Why is my female beardie digging? Is she laying infertile eggs?

Once the digging starts, she may begin laying eggs in as little as an hour. Some beardies can take up to 3 days to deposit a clutch of eggs in a chosen location. Temperature, humidity and stress levels all play an important role in how long it will take.

Thanks for reaching out about Cobra. Females can form and lay eggs without a male, they're just non-fertile, similar to many chicken eggs. Monitor appetite and defecation. Females will often stop eating close to laying period. If concerned, a veterinary visit is needed to confirm she is gravid (with eggs). Good luck.

Provide a lay box or other area for her to lay. Keep her warm and as stress free as possible. If she hasn't mated, the eggs are likely infertile. Monitor for lethargy, loss of appetite or straining to defecate or straining to lay. You may need to have her seen by your veterinarian or a vet experienced in treating reptiles depending on how long it has been.

Check the temperature in her enclosure. Ideal would be about 76 F (24C) on the cool side to about 86 F (30C) n the warm side. Her basking spot should range between 90 and 100 F (32-37.7 C). Young beardies should not be kept on sand as it can pose a risk of impaction or obstruction if they inadvertently ingest enough during feeding. Use reptile carpet, slate or paper towels until she is older or feed her outside of the enclosure. If the behavior persists, have her examined by your veterinarian or an experienced herp vet to diagnose infection or injury.

Most females will usually lay a clutch of eggs every year when the reach sexual maturity. Not all, however, will do this. Some females will produce eggs, go through the motion of searching for a lay spot then resorb the eggs and not lay any. If she is behaving normally, there is likely no cause for concern. When breeding season approaches, monitor her for egg formation and pro7a lay box. She may eventually lay or not.

Thanks for reaching out about Lizzie. Brumation is triggered by a drop in temperature in the environment and shortening day length. If you have a heating element on your system, the temperature should not be dropping. Being quiet and secretive for two days is concerning, as they usually remain active up to the time they lay, not for several days prior. If she is egg bound, a veterinary visit is recommended. Calcium injections and a drug to induce egg laying (oxytocin) can be given to stimulate egg production. She could be sick for other reasons with kidney disease being common in aging bearded dragons. If she is still eating, you have a little time. If not, she needs to visit a veterinarian. Good luck.

Increase her calcium supplementation. Dust prey daily or provide a liquid calcium supplement. Check the UVB light source and replace it if it is more than 6 months old. Offer a variety of gut loaded prey (crickets, dubia roaches, etc), vegetables and a commercial beardie diet. Soak her in a warm 50/50 solution of water and unflavored PediaLyte for 20-30 minutes 3-4 times a week until she perks up. Check for proper temperatures, ambient and basking, in the enclosure. If symptoms persist, have Beatrix examined by an experienced herp veterinarian in case she is impacted or egg bound.