I GOT EGGS!!! I wasn't even expecting!

[_Jay_]

well my female water dragon hasn't eaten for 5 days and was getting worried as she was hiding a lot recently and going dark..

I been keeping an eye on her closely and taking her downstairs to watch TV, where she goes back to her normal bright colours, then place her back after 30 mins or so..

Well I went in few minutes ago and there was substrate everywhere, they been digging like mad, or someone has! I asked who did it but they kept shtum.
Well I looked around for her to find her sat on 9 very large white eggs in the hidey-hole at the bottom of the viv.

WHAT THE HELL DO I DO?? I just read that you have to remove them soon as poss to incubate but as the pregnancy wasnt planned, I have no incubator or preparation whatsoever..

advise please!!

[sazzle]

try and get a poly box from your local rep shop, stick a heatmat in it, get a thermostat and thats your incubator... in the mean time tub them up and leave them in the viv? not 100% out water dragon eggs x

[reptileranger]

Unless she has been with a male they are not fertile, most likely duds. Sorry. At least you have a confirmed female. Congrats.

[_Jay_]

Cheers saz, I just found these pages

Breeding chinese water dragons (mating, gravid, egg, incubation, hatchling)

how to make a homemade incubator - Scottish Exotic Reptiles Forum

I have just rung a mate who owns a restaurant and he has a box exactly the same from his veg deliveries. I don't have a heat mat!
I have a spare brand new aquarium heater so will do that,

I'll post pics in the next 30 mins..

[_Jay_]

She has been with my 2 year old big fat male for nearly a year now...

I have seen him try mounting her quite a lot but she runs away all the time, maybe he got his wicked way with her one time..




I have put a lid on it so that it keeps the heat in.... look right to you??

Can't wait!

[scotty123]

they look like nice healtthy eggs! , well done mate!

abit out of season but hey ho lol.

hopefully she wont lay again till next season becasue once they start dropping they normally do every 4 weeks for about 6 months lol

[_Jay_]

Wow, didn't know that, looking forward to it! looks like youra are doing well, only thing is, I don't know what to do with that many dragons! may have to supply the local Reptile shop with captive bred dragons...

Preston Pet Centre, I suggest you make some room, here they come!

[naz_pixie]

sorry to be mean, but.. title says "eggs, im not even expecting"

but then..

Originally Posted by _Jay_

She has been with my 2 year old big fat male for nearly a year now...

surely if you have a female and male in the same enclosure then yes you are/were/should be expecting at anytime and yes you should have had your equipment ready and waiting?

you also say you didnt know they would keep breading and you dont know what to do with them all... surely seperate them now then? or ul end up bringin loads of little lizards into the world when god knows who will get them or what will hapen to them!! (or dont incubate any further eggs, and dispose of them)

sorry if that was harsh atall

not haveing ago at you..

just felt i should say it..

[_Jay_]

No I appreciate you are thinking outside the box and caring for lizards you don't own, that shows passion and enthusiasm for the species.Thank you for the input.

I whole heartedly put my time and effort into my lizards as you can tell by my viv I made myself, I honestly thought it would take a long time for them to breed together and was also told she would need to be at least 2 for her to breed and lay, and Thought I'd see some kind of copulation but as I'm at work daily they may have done it then.

I actually calculated, they've been together 4 months, but here we are with unexpected eggs and only took me 30 mins to make an incubator, so I'm not daft or ignorant with them. I'll do everything I can to take the best care of them. At the end of the day it'll help pay for the viv if I can get some money for the hatchlings.

After my mother has one, I know they'll be going to a great home at Preston Pet Centre where the owners are a great asset to the captive reptile world.


I accept I've not been keeping lizards long and am always learning but please don't think I'm being ignorant about it, I always find the best thing to do regardless of cost. Once your an animal-lover, every animal gets treated the same.

[eubankclare]

please can we see pics of your lizards and congrats they look lovely and healthy