Bearded dragons have an easy-going personality, small size, and attractive appearance, so they are very popular as pets. Bearded dragons can be bred all year round, which means the timing is up to you. However, successful breeding requires a lot of time and preparation. So make sure you really understand the whole process before trying.
Step
Part 1 of 5: Preparing to Breed Beard Dragons
Step 1. Determine the gender
There are several physical characteristics that can help you to distinguish between male and female dragons. The head of the male beard dragon is larger than that of the female. In addition, the circumference of the stomach is smaller and the pores in the anus are larger.
Another way to determine sex is to look at the hemipenile protrusion. To do this, hold the beard dragon upside down and gently bend the tail back at a 90 degree angle; Be careful not to break the bone on the tail when you bend it. Two hemipenile projections on either side of the tail mean it's a male dragon; while one or no protrusions at all indicates a female dragon
Step 2. Take the beard dragon to the vet
Beard dragons must be in optimal condition before breeding. Your vet can do a thorough examination and tell you whether your dragon is healthy or needs treatment. Veterinarians can also test for atadenovirus, which is highly contagious among these dragons and can cause serious illness.
- Beard dragons should not be bred if they are positive for atadenovirus. This virus can be passed from mother to baby.
- Be aware that beard dragons infected with the virus may not be shedding their skin when tested, so they will come out negative. Therefore, dragons should be tested several times before you breed them.
- Have your vet check the beard dragon's age, length and weight. For optimal breeding, males should be at least 18 months old and females 24 months old. The minimum length should be 45.72 cm from snout to tail. The female dragon must weigh at least 350 grams.
Step 3. Add supplements to the female beard dragon diet
He needs a daily supplement containing calcium and vitamin D. This way, his eggs will contain enough calcium, and he will also not suffer from calcium deficiency after laying. Female dragons also need to take a general multivitamin.
She should be started on supplements at least a few weeks before mating. Talk to your vet if you have any questions about how to incorporate this supplement into his or her diet
Step 4. Prepare the mating habitat
Although your female and male beard dragons will only be living together temporarily, make sure the cage they live in is ready to facilitate optimal mating situations. First of all, this cage must be large enough to accommodate two adult beard dragons. Ask the nearest pet supply store for help to determine the size of the cage that suits your needs.
- Glass aquariums are popular cages for bearded dragons, although you can use other types, such as melamine and PVC. Using a cover will prevent the dragon from escaping, as well as allowing you to regulate the circulation of fresh air.
- Use a thermometer to maintain an average temperature between 25-31.1 degrees Celsius during the day and in the mid-20 degrees at night.
- Place a basking lamp (can be purchased at the nearest pet supply store) outside the cage, so that the dragon has a special basking area with a temperature of around 40.5 degrees Celsius.
- Install a full spectrum (UVA and UVB) bulb above the cage, about 30 cm from where the dragons are most likely to live. The UVA and UVB rays from the bulb will help keep the beard dragon healthy, as these rays stimulate the production of vitamin D.
- Place twigs and rocks in the cage. The branches will give the dragon a place to climb, the rocks will give it a chance to rest and hide.
Step 5. Prepare the spawn box
This box is where the female dragon will lay her eggs. The box must be made of plastic with a volume of 30-37.8 l, and have a secure lid to regulate air circulation. Fill the box with a layer of fertilizer soil and sand to a height of about 16 cm.
This soil mixture should be moist enough so that it is not too lumpy and easy to dig. The soil must not be so dry that it crumbles when the female dragon tries to bury her eggs
Step 6. Purchase an incubator
Eggs must be removed from the box and incubated. Purchase a ready-made incubator from a pet supply store to reduce the chance of malfunctions. Hovabator is an example of an incubator that is often used to incubate beard dragon eggs.
Fill small containers with vermiculite or perlite (you can buy them at your local gardening supply store) and place them in the incubator. Press your thumb on each container to create a nesting basin, and cover the container with a lid that allows you to regulate air circulation
Step 7. Prepare the dragon beard for the brumation process
Brumation is a decrease in temperature as well as the photo period (lighting) for the beard dragon. When the male and female dragons are in their respective enclosures, lower the temperature to 26.6 degrees Celsius during the day and 15.5 degrees Celsius at night. Reduce the dragon's exposure to light: 10 hours of light and 14 hours of darkness.
- Dragons may eat less and hide more in the burmation process. He may also not be in the sun very often. After burmation, the dragon will return to eating normally.
- Buruming should be done at least two to three months before the dragons are mated.
Part 2 of 5: Mating Dragons
Step 1. Place the two dragons in their mating cage
Dragons may not get along right away, and will need some time to adjust to their new surroundings. Making sure the cage is ready ahead of time will help the dragon to feel more comfortable. When the male dragon is ready to mate, his beard will darken and turn black.
Step 2. Observe the dragon's seduction behavior
Both dragons will show seductive behavior before mating. Both the female and the male will begin to shake their heads; The female dragon may also wiggle her arms to indicate her desire to be married. The male dragon may stomp and chase the female dragon around the cage.
