Breeding Bearded Dragons Successfully

Another positive attribute of bearded dragons is their breeding capability. This means that you do not have to spend money in buying another dragon if you want to own more. A healthy dragon, another similarly well-conditioned dragon (of opposite sex, of course) and an enclosure large enough to hold them both comfortably are all you need for breeding bearded dragons successfully.

The sexual maturity of your bearded dragon is mainly determined by its growth and body size. When the dragon reaches about 12 inches in length, it is likely ready to breed and reproduce. Usually, this growth is achieved anywhere between the dragon’s sixth and fifteenth month.

Females are only able to conceive during spring and early summer as these are the only times that they are vitellogenic. On the other hand, males are spermatogenic all the time. So when the right time comes for your bearded dragon to breed or reproduce, you can follow the tips below to make your endeavor of having new dragons a success. But if you want to have a more in-depth information regarding some of the elements of breeding, there are articles on the site

1. Make sure your dragon is well conditioned. This is especially important if you have a female dragon. You will need to make sure that she is well-supplemented with calcium as the entire process of conceiving and laying eggs would require a great amount of this mineral. Many experts also agree that having dragons go through a brumation period before breeding them increases fertility rate.
   
   
2. Make a comfortable love nest. Not only should their breeding site be adequate in size (a 100-150 gallon tank); it should also have all the right elements—climbing furniture, basking rocks, proper lighting equipment (UVB fluorescent bulbs) and the right temperature.
   
   
3. Do not be alarmed by their breeding behavior. Courtship usually precedes mating—the male will approach and chase the female dragon, wave his arm, bob his head and lash his tail. When the mail is ready to breed, his beard (throat pouch) will usually change color and distend. Breeding may then proceed once the mail has successfully positioned itself on the back of the female. Breeing may then end when the male has inserted its hemi-penis into the female’s cloaca and released its sperm.
   
   
4. Prepare for the egg-laying. After witnessing a successful copulation, you can then separate the pair and place the female in a tank equipped with a lay box (a plastic cbox filled with moist potting soil), where she can dig and deposit her eggs. If fertilization occurs successfully, you will observe an enlargement in the female dragon’s abdomen. Egg-laying (or oviposition) will usually occur 2 to 3 weeks after breeding. Female dragons are capable of producing 14-26 eggs in a single clutch and can have 2 to 3 clutches per season.
   
   
5. Incubate the eggs. Collect the eggs carefully (be sure not to shake or tilt them) and place them inside an incubator for 50 to 70 days. You can purchase a commercial incubator or make one yourself; the important thing is you can keep the eggs at a stable temperature of 84 degrees Fahrenheit.
   

Related Articles

• The Expert Tips for Bearded Dragon Breeders
  
  In breeding bearded dragons, of course it requires putting together the male and the female in one cage. The male and the female bearded dragon must be place together after the environmental conditions returns to normal.
• Bearded dragon hatching
  
  Hatching eggs is an exciting part when you are breeding bearded dragons. Hatching will take between 50-80 days; sometimes the average would take 2 months.
• Pregnant bearded dragon
  
  The happiness of owners in breeding bearded dragon pets is incomparable and unexplainable. Bearded dragons as pets are excellent, it seem like having a new family member in the family.