Female bearded dragons can lay unfertilized eggs multiple times per year. The frequency depends on factors like the age of the dragon, time of year, and health conditions.
Typical Egg Laying Frequency
On average, adult female bearded dragons lay clutches of eggs every 4-6 weeks during the breeding season. The breeding season typically runs from early spring through summer. Some females may continue laying eggs into fall as well.
Younger females under 18 months old may only lay 1-2 clutches per season. Older females over 2 years old can lay up to 5-8 clutches per season.
Each clutch contains an average of 20 eggs, but may range from as few as 5 eggs to as many as 40. So in a single breeding season, a female could lay anywhere from 5 eggs to over 300 eggs, depending on her age.
Factors Affecting Egg Laying Frequency
Several factors can influence how often a female bearded dragon lays eggs:
- Age – Younger dragons under 18 months lay less frequently than mature adults over 2 years old.
- Season – Egg laying is triggered by increasing day length in spring/summer.
- Nutrition – Good diet with proper calcium provides the resources for frequent egg development.
- Health – Issues like respiratory infections or impaction can inhibit normal breeding.
- Stress – High stress levels may temporarily stop egg production.
- Male presence – Some females may lay more when housed near males.
Providing the proper husbandry is important to support regular ovarian function. This includes:
- Large adult sized enclosure – at least 75 gallons.
- Correct UVB lighting and basking temperatures.
- Healthy diet low in phosphorus, high in calcium.
- Minimal stress.
Egg Laying Behavior
As the time approaches for a female to lay her next clutch, she will exhibit some common behaviors including:
- Decreased appetite.
- Increased digging/burrowing.
- Carrying substrate or objects into a “nesting” area.
- Spending more time in the nesting area.
- Appearing more restless.
- Straining or tail curling which are signs of active egg laying.
These signs occur in the 24-48 hours leading up to and during ovulation. After laying, females will typically resume normal behavior and appetite.
Age Differences in Egg Laying
Younger and older female bearded dragons tend to differ in their egg laying frequency:
Juvenile Females Under 18 Months
- May not lay at all their first year.
- Will lay only 1-2 small clutches of 5-10 eggs per season.
- Eggs are often infertile and unlikely to hatch.
- Should not be bred until 18-24 months old.
Adult Females Over 2 Years
- Lay up to 8 clutches per season.
- Average 20 eggs per clutch.
- May continue laying through 6-10+ years old.
- Eggs can be fertile if bred.
An adult female produces many more eggs per season than a juvenile. Allowing females to reach full maturity before breeding is important to support the energy demands of frequent egg production.
Seasonal Differences in Egg Laying
Bearded dragons lay the most eggs during the breeding season from about March-September. Egg laying frequency differs across seasons:
Breeding Season (March-September)
- Increasing day length triggers breeding mode.
- Ovulate and lay eggs every 4-6 weeks.
- Produce up to 5-8 clutches (100-300 eggs) per season.
Non-Breeding Season (October-February)
- Decreasing daylight inhibits breeding.
- May not lay any eggs during these months.
- Any eggs laid are usually smaller and infertile.
The seasonal light cycle prompts hormonal changes that drive breeding behavior and frequent egg development in spring and summer.
Health Effects on Egg Laying
A female bearded dragon’s health condition can also influence her reproductive cycle and ability to produce eggs. Health issues may lead to fewer or no eggs.
Conditions that Inhibit Egg Laying
- Respiratory infections – lack of appetite and energy for breeding.
- Impaction – difficulty passing eggs due to constipation.
- Over/underweight – indicates improper nutrition.
- Dehydration – can suppress ovulation.
- Old age – decreased fertility past 10 years old.
- Reproductive disorders like egg binding.
Optimizing Health for Egg Production
- Clean enclosure, fresh food and water.
- Ideal temperatures and UVB exposure.
- Balanced diet with proper calcium:phosphorus.
- Annual vet checkups to monitor for issues.
- Allow natural light cycle to cue breeding.
- Provide suitable nesting areas for egg laying.
Ensuring proper husbandry and nutrition provides the ideal conditions to support the energy demands of frequent egg laying in females.
Stress Effects on Egg Laying
Stress can also disrupt normal reproductive cycles in female bearded dragons. Common stressors include:
- Inadequate enclosure space.
- Improper temperatures.
- Too much handling/disturbance.
- Very frequent relocation.
- Visible cagemates causing dominance stress.
- Loud noises.
- Presence of predators like dogs/cats.
Chronic stress leads to elevated cortisol levels which can suppress reproduction. This causes reduced egg production or no eggs at all until stress is resolved.
To minimize stress for breeding females:
- Provide adequate enclosure size – adult females need at least 75 gallon tanks.
- Ensure proper basking and ambient temperatures.
- Give undisturbed dark and quiet areas for nesting.
- Limit handling to necessary maintenance.
- Keep enclosure location tranquil.
- Separate cagemates that show aggression.
Male Presence Effects on Females
Some female bearded dragons may increase reproductive frequency based on perceived presence of males. Exposure can include:
- Directly housing male and female together.
- Keeping males in a visible separate enclosure.
- Placing male scents/pheromones in female enclosure.
Seeing, hearing, or smelling males can stimulate some females to lay more eggs during breeding season. However this effect does not occur in all individuals.
Potential benefits of exposing females to males:
- May induce more frequent egg laying.
- Eggs may be larger and more fertile.
- Helps confirm successful breeding if eggs hatch.
Risks include:
- Male aggression towards females.
- Females can become egg bound if over-bred.
- Increased risk of disease transmission.
- Higher stress levels in some females.
Male exposure should be managed carefully to maximize reproductive success. But females housed alone can still successfully lay fertile clutches when bred periodically.
Summary of Factors Influencing Egg Laying Frequency
Here is a summary of how each factor impacts the number of egg clutches laid annually:
| Factor | Lower Frequency | Higher Frequency |
|---|---|---|
| Age | Under 18 months old | Over 2 years old |
| Season | Winter months | Spring through summer |
| Health Status | Illness present | Healthy |
| Stress Level | High | Low |
| Male Exposure | No males present | Frequent male exposure |
Conclusion
On average, healthy adult female bearded dragons lay eggs every 4-6 weeks during the breeding season. But many factors like age, season, health issues, stress, and male exposure can alter individual egg laying frequency higher or lower.
Optimal husbandry providing proper diet, lighting, temperatures, enclosure space, and nesting areas will best support a female’s natural reproductive cycle. This allows her to successfully produce the maximum number of fertile clutches each breeding season.