Maximum snout to vent length for Pogona barbata is 25 cm (Badham as cited Stauber and Booth, 2003).Ī wild male Pogona minor (bearded dragon) is sexually mature at approximately 80 mm snout to vent length (Pianka, date unknown). What Age Can Male Bearded Dragons Breed and When are they FertileĪ male bearded dragon (Pogona barbata) is sexually mature and can start breeding when it reaches a snout to vent length of between 127.5 mm and 135.5 mm (Stauber and Booth, 2003). To guarantee the parentage of a bearded dragon you should only mate to one male per season or you will not know which is the father of a particular hatchling. This means a bearded dragon can lay clutches of fertile eggs without a second mating in the same season. However, if there hasn’t been a mate within the breeding season, the eggs will not be fertile.įemale bearded dragons can store sperm in oviductal crypts within a breeding season (Amey and Whittier, 2000). Pogona species – Femalesīearded Dragons can Lay Eggs without a Mate!Ī female bearded dragon does not need a mate to start laying eggs, it will occur as a part of the normal reproductive cycle. The male body is bigger than the females. Stauber and Booth (2003) recorded sexual maturity in female Pogona barbata has been reached when the snout to vent length was between 110.5 mm and 119.5 mm. Wild female Pogona minor were noted by Pianka (date unknown) to reach sexual maturity at approximately 90 mm length snout to vent and that the females slightly outweigh the males. Once the female is sexually mature she is vitellogenic, can become gravid (with or without mating) and can lay eggs.įemale bearded dragons are vitellogenic and gravid (fertile and pregnant) from spring to early summer (Amey and Whittier, 2000), this is when mating and egg laying occurs.

Given this, a bearded dragon could well become sexually mature before a year of age if it reached the appropriate size (Melidone, 2008). As pet bearded dragons are often provided food in excess of their needs, growth can also speed up. In the wild, bearded dragons will typically be expected to come of breeding age between 1 and 2 years of age.īearded dragon breeding age can change in captivity. Sexual Maturity – When a Bearded Dragon Breeding Age What age do female bearded dragons breed and start laying eggs?īearded dragon breeding starts when they reach a physical size, not so much chronological age. The reproductive stages of the male goes through are: These prolific breeders can be reproduced with or without brumation. While some exotic animals require brumation to reproduce, bearded dragons are not one of them. The reproductive stages the female goes through are: This chemical communication via femoral pore secretions underscores the complex social and reproductive behaviors of bearded dragons, highlighting the importance of pheromonal signals in their natural history and breeding ecology. Females, in turn, may use these chemical cues to assess the fitness and suitability of potential mates, thus influencing mating decisions and breeding success (Baeckens et al., 2017). This is believed to convey information about the male’s reproductive status and territorial claims, serving as a chemical attractant to females and a deterrent to rival males (Baeckens et al., 2015). The waxy substance secreted by the femoral pores is rich in pheromones and plays a pivotal role in sexual signaling and territorial behaviors (Baeckens et al., 2017).ĭuring the breeding season, male bearded dragons exhibit an increase in femoral pore activity, producing more of this waxy secretion.

These pheromones are produced by specialized glands known as femoral pores, which are located on the inner thighs of these reptiles.

7 Steps if a Bearded Dragon Can’t Lay Her Eggsīearded dragons utilize a system of chemical communication through the secretion of pheromones, particularly during the breeding season.

How can I help my Bearded Dragon Lay Her Eggs.

Reproductive problems for male bearded dragons.

How to care for Hatchlings (baby bearded dragons).

The temperature you incubate at, impacts behaviour.

How long does it take for the eggs to hatch?.

How do I know when my bearded dragon is ready to lay her eggs (Oviposition)?.

How long it takes for a bearded dragon to lay Eggs.

Bearded Dragon Eggs from Brother – Inbreeding.

Bearded Dragon is Pregnant, what do I do?.

How to look after a Pregnant (Gravid) Bearded Dragon.

What Age Can Male Bearded Dragons Breed and When are they Fertile.

Bearded Dragons can Lay Eggs without a Mate!.

What age do female bearded dragons breed and start laying eggs?.

Sexual Maturity – When a Bearded Dragon Breeding Age.

Bearded dragon incubator