Is my 1yo beardie trying to lay?

[ReptileMom]

I’ve never had a female beardie before but I read they can start to lay infertile eggs between 8-18mos when they sexually mature, but also read that it’s more common for them to do it between 2-4 years. She’s only 1 year old but she’s been behaving differently the last two weeks - less active, eating and pooping less, etc. her urate is not pink but her belly feels full (no marble-like masses though) and today we noticed she is going in her hide and scratching like a maniac! She’s never been around a male beardie.

She had a vet well visit about a month ago and is perfectly healthy, poop and diet great, perfect habitat, I’m an experienced beardie owner, this is my second.

She’s in a 40gal breeder which my vet says is fine for her size (she was the runt of her clutch so is smaller than a normal beardie). She has a tube UVB on the inside, nice bright and hot basking spot (around 110 degrees), cool side is around 80 degrees, tested daily with digital gun thermometer, she eats her collard greens and blueberries/raspberries daily, gets a bath every few days, healthy eater/pooper, nice wood hide and clean water everyday. I have a healthy dubia colony and that’s her staple feeder, but I also feed her super worms and occasional butter worms, hornworms and wax worms. She’s never had parasites or any health problems.

I’ve just never seen a beardie scratch so much! If she glass surfs and scratches OUTSIDE her hide we usually take her out to run around, but this is IN her hide so I don’t want to bother her.

should I get a dig/lay box just in case? I’d post a video of the scratching but it will only let me post a photo here.

 

[Wolfgirl97578]

I’ve never had a female beardie before but I read they can start to lay infertile eggs between 8-18mos when they sexually mature, but also read that it’s more common for them to do it between 2-4 years. She’s only 1 year old but she’s been behaving differently the last two weeks - less active, eating and pooping less, etc. her urate is not pink but her belly feels full (no marble-like masses though) and today we noticed she is going in her hide and scratching like a maniac! She’s never been around a male beardie.

She had a vet well visit about a month ago and is perfectly healthy, poop and diet great, perfect habitat, I’m an experienced beardie owner, this is my second.

She’s in a 40gal breeder which my vet says is fine for her size (she was the runt of her clutch so is smaller than a normal beardie). She has a tube UVB on the inside, nice bright and hot basking spot (around 110 degrees), cool side is around 80 degrees, tested daily with digital gun thermometer, she eats her collard greens and blueberries/raspberries daily, gets a bath every few days, healthy eater/pooper, nice wood hide and clean water everyday. I have a healthy dubia colony and that’s her staple feeder, but I also feed her super worms and occasional butter worms, hornworms and wax worms. She’s never had parasites or any health problems.

I’ve just never seen a beardie scratch so much! If she glass surfs and scratches OUTSIDE her hide we usually take her out to run around, but this is IN her hide so I don’t want to bother her.

should I get a dig/lay box just in case? I’d post a video of the scratching but it will only let me post a photo here.

It sounds like to me she's about to lay especially if you know how bearded dragons act and what they need I would definitely get a lay box and see how she acts with it

 

[ReptileMom]

It sounds like to me she's about to lay especially if you know how bearded dragons act and what they need I would definitely get a lay box and see how she acts with it

Thank you! I’m just confused as to why she would be ready to lay but I don’t feel lumps in her belly? Do you know if they set up to lay if they’re early gravid and you can’t feel the eggs yet?

 

[Sadie]

I’ve never had a female beardie before but I read they can start to lay infertile eggs between 8-18mos when they sexually mature, but also read that it’s more common for them to do it between 2-4 years. She’s only 1 year old but she’s been behaving differently the last two weeks - less active, eating and pooping less, etc. her urate is not pink but her belly feels full (no marble-like masses though) and today we noticed she is going in her hide and scratching like a maniac! She’s never been around a male beardie.

She had a vet well visit about a month ago and is perfectly healthy, poop and diet great, perfect habitat, I’m an experienced beardie owner, this is my second.

She’s in a 40gal breeder which my vet says is fine for her size (she was the runt of her clutch so is smaller than a normal beardie). She has a tube UVB on the inside, nice bright and hot basking spot (around 110 degrees), cool side is around 80 degrees, tested daily with digital gun thermometer, she eats her collard greens and blueberries/raspberries daily, gets a bath every few days, healthy eater/pooper, nice wood hide and clean water everyday. I have a healthy dubia colony and that’s her staple feeder, but I also feed her super worms and occasional butter worms, hornworms and wax worms. She’s never had parasites or any health problems.

I’ve just never seen a beardie scratch so much! If she glass surfs and scratches OUTSIDE her hide we usually take her out to run around, but this is IN her hide so I don’t want to bother her.

should I get a dig/lay box just in case? I’d post a video of the scratching but it will only let me post a photo here.

yes she sounds like shes going to lay please set up a laybox for her
LAYBOX

potting soil that doesn't have any type of
chemicals or fertilizers in it, mixed with sand, etc. Be sure it is at least 10-12 inches deep & that
the mix is damp enough to where it will hold up to her making a burrow but not sopping wet to
have standing water.

 

[ReptileMom]

yes she sounds like shes going to lay please set up a laybox for her
LAYBOX

potting soil that doesn't have any type of
chemicals or fertilizers in it, mixed with sand, etc. Be sure it is at least 10-12 inches deep & that
the mix is damp enough to where it will hold up to her making a burrow but not sopping wet to
have standing water.

Thank you! Going to set one up as soon as I get home

 

[Wolfgirl97578]

Thank you! I’m just confused as to why she would be ready to lay but I don’t feel lumps in her belly? Do you know if they set up to lay if they’re early gravid and you can’t feel the eggs yet?

It could be early for the eggs to come but they do scratch alot when they are getting ready too so I would do a lay box just to be on the safe side and keep a eye for anything else strange

 

[Tina W.]

Hi. Quick note, if using sand just get play sand. Do not get construction grade sand as it has clumping elements in it. You can find play sand at your local home improvement store. Good luck to you.