Originally Posted by ReptileJay

It looks to me like while the dragon was likely initially given to Nicole under the "breeder loan" arrangements, but that is somewhat irrelevant if different arrangements were made AFTER she had obtained the dragon for breeding.

Given other circumstances between Nicole and Ed, this is how I picture the situation...

Nicole and Ed agree to a breeder loan involving this dragon as a mutually benificial opportunity.
Nicole gets attached to said dragon.
Ed tells Nicole (since they are dating or engaged or whatever) that she can keep him. Ed himself stated directly in an alternative thread that he "would have given her the world"... World > bearded dragon...

Time passes, Nicole and Ed break up... Now with the perspective benifits Ed COULD have obtained from Nicole (financial or otherwise) gone, he begins suffering from his own version of "buyer's remorse" and wants the dragon returned to him.

Situations like this happen all the time, and based on previous testimonies regarding Ed, I would not expect ANYTHING better from him.

Of course this is merely speculation, but I did see Nicole at the Buffalo show carrying around the dragon in question, and the way she was acting regarding him indicated to me that it was a gift recently received.