Making a lay box for bearded dragons
If your dragon starts acting restless, digging and scratching around in her cage, glass dancing, and/or not eating as
much…she may be ready to lay eggs. She probably has gotten plumper also. If you haven’t already, then it’s time
to make a lay box for her. Your dragon needs a proper place to lay her eggs, and she is counting on you to take
care this. If you don’t, she could become egg bound or the eggs could burst inside of her. Both of these cases are almost always fatal unless you get the eggs surgically removed. Do not, for any reason, try to delay her from laying her eggs. If you suspect she may be gravid or developing eggs, you should increase her calcium supplementation.
You need to get a 50 or 60 qt. plastic tote and a 50lb. bag of play sand. Home improvement stores such as Home Depot and Lowes will have the play sand. Your dragon needs 5 – 6 inches of sand to dig and make a tunnel in. You need to add water and mix it with the sand really well, until the sand will hold its form. Next, pack it down really well so that it won’t collapse on her while she is making her tunnel.
You need to either have a clamp light to put over her, or cut out a hole in the lid and put some screen over it to
support a dome light. You can use tape or hot glue to secure the screen to the lid.
If your girl has been bred, it can be anywhere from 2 to 4 weeks until she lays her eggs. Usually it is 3 weeks though, so you will have a pretty good ideal as to when she is going to lay her eggs. If she hasn’t been bred, then the whole egg laying process can come as a surprise. When your starts acting strangely, you will more than likely research, if you haven’t already, and find out just what you are about to go through.
It can take up to a week for your dragon to lay her eggs.She may dig for a while and then stop and want out of the lay bin. It is ok to let her do this for a day or two, but if you are sure she is gravid, say she has been bred, then you are going to have to make sure she lays. You may have to leave her in the lay box for an evening or two until she lays her eggs. If she hasn’t been bred, then it will be harder to if she is actually going to lay any eggs. Fertile eggs are easier to feel in their tummies, infertile eggs aren’t as large or as firm and it can be harder to tell if she is carrying eggs.
It can be difficult to be sure that your girl is going to lay eggs if she hasn’t been with a male. If this is the case,
but she has gone through all the motions of wanting to lay eggs, including digging and making a tunnel in the lay box, then you will need to watch for signs to be sure she isn’t egg bound. Watch for sudden weight loss and lethargic
behavior. If you have any suspicions that she could be egg bound you should get her to a vet immediately.
much…she may be ready to lay eggs. She probably has gotten plumper also. If you haven’t already, then it’s time
to make a lay box for her. Your dragon needs a proper place to lay her eggs, and she is counting on you to take
care this. If you don’t, she could become egg bound or the eggs could burst inside of her. Both of these cases are almost always fatal unless you get the eggs surgically removed. Do not, for any reason, try to delay her from laying her eggs. If you suspect she may be gravid or developing eggs, you should increase her calcium supplementation.
You need to get a 50 or 60 qt. plastic tote and a 50lb. bag of play sand. Home improvement stores such as Home Depot and Lowes will have the play sand. Your dragon needs 5 – 6 inches of sand to dig and make a tunnel in. You need to add water and mix it with the sand really well, until the sand will hold its form. Next, pack it down really well so that it won’t collapse on her while she is making her tunnel.
You need to either have a clamp light to put over her, or cut out a hole in the lid and put some screen over it to
support a dome light. You can use tape or hot glue to secure the screen to the lid.
If your girl has been bred, it can be anywhere from 2 to 4 weeks until she lays her eggs. Usually it is 3 weeks though, so you will have a pretty good ideal as to when she is going to lay her eggs. If she hasn’t been bred, then the whole egg laying process can come as a surprise. When your starts acting strangely, you will more than likely research, if you haven’t already, and find out just what you are about to go through.
It can take up to a week for your dragon to lay her eggs.She may dig for a while and then stop and want out of the lay bin. It is ok to let her do this for a day or two, but if you are sure she is gravid, say she has been bred, then you are going to have to make sure she lays. You may have to leave her in the lay box for an evening or two until she lays her eggs. If she hasn’t been bred, then it will be harder to if she is actually going to lay any eggs. Fertile eggs are easier to feel in their tummies, infertile eggs aren’t as large or as firm and it can be harder to tell if she is carrying eggs.
It can be difficult to be sure that your girl is going to lay eggs if she hasn’t been with a male. If this is the case,
but she has gone through all the motions of wanting to lay eggs, including digging and making a tunnel in the lay box, then you will need to watch for signs to be sure she isn’t egg bound. Watch for sudden weight loss and lethargic
behavior. If you have any suspicions that she could be egg bound you should get her to a vet immediately.