fertile clutches after the first one.

Brumation will allow the dragon to slow down the natural metabolisim ... and rest her body ... then as in the wild it signals a wake up ... and the desire to breed more readily... and the clutches tend to be more fertile. It also allows for a short build up of food stores when they wake up ... fatten them up for a few weeks or a month ....then breed early in January - Feb... March... they lay 30 -35 days later and hatch 60-70 days later. So somewhere around April, May, June you have babies ready for the summer.

Good luck with this I hope I covered your questions

Cp
07/14/09  07:40am

 #2039090


Amiller82
View Profile



   Message To: Cphill58   In reference to Message Id: 2039007


 Infertile clutch

Cp,
Thanks for the info; it’s all great. I already have a solid understanding of age, size, dietary prep, incubation, baby prep, and brumation. My question is more related to NOW. Since she has been brumated and dietarily prepped and had the infertile clutch can/should she be mated now or is it best to wait until after next brumation? If it is advisable to mate her, how long after laying do I wait to introduce my male? Also, if she is not mated, how to I prevent her from continuing to lay infertile clutches this year?
07/14/09  11:15am

 #2039778


Cphill58
View Profile



   Message To: Amiller82   In reference to Message Id: 2039090


 Infertile clutch

If dietary health and calcium intake is correct and as you say all the other aspects. The only consideration at this point would be the timing of the birth and raising of the hatchlings. 90 days from now give or take it will be the onset of fall/winter. Allow another 4 -6 weeks of raising them for shiping ....in the dead of winter if you plan to sell.

Additionally further clutches may be produced from the one mating session. I would time it so that hatchlings were available in the spring .....breed in late October early November.

Cp
07/15/09  02:42pm


Back to Bearded Dragons-Breeding Forum   Forums   Home   Members Area