Bearded dragons are among the most popular reptiles worldwide and are kept at home as pets. They exist in different sizes, shapes, colors, and textures. They have triangular-shaped heads, short limbs, and long tails. They are cheap to maintain as they eat different types of food, including ringworms, earthworms, and vegetables. You should also provide a suitable environment for your pets.
No, all female bearded dragons lay eggs, even without a male. However, the eggs will be infertile when they lay eggs without mating. They can lay anywhere from 10 to 30 eggs in a single clutch. When your bearded dragons are about to lay their eggs, you should look for them, as they can lay anywhere. When it starts laying, you should also know how to care for bearded dragon eggs once they are laid.
When it’s time for your female bearded dragon to lay eggs, you should avoid stressing them, and you have to provide them with all the requirements, including a special diet, fresh water, a thriving environment, and a clean lay box. During egg laying, paying attention and caring for the bearded dragon’s well-being and health is essential.
Before hatching the eggs, you can identify the fertile and infertile eggs. This can be done by examining the eggs through candling, where you take the eggs to a flashlight and look inside. When you see the growing shape of an embryo which is slightly white in color, they are fertile; otherwise, they are infertile.
My Female Bearded Dragon Has Never Laid Eggs
There are many reasons why your female bearded dragon has never laid an egg. For instance;
1. Age
All bearded dragons start their first clutch at around one year old, but when they are younger than this, they will not lay eggs, even when they have male bearded dragons.
2. Sickness
Some bearded dragons may not lay eggs due to sickness. You must seek a professional veterinarian for medical testing when your bearded dragon is not laying eggs and you suspect she might be sick.
3. Insufficient food
When you don’t provide your bearded dragon enough food and clean water, it might have a problem with egg reproduction. To avoid this, give your bearded dragons enough food and water.
How to Care for Bearded Dragon Eggs
There are many ways to care for bearded dragon eggs. Below are some of the best four factors to consider:
1. Temperature
The temperature should be kept at a suitable level, according to the species. The appropriate temperature ranges between 60-80 °C, but others may need a maximum range between 80-920 °C.
2. Appropriate Nest
You should provide your bearded dragon with a lovely nest to keep the eggs together and avoid rolling or rotating, which mainly causes an embryo to be drawn. It is best to candle the eggs and mark the top of every egg to prevent confusion.
3. Humidity
You should keep the eggs at the proper humidity level. The level of humidity varies depending on the species.
4. Incubation
When you want your eggs not to rot, keep them in the incubator. As you keep them, you should be mindful of positioning them in the same direction they were laid.
The incubation period ranges between 50-85 days, depending on the humidity and temperature levels in the incubator.
What to Do with Infertile Bearded Dragon Eggs?
Infertile bearded dragon eggs will never hatch, so they have to be disposed of. Fertile and infertile eggs are not edible for humans as they contain harmful bacteria that might lead to sickness.
The bacteria that exist in bearded dragon eggs is salmonella, which is very poisonous.
So, how often do bearded dragons lay infertile eggs?
The bearded dragon will continue laying infertile eggs until it gets a male bearded dragon for mating. It will start laying infertile eggs once it reaches the age of maturity when it can produce eggs. Without a male, a bearded dragon can lay infertile eggs in every clutch since no fertilization occurs.
How Can I Help My Bearded Dragon Lay Her Eggs?
You can help your bearded dragon lay her eggs in different ways. Below are the four main factors you need to consider to keep the eggs safe as they are laid:
1. Provide a Lay Box
When your bearded dragon is gravid, you should create a space to store the eggs safely. The laying box will help the eggs stay in the same place and avoid rolling from one point to another.
2. Keep Them in Incubator
You can keep the eggs in the incubator to prevent them from rotting. When you keep the eggs in the incubator, they will attain suitable conditions, including temperature and humidity. The incubator holds moisture to keep the humidity and temperature constant until the hatch.
3. Examining Eggs in an Incubator
As the eggs are in the incubator, you should check them regularly as they develop. They may take almost 70 days to hatch.
You should ensure the humidity and temperature are at the required levels. It would be best to wipe out the condensation on the incubator lid to ensure no excess moisture enters the eggs.
4. Hatching
This is the last step when your bearded dragon finishes laying eggs. As the incubation process starts, it will bury them with soil in the laying box or nest.
After this period, the bearded baby dragon will come out of the eggshell. When it comes out, leave it there; sometimes, don’t help as you may harm it during the process.
What to Do with Bearded Dragon Eggs
When your bearded dragon is laying eggs, you should not disturb her; avoid leaving them, as you will discourage the female bearded dragon from stopping laying.
Preparing a nesting box for your bearded dragon to lay the eggs in would be best.