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 sometimes 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 must be at the least 12 months previous, 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 must be at the least 4 ft lengthy x 2 ft huge 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 mild can also be mandatory to forestall vitamin D deficiency.
  • Eating regimen: The animals must be fed a food plan wealthy in stay bugs, greens, and greens.
  • Appropriate Pairing: The female and male must be launched to one another progressively and carefully monitored to make sure compatibility.

4. Look after Feminine Bearded Dragon Throughout Being pregnant

  • Laying Bin: Present an appropriate laying bin full of 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.
  • Enough 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

Submit-Hatchling Care

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

1. Setup a Hatchling Enclosure

Present a devoted enclosure with a temperature and humidity gradient much like the unique nesting website. 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 supply a cuttlebone for added calcium. Guarantee entry to UVB lighting for correct bone improvement.

3. Provide Small Dwell Bugs

Feed hatchlings tiny stay bugs akin to crickets, dubia roaches, or mealworms dusted with calcium. Progressively enhance prey dimension as they develop.

4. Hydration

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

5. Monitor Progress and Weight

Repeatedly weigh the hatchlings to trace their development. If they don’t seem to be gaining weight adequately, modify their food plan or seek the advice of a veterinarian.

6. Socialization

Encourage interplay with the hatchlings by way of mild dealing with. Socialization helps them turn out to be extra comfy 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 certified reptile veterinarian promptly if any abnormalities are noticed. Moreover, think about sexing the hatchlings professionally to forestall unintentional breeding sooner or later.

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

Well being Issues

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

  • Performing a pre-breeding bodily examination by a certified 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 important. It contains:

Common Veterinary Checkups

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

Monitoring Egg Growth

After the feminine lays eggs, monitoring their improvement is important. 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 might have to help with hatching by rigorously eradicating the eggs from the incubator and facilitating the newborn dragons’ emergence.

Submit-Hatching Care

As soon as the newborn dragons have hatched, veterinary care is important to make sure their well being and well-being. This contains common checkups, parasite screening, and dietary recommendation.

Methods to Breed a Bearded Dragon

Breeding bearded dragons is usually a difficult however rewarding expertise. By following the steps under, you possibly can enhance your probabilities of success.

Step one is to discover a wholesome, sexually mature pair of bearded dragons. Women and men must be at the least 1 yr previous. The feminine must be bigger than the male. Upon getting discovered an appropriate pair, it’s good to introduce them to one another.

The introduction must be performed in a impartial surroundings, akin to a big enclosure. The dragons must be supervised always. If the dragons don’t present any aggression in the direction of one another, you possibly can then transfer them to a breeding enclosure.

The breeding enclosure must be massive sufficient to accommodate each dragons. It also needs to have a basking space, a cover field, and a water bowl. The temperature within the enclosure must be saved between 75 and 85 levels Fahrenheit.

As soon as the dragons are within the breeding enclosure, you possibly can start the breeding course of. The male will sometimes courtroom the feminine by displaying his beard and bobbing his head. If the feminine is receptive, she’s 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 must be incubated at a temperature of 85 levels Fahrenheit for 60-70 days. As soon as the eggs hatch, the newborn bearded dragons will be separated from their dad and mom.

Individuals Additionally Ask

What’s the greatest age to breed bearded dragons?

Bearded dragons must be at the least 1 yr previous earlier than they’re bred.

What number of eggs do bearded dragons lay?

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

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

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