How do you know if a BD is gravid?

[some_lizard_guy]

I thought my male mated with one of my females, but now, two weeks later, I am not so sure. How can I tell if she is gravid? Since then the male hasn't shown much interest in her... How can I rekindle the flame?

-Drew

 

[Rebel Dragons]

The average gestation period for a female BD is 21 days. Some earlier some later. At 14 days it is usually hard to tell if she is gravid unless you can feel the eggs and have been taking daily weights. At about 16-17 days I can usually feel eggs with my finger tips and they become more pronounced as the days pass. I would hold off and see if you can feel eggs in a few days.
If she is not receptive to the male it is possible she is gravid. Also if this is her first clutch it may because first time moms usually have smaller sized clutches. Thus making it hard to feel eggs.

At this point it is just a waiting game. Watch to see if she starts digging and starts turning her nose up at food. That is a good sign the day is near and she will need to be moved to a laying bin even if you can't feel any eggs.

 

[some_lizard_guy]

The digging is an issue I have a problem with though... Ever since I've had this one she would always wake me up in the morning with her digging at her sand box, and that was before I introduced the male to her... So how can I tell whether her digging is "digging". Should I just put her in a laying bin every couple days and see what happens?
-Drew

 

[Rebel Dragons]

Along with the digging the refusal of food is another prime indicator your within a couple days of laying.

Starting on the 18th day from mating I would just put her in an egglaying bin every afternoon. And see what happens. They usually always lay in the afternoon into the evening. Come 10 pm and no action, try again the next day.

 

[some_lizard_guy]

Although I have kept dragons a long time, this is my first attempt at breeding... I have an incubator and egglaying bin set up already (took me 3 days of questions on kingsnake.com 's forums for me to get it right!). Also, do you have any tips on dealing with hatchlings? I know the basics, like that they need food and misting 3x a day, but any extra info would be great... The youngest dragon I ever kept was 4 months old, so I don't have any firsthand experience with hatchlings...
Thanks!
-Drew

 

[Rebel Dragons]

A few things come to mind.

DON'T OVER HANDLE OR MESS WITH THE EGGS

DON'T TRY TO HELP THEM HATCH. LET NATURE RUN IT'S COURSE.

ALLOW THE BABIES TO STAY AN EXTRA DAY IN THE INCUBATOR AFTER HATCHING. THE CONSTANT TEMP AND NO INTERFERENCE ENVIROMENT FOR THAT EXTRA DAY MAKES A WORLD OF DIFFRENCE.

DON'T OVERHANDLE THE HATCHLINGS, STRESS IS THE #1 KILLER OF HATCHLINGS

AFTER A WEEK OR SO, HANDLE AWAY THEY WILL BE FINE

USE APPROPIATE SIZE FOOD, GET THEM USED TO VEGGIES AND ALL SHOULD BE WELL!!!

THERE IS TONS MORE INFO ON HATCHLING CARE ON MY WEBSITE BUT THOSE ARE THE MOST IMPORTANT ISSUES TO ME PERSONALLY

 

[some_lizard_guy]

Thanks!
-Drew

 

[some_lizard_guy]

By the way, here are the parents:
Dad:

Mom:

Thanks Again
-Drew

 

[Rebel Dragons]

Nice looking pair ya got there.