How to Incubate Bearded Dragon Eggs: 7 Vet Approved Tips

Bearded dragons are extremely popular pet reptiles that you can find around the world. These lizards are friendly, social, and docile, which is why they make great pets for any reptile lover.

They originate from Australia, but they have been bred as pets for centuries, which is why you can find them in almost any pet store. Many beardie owners also decide to breed them.

If you’re expecting beardie babies or are considering breeding your beardies, you’ll need to prepare for the arrival of the eggs and learn how to keep them safe until they hatch.

This article has the best tips and tricks on how to incubate bearded dragon eggs to ensure that your baby beardies will be safe and healthy while coming into this world.

Should You Breed Your Bearded Dragons?

Before you think about the breeding process, you’ll need to ensure that your beardies are entirely healthy; if there’s anything wrong with one of them, you shouldn’t breed them. If you breed unhealthy bearded dragons, there’s a strong possibility of transferring the health condition(s) to the babies, which will cause them problems in life.

Another thing to consider is caring for the beardie babies once they hatch. Unless you plan on taking care of all the babies, you’ll need to find them appropriate homes before they are born. Otherwise, you might have over 15 baby beardies in your care, which can be extremely stressful.

That said, if you still want to go through the breeding process, here’s a list of seven tips and tricks to make the incubation of bearded dragon eggs successful.

The 7 Tips for Incubating Bearded Dragon Eggs

1. Gather the Needed Supplies

Bearded dragon eggs will need a warm, safe environment, which is why you’ll need the following supplies:

Most of these things are easy to find or buy, but it can be tricky to find a suitable incubator for beardie eggs. You can make one yourself or a chicken incubator and adjust it to suit your needs.

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2. Create a Nest

You’ll need to create a warm, comfortable nest where your female beardie will be able to lay her eggs. Put moisture-holding substrate into the sealable box. It’s best to keep your female beardie inside, away from other bearded dragons, until she lays the eggs.

Occasionally, the female may bury the eggs into the substrate, so look thoroughly to collect all the eggs after hatching.

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3. Prepare the Nest and the Incubator

You should prepare everything in advance before your female beardie lays her eggs. Ensure that the box is filled enough with the substrate that the eggs won’t roll, jeopardizing the baby beardies inside.

Also, prepare the incubator, and adjust its moisture and temperature to an appropriate level. The humidity levels should be around 75%, with the ideal temperature being between 83°F and 84°F.

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4. Remove the Eggs

After the female lays the eggs into the substrate in the box, remove them and place them into the incubator. Remember to carefully handle the eggs, and prevent them from turning, flipping, or rolling, as such actions could kill the developing beardie fetus.

Since bearded dragon eggs could get damaged when you move them, there’s no need to turn the eggs inside the incubator. When placing the eggs in the incubator, be sure to nestle them properly and add substrate to avoid mishaps.

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5. Put the Eggs in the Incubator

Before placing the eggs inside, double-check all your settings to ensure that the temperature and humidity in the incubator are set up appropriately.

After securely placing the eggs in the incubator, you’ll need to monitor them regularly to ensure that the surroundings are working well for them.

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6. Monitor the Eggs

You’ll need to check on the eggs multiple times a day to ensure that the whole incubation process is flowing smoothly. Remember to check the settings of your incubator, and ensure that the eggs look healthy and safe.

The eggs should look normal, without any mold on them; if a bearded dragon egg is becoming moldy or rotten, you should throw it out to prevent further issues. Leaving a moldy/rotten egg in the incubator could potentially harm all the other eggs, leading to a big loss.

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7. Take Care of the Newborn Beardies

Baby bearded dragons take around 60 days to hatch from their eggs, though the whole process can last between 40 and 90 days. After the newborn beardies hatch, it will be your responsibility to help the mother care for the babies.

Instead of taking the newborns out of the incubator immediately, it’s best to still keep them there for a day or two after hatching. The hatchlings can encourage the other eggs to hatch quicker, which can be extremely beneficial.

After a day or two, you can place the baby beardies into their new enclosure and take care of them until you find them suitable homes.

Frequently Asked Questions

How Do I Care for a Bearded Dragon That Has Just Laid Eggs?

Typically, you’ll need to provide the female beardie with a clean, spacious environment, a well-balanced diet with protein and veggies, and supplements and minerals, such as calcium. You can also consult your vet to see if there’s any type of special care that your beardie might need after laying the eggs.

When Do Bearded Dragons Breed?

In most cases, bearded