Hey guys, any pro-tips for preparing my female beardie for her first mate and clutch?

[Blaqnbloo]

My female sandfire is my pride and joy. She's grown up to be such a beautiful and genial dragon. But it's come time for her wonderful genes to be passed on to her first clutch. I've never bred dragons before, and I just got a male blood that I want to be Daddy Dragon. Any tips on how to prepare my female for becoming gravid? If anything happened to her, I'd be totally crushed.

 

[Germ]

She is GORGEOUS!!!

 

[Germ]

Oh & by the way, it is a beautiful red Dragon but I highly doubt it is a sandfire acquired from Petsmart. It was sold as a Normal, because that is what it is, a high colored one, but a normal all the same. If you intend on becoming a breeder, it would not be a good plan to misrepresent your stock.

Here is a brief article on “Sandfires” and what the term means if you are interested.

“Sandfire”, what does it mean?





We are often asked if we have any “Sandfires” available or coming available. Because the term “Sandfire” itself seems to be one of the most widely overused, misused and misunderstood ‘terms’, today it can be difficult to know what the asker is really looking for. In hopes of making this a bit clearer, let’s start by answering a few questions.

Where did the term “Sandfire” originate?

The term “Sandfire” first came into use in 1993 after Robert Mailloux obtained, and selectively bred, some of North America’s first partially colored dragons. Originally red/gold in color, Mailloux produced a line of higher color red/orange dragons. These specific bloodlines came to produce a consistent percentage of brightly colored dragons and were dubbed “Sandfires”. Hence, they were the namesake of the subsequently named “Sandfire Dragon Ranch”.




What is the “Sandfire Dragon Ranch”?



The Sandfire Dragon Ranch was officially established in San Diego California by the now well-known herpetologist, Robert Mailloux, in 1993. His goal after over ten years of working with some of the earliest dragons imported into North America was to develop lines of higher colored dragons. Since that time, “Sandfire Dragon Ranch” has produced thousands of dragons a year with most of them finding their way into the pet trade. Many of the “higher-end” dragons they have produced have been held back as future breeders or distributed within North America and abroad to private collectors and breeders alike. 

Over the course of the last eighteen years they have produced and sold all manner and color of dragons, numbering by now well over the hundred thousand range, which have in turn been bred and crossed out repeatedly. 

Robert Mailloux and the “Sandfire Dragon Ranch” are regarded as one of the pioneers in dragon breeding. By their own description:


“Sandfire Dragon Ranch has its roots in virtually every colored dragon in the world. While there are those who choose to change names, or name various colored dragons after themselves, most (if not all) of those animals can trace their heritage back to our Ranch”





So, what IS a “Sandfire”?


In the simplest and most accurate term a “Sandfire” bearded dragon refers to one produced by, or can have its lineage definitively traced directly back to, the breeder, “Sandfire Dragon Ranch”.


Why do so many people claim to have “Sandfires”?



With the popularity and instant recognition of the name itself, combined with its common and long-term misuse, it now unfortunately seems to be a “generic” term to describe any dragon by many misinformed “sellers”. It seems everything from the basic normal to slight or higher colored dragon can be found for sale using this description. Given the sheer number of dragons produced over the years there is indeed a reasonable percentage of chance that many dragons available today may have “Sandfire” blood somewhere in their lineage. Yet this, by definition, does NOT make them “Sandfires”.

This is in the same sense of any ‘brand’ of product that has become so widely recognized that it takes on a less specific and more general meaning. Much like the specific brand name “Ski-Doo” that is commonly accepted to describe any snow mobile or the specific brand name “Q-tip” that is used to describe any cotton swab. This of course is unfortunate for the holder of that brand as although in one sense it promotes recognition of that specific ‘brand’ its use in this way is inaccurate and in fact misleading to the general public.




In recent years some breeders began to attach the word “True” (I.e. True Sandfire) to indicate, that unlike most other dragons inaccurately described as “Sandfires” their lineage can be traced directly back to stock from the original breeder, “Sandfire Dragon Ranch”.



To simplify, when understood in its true meaning the name “Sandfire” denotes not only a specific bloodline (from Sandfire Ranch) but also the knowledge and quality work of Robert Mailloux and Sandfire Dragon Ranch. While in its general misuse today this term can mean very little at all.


Cheers
Rik

 

[Blaqnbloo]

I'm sorry, I seem to have misinformed you. My boyfriend just told me that he got our dragon at a private pet store, not petsmart. I'm thinking that at a private pet store, especially one that breeds their own lizards, might have dragons with better genes.

 

[Germ]

The point is, that if you are not familiar or have documented proof of it's bloodline, it should not be labeled as such. Just saying ...

And if the truth be known, most 'True' Normals have better genes & are hardier animals because breeders have not been playing 'God', messing with them, inbreeding etc. to produce fancy colours & different morphs such as leatherbacks, silkbacks, hypos, translucents etc, all of which are bred to have specific dominant genes, thus weakening the overall gene pool.

 

[Blaqnbloo]

Okay well genes aside, how would I prepare my dragon for her first clutch?

 

[Germ]

I'll let an actual breeder answer that one, I have had only one clutch & that hatched 2 weeks ago, was an accidental breeding because I had never allowed my BDs to breed, so I do not feel qualified to field that question. But here is some info that you may find an interesting read & something to very seriously consider ...

Housing Beardies Together aka Is Bearded Co-habitation a good plan?

TO BREED OR NOT TO BREED: A REALITY CHECK

Thinking of Breeding???

 

[Blaqnbloo]

Thanks so much =]

 

[slices mommy]

At my Petsmart they keep them in a seperate tank labeled "orange, yellow, and red variations" That's where I got mine he has beautiful orange accents on him