Eggs

[acpart]

I was hoping my female beardie (never been near a male) that I got nearly a year ago wouldn't lay eggs this year. I've been watching her really closely. Unfortunately, she started showing a lot of digging behavior on Friday, an hour before I was supposed to leave town for 3 days. I stuck a tub of eco earth in her cage and as I left she was happily digging and throwing dirt all over the cage. When I got back last night she had laid 19 eggs. No, I didn't take a picture and I'm not incubating them in case beardies are parthenogenic; I'm having enough trouble with my leo eggs. I was surprised that they weren't much bigger than leo eggs. I'm really hoping she's done for the season.

Aliza

 

[acpart]

Well, 2 weeks after the 20 egg clutch, Ollie started digging again. This time the tub of dirt in her tank wasn't sufficient and I was out in the garden with her for over 2 hours in the 98 degree weather, where she laid 30 (!) eggs, all without benefit from the male. Any way to get her to stop before she excretes all her calcium (and I get another wicked sunburn)?

Aliza

 

[Kristi23]

I wish I had some advice for you, but I only have a male. I hope she stops laying soon.

 

[T&KBrouse]

My girl is doing the same thing. If she continues to lay infertile clutches, its strongly recommended to get her a male. It won't be nearly as hard on her to lay a fertile clutch. In the mean time, make sure shes getting extra calcium suppliments. It should also level her out a bit so shes not producing another clutch every two weeks.

Good luck!

 

[acpart]

My girl is doing the same thing. If she continues to lay infertile clutches, its strongly recommended to get her a male. It won't be nearly as hard on her to lay a fertile clutch. In the mean time, make sure shes getting extra calcium suppliments. It should also level her out a bit so shes not producing another clutch every two weeks.

Good luck!

I will increase the calcium. As far as getting her a male, I'm a leopard gecko breeder (2 eggs at a time) and the thought of incubating, feeding and then having to sell 30-60 baby beardies, especially when I see so many on craigslist that are being "rehomed" because people didn't realize what was involved, I just can't do it. Thanks for the suggestions, though.

Aliza

 

[LadyGecko]

I have read of this happening with some females and the last resort solution is a hysterectomy

Not an entirely safe operation in reptiles-because of the anesthetic but since they can repeatedly lay without ever being bred it sometimes is the only option
I hope that things work out for your girl

my fingers are crossed for you both

Sandy

 

[acpart]

THank you all for your input. So far, she doesn't seem to be affected by laying (I'm more affected, but can remedy that by setting aside an entire tank for her laying pleasure). She was a very good weight before this started --over 500 grams at 17". I think I would prefer to put up with it rather than go the route of being overrun with baby beardies or putting her through a potentially hazardous operation. Last year she laid twice for the people who had her. I'm hoping it won't be too many more times for me. I have repeatedly checked her belly just before laying and I can never feel anything in there.

Aliza

 

[LadyGecko]

Thank you all for your input. So far, she doesn't seem to be affected by laying (I'm more affected, but can remedy that by setting aside an entire tank for her laying pleasure). She was a very good weight before this started --over 500 grams at 17". I think I would prefer to put up with it rather than go the route of being overrun with baby Beardies or putting her through a potentially hazardous operation. Last year she laid twice for the people who had her. I'm hoping it won't be too many more times for me. I have repeatedly checked her belly just before laying and I can never feel anything in there.

Aliza

Aliza
If she only lays a couple of clutches per year and since she has great weight and health then I see your point and she should be OK

I was thinking that the surgery would be a last resort for a Beardie that continued to lay clutch after clutch of infertile eggs to the point of it running down her health completely


I can understand your not wanting to breed her and it's frustrating to have an animal that puts out the physical effort to develop and then lay the eggs when they are all duds

Again-Good Luck with her !

Sandy