10 Steps to a Successful Bearded Dragon Breeding Program

10 Steps to a Successful Bearded Dragon Breeding Program

Mating Season and Necessities

Mating Season

Bearded dragons usually breed throughout the spring months, from September to November within the Northern Hemisphere and from March to Might within the Southern Hemisphere. This corresponds to the pure enhance in daytime and hotter temperatures that set off hormonal adjustments within the animals.

Necessities for Breeding

  • Age: Each female and male bearded dragons ought to be no less than 12 months outdated, with females being barely older to permit for full bodily maturity.
  • Well being: The animals should be wholesome and free from any infections or parasites.
  • Lodging: A spacious enclosure with ample hiding locations and basking areas is required. The enclosure ought to be no less than 4 ft lengthy x 2 ft vast x 2 ft excessive.
  • Temperature: The enclosure ought to have a daytime temperature gradient of 75-85°F (24-29°C) and a nighttime temperature of 65-75°F (18-24°C).
  • Gentle: Bearded dragons require 12-14 hours of daylight per day. Supplemental UV gentle can be vital to forestall vitamin D deficiency.
  • Eating regimen: The animals ought to be fed a eating regimen wealthy in reside bugs, greens, and greens.
  • Appropriate Pairing: The female and male ought to be launched to one another steadily and intently monitored to make sure compatibility.

4. Take care of Feminine Bearded Dragon Throughout Being pregnant

  • Laying Bin: Present an appropriate laying bin stuffed with moist sand or vermiculite the place the feminine can deposit her eggs.
  • Elevated Calcium Consumption: Guarantee the feminine has entry to a calcium complement or high-calcium meals sources to assist egg manufacturing.
  • Ample Hydration: Provide contemporary water always to forestall dehydration.
Time Weight
3-4 weeks 120-160 grams
5-6 weeks 180-200 grams
7 weeks 200+ grams

Put up-Hatchling Care

As soon as the beardies have hatched, they’ll want correct post-hatching care to make sure their survival and well being. Observe these steps to supply the very best surroundings to your child beardies.

1. Setup a Hatchling Enclosure

Present a devoted enclosure with a temperature and humidity gradient much like the unique nesting web site. Set the cool finish at 75-80°F, the nice and cozy finish at 85-90°F, and 40-50% humidity.

2. Present Calcium and UVB

Mud bugs with calcium powder day by day and provide a cuttlebone for added calcium. Guarantee entry to UVB lighting for correct bone growth.

3. Provide Small Reside Bugs

Feed hatchlings tiny reside bugs resembling crickets, dubia roaches, or mealworms dusted with calcium. Steadily enhance prey measurement as they develop.

4. Hydration

Present contemporary water in a shallow dish or provide misting commonly to make sure hydration. Monitor their consumption and modify water availability accordingly.

5. Monitor Development and Weight

Often weigh the hatchlings to trace their progress. If they aren’t gaining weight adequately, modify their eating regimen or seek the advice of a veterinarian.

6. Socialization

Encourage interplay with the hatchlings by mild dealing with. Socialization helps them develop into extra snug with human interplay and reduces stress.

7. Superior and Particular Issues

A number of hatchlings in an enclosure could require elevated area and sources. Keep away from overcrowding and guarantee sufficient hiding locations, substrate, and feeding stations. Monitor for any indicators of sickness or misery, and seek the advice of a professional reptile veterinarian promptly if any abnormalities are noticed. Moreover, contemplate sexing the hatchlings professionally to forestall unintentional breeding sooner or later.

Age Meals Frequency
Hatchling (0-2 months) Small reside bugs Day by day
Juvenile (2-6 months) Bigger reside bugs, greens Each different day
Grownup (6+ months) Number of reside bugs, greens, fruits 2-3 occasions per week

Well being Issues

Earlier than breeding bearded dragons, guaranteeing that each the female and male are wholesome is essential. This consists of:

  • Performing a pre-breeding bodily examination by a professional reptile veterinarian
  • Testing for potential well being points or parasites
  • Confirming that each people have reached sexual maturity

Veterinary Care

Throughout and after breeding, veterinary care is crucial. It consists of:

Common Veterinary Checkups

Common checkups with a reptile veterinarian all through the breeding course of are essential to watch the well being of each the female and male and guarantee they’re receiving correct care.

Monitoring Egg Improvement

After the feminine lays eggs, monitoring their growth is crucial. Veterinarians can carry out ultrasound scans or X-rays to evaluate the viability and variety of eggs.

Egg Incubation

If the eggs are viable, a veterinarian can present steering on correct egg incubation strategies, together with temperature and humidity necessities.

Hatching Help

In some circumstances, veterinarians may have to help with hatching by rigorously eradicating the eggs from the incubator and facilitating the child dragons’ emergence.

Put up-Hatching Care

As soon as the child dragons have hatched, veterinary care is crucial to make sure their well being and well-being. This consists of common checkups, parasite screening, and dietary recommendation.

Find out how to Breed a Bearded Dragon

Breeding bearded dragons generally is a difficult however rewarding expertise. By following the steps under, you’ll be able to enhance your probabilities of success.

Step one is to discover a wholesome, sexually mature pair of bearded dragons. Women and men ought to be no less than 1 yr outdated. The feminine ought to be bigger than the male. After you have discovered an appropriate pair, that you must introduce them to one another.

The introduction ought to be achieved in a impartial surroundings, resembling a big enclosure. The dragons ought to be supervised always. If the dragons don’t present any aggression in the direction of one another, you’ll be able to then transfer them to a breeding enclosure.

The breeding enclosure ought to be giant sufficient to accommodate each dragons. It must also have a basking space, a conceal field, and a water bowl. The temperature within the enclosure ought to be stored between 75 and 85 levels Fahrenheit.

As soon as the dragons are within the breeding enclosure, you’ll be able to start the breeding course of. The male will usually court docket the feminine by displaying his beard and bobbing his head. If the feminine is receptive, she is going to enable the male to mount her.

The breeding course of can take a number of hours. As soon as the dragons have completed, the feminine will lay a clutch of eggs. The eggs ought to be incubated at a temperature of 85 levels Fahrenheit for 60-70 days. As soon as the eggs hatch, the child bearded dragons will be separated from their dad and mom.

Individuals Additionally Ask

What’s the greatest age to breed bearded dragons?

Bearded dragons ought to be no less than 1 yr outdated earlier than they’re bred.

What number of eggs do bearded dragons lay?

Bearded dragons usually lay a clutch of 10-20 eggs.

How lengthy does it take for bearded dragon eggs to hatch?

Bearded dragon eggs usually hatch after 60-70 days of incubation.