Dragons can also wag their tails as a form of seduction behavior
Step 3. Observe mating behavior
To mate, the male dragon will climb on the female dragon's back and bite her neck so she doesn't run away before the mating process is complete. Then, the male dragon will press his cloacal area to the same area as the female dragon. This mating process only lasts for a few minutes.
Step 4. Return both dragons to their respective cages after a week
You are advised to do this. Return the dragons to separate cages and keep them for another week, then reunite the two, also for another week. You may have to repeat this several times for the marriage to be successful.
Continue to supplement the female dragon after mating. Increase his activity and keep him well hydrated after mating. This is important so that he can better prepare to lay eggs
Part 3 of 5: Letting the Female Dragon Lay Eggs
Step 1. Observe him in his cage
The female dragon will begin to show behavior that she is ready to lay eggs. He may start to roam rapidly in the cage and look anxious. It will also eat less and dig its cage. When he exhibits these behaviors, move him to the egg-laying cage.
- You can also see that his stomach is full of eggs. These egg shadows will be real, look like little marbles.
- Female dragons will usually lay eggs in about four to six weeks after mating.
Step 2. Let the female dragon lay eggs in the egg box
You'll see it dig into it to create an egg-laying area. You may have a hard time figuring out if he has laid eggs, especially if you haven't seen him in person. If this happens, observe the belly: the dragon has laid eggs when the belly looks more flat and flat. Lift the dragon from the egg box afterwards.
- If you think he has not laid eggs completely, immediately take him to the vet. She may be suffering from egg attachment, which is a serious medical condition that prevents her from releasing eggs.
- The female beard dragon usually lays eggs in the afternoon or evening. Watch him at this time to see if he is ready to lay eggs.
- Usually, the number of eggs is around 24 at a time, but female beard dragons can also lay 15 to 50. This collection of eggs is commonly referred to as a clutch.
Step 3. Remove the female dragon from the egg case
After it lays eggs, return it to its cage. Generally, female beard dragons are not very aggressive in protecting their eggs. In addition, the dragons that have been reared for a long time will not guard these eggs either.
Part 4 of 5: Incubating Eggs
Step 1. Put the dragon eggs into the incubator
To do this, remove the eggs with your hands or a spoon. Be very careful when transferring eggs freshly removed from their boxes to the incubator. Keep it in the same orientation as possible in the egg box. Mark the top of the egg with a pencil so you don't tip it over when you place it in the incubator.
Place each egg in its own container in the incubator. The egg should fit snugly into the gap you made with your thumb earlier. Make sure the eggs are not covered in vermiculite or perlite and place the lid on the container
Step 2. Keep the incubator temperature between 27.7 to 30 degrees Celsius
Use a digital thermometer to monitor the temperature. If the incubator temperature is too hot, the embryo inside the egg may die. The incubator must also be placed in a room that is cooler than the temperature inside the incubator itself; a warmer room will increase the temperature of the incubator, putting the embryos at risk.
- The humidity level of the incubator should be maintained at around 80%. Place a bowl of water in the incubator to help maintain this level of humidity. Refill water as needed.
- Check the incubator temperature daily and humidity about twice a week.
Step 3. Monitor eggs regularly
Watch carefully to see if the eggs are too wet or dry. Condensation can harm the embryo, so make sure the eggs are not damp. If it looks wet, remove the incubator cover for 24 hours and allow the vermiculite or perlite to dry.
- If the eggs look deformed or are about to fall off, this means they may be too dry. Use room temperature water to moisten the vermiculite. However, don't overdo it so the eggs don't get wet.
- Healthy, fertile eggs will double in size and turn chalky white. Yellow, pink, or green eggs may not be fertile.
- Moldy eggs can be fertile or not. Talk to your vet if you don't know what to do with these moldy eggs.
- The eggs will begin to hatch within 60 to 70 days.
Part 5 of 5: Hatching and Caring for Bearded Dragon Babies
Step 1. Observe the changes in the appearance of the eggs
Before hatching, the eggs may deflate and develop water droplets. These changes are normal and should not be taken as signs of infertility. You'll also notice a wedge on the egg's exterior, caused by the baby dragon's tiny beard teeth at the end of its snout. It will make an incision large enough to accommodate its head and snout, and will rest in its protruding head position for about a day.
Step 2. Avoid helping the baby dragon beard out of the egg
Let it hatch on its own, usually within 24 to 36 hours. All of your eggs will probably continue to hatch within a day or two of the first egg.
- Keep babies in an incubator for the first 24 hours of life so they have time to get used to the environment.
- Throw away any babies that don't survive.
Step 3. Group the baby dragons by size
Cover the cage with a damp paper towel to keep these babies hydrated in the first few weeks of life. You can also spray the baby dragons with a little water until the babies are able to drink on their own. When it comes to food, the yolk left behind will provide nutrients for a few days, so wait until the third day before giving real food (crickets or chopped green vegetables).
- You will need at least a 75.7 liter container to raise baby dragons. These cages should be replaced with larger ones as the babies get older.
- Provide plenty of food so the baby dragons don't bite each other's legs or tails.
- Separate the larger, dominant babies so that the smaller ones can eat.
