I know the basics from reading different forum stickies, etc. But, do you guys have any tips, tricks, or pointers for me? Now that breeding them is a reality (solid lock yesterday) I'm looking for any info I can get besides the 'cookie-cutter caresheet' type info that's out there. Any advice, shared experiences, etc are very appreciated!

Hmmm, pointer one. Don't be surprised if the male decided that he's really a big shot now that he's no longer a virgin and bites you when you go in there. Doesn't always happen, but has happened to me enough that I expect a newly mated male to get a little full of himself for a bit.

Hmmm, pointer one. Don't be surprised if the male decided that he's really a big shot now that he's no longer a virgin and bites you when you go in there. Doesn't always happen, but has happened to me enough that I expect a newly mated male to get a little full of himself for a bit.

Oh, good pointer! lol! He has bearded and bobbed at us a bit more than usual but I haven't tried actually touching him yet. But I'm gonna guess that you're right! Thanks, Sara!

They're so funny! Like teenage boys, lmao!
I'm trying to think of different things with them, but it's funny how it's so routine for me that I don't even think of what I do... I use a kitty litter pan with a peat moss/sand/little sphagnum moss mix kept lightly damp in there. I put that in well before she's going to lay so it's familiar to her. Some use it, some don't. But, makes life alot easier when they do!
I also up the veggies to every day instead of every other on breeding girls (and their men!) for both the moisture content and the extra roughage. I just like the girls to be able to poop easily when they are all fat from all those eggs. I also cut back on superworms and do more cockroaches, the false death heads, cuz they are softer bodied. I don't do the hissers while full of eggs for that reason too, just a harder chunk to pass. I up the calcium a little but really not a ton, about every 3rd feeding. I also mix vitamin powder in with that as well. Then do short warm soaks twice a week, unless they are a girl that doesn't like them, then I stick with once a week unless she's one that really freaks out, then I add more water to the veggie dish and skip the soaking.
Yeah, basically I just try to pamper them more. Also I don't bother with nail trims when they've got eggs unless they are 'curlers' cuz again, the stress thing, most of mine hate nail trims.
Okay, that's all I can think of right now, sure hope someone else can add to this or else I am just going to look like a "crazy" bearded mommy... lol!

Sara, you're such a wealth of knowledge! :D So you put the lay box right in the enclosure? I've read that you *should* separate mom into a separate one once she starts getting antsy. This is why I started this thread. I know that some people take the caresheets and stickies as gospel and this is the only forum I know that isn't afraid of 'outside-the-box(caresheet)' thinking. I know that there are other ways to do things that work well and I'd like to hear them also!

We have dubia roaches. I have no idea if these are hard or soft-bodied?

Neither of the dragons really care for baths so I stick with a good misting 2-3 times a day unless they look like they need a really good soak. Is that okay or should I be sure to bathe her?

Out side the box...hmmmmm anything specific Mel?

oh no you must fill a 55 gallon garbage can with dirt and stick her in it right when she is ready to lay :rolleyes:

I tried a lay box before, the girl liked it, she played in it, chased roaches into it, hid from the male in it then proceeded to dig 10 test holes around the cage....I ended up adding a bunch of that fiber dirt to the enclosure and wet it down then layered another 2 inches of dry stuff on top of that...about 8-10 inches total in a 75 gallon tank so she had plenty of room to find just the right spot...she made holes all over and found the spot she wanted, never could figure out all the pictures I saw of people removing them into buckets to get them to lay in there...

B.dubias are soft bodied, hissers got those intense shells on them....stay away from the worms though because they can get stuffed up easily like Sara said...

LOL! Like Jeff said on the lay box! I just toss it right in the cage with them. And I don't bother seperating her out, in more years then I care to think about I've only had a problem once with a girl laying right in her cage, and that was the also gravid female clutch mate eating her eggs. It's only ever happened that one time, so I feel like it was a fluke thing. I look at it a little more like a "home birth" where she's familiar, comfy, and do as she wants... and alot of them do exactly what Jeff said, dig all over and ignore the box or just play in it. And yup, dubias are soft bodied.

what exactly are you looking for when you say "out of the box"??

For babies I suggest higher temps (110-115 F) thats what I keep mine at. Also, you can adjust the "suggested" prey item size. Granted nothing huge but that space between their eyes rule is not entirely true if your husbandry is up to the task of keeping them with the ability to digest it. Offer greens early on. This way they will be eating them by the time they go to find new homes. I soak mine daily as babies easily dehydrate in the habitats we keep them in. Also, try to keep their feeders varied. Crickets are a given, but also roach nymphs (i use both dubia and hisser nymphs), small supers, mini-mealworms, phoenix worms as an EXPENSIVE treat (haha).

What kind of info are you actually searching for. It is much easier to answer a question when there is a question lol.

LOL! Like Jeff said on the lay box! I just toss it right in the cage with them. And I don't bother seperating her out, in more years then I care to think about I've only had a problem once with a girl laying right in her cage, and that was the also gravid female clutch mate eating her eggs. It's only ever happened that one time, so I feel like it was a fluke thing. I look at it a little more like a "home birth" where she's familiar, comfy, and do as she wants... and alot of them do exactly what Jeff said, dig all over and ignore the box or just play in it. And yup, dubias are soft bodied.

My first year breeding I tried a "in home" lay box and my female chose to lay directly under her basking light instead. Really ruined my day haha. Now I only use separate lay boxes. each person has a different opinion on this and I see a in tank lay box as not worth the risk to me.

My laybox setup is a 30 gallon tote with about 15 inches of damp quick crete play sand sloped to one side with a basking light clamped over it. As soon as I notice my female digging in corners or acting overly restless I transfer her to the bin and leave her there until she has laid. And it is obvious when they lay as she will appear "deflated" haha.

What kind of info are you actually searching for. It is much easier to answer a question when there is a question lol.

There isn't really a question. Just a general request for any tips/experiences you want to share. When I say outside the box, I mean husbandry techniques that may not be the universally accepted way of doing things in the bearded dragon community.

Thanks for all the info, guys! You all rock! :letsparty:

Very interesting info here , thx guys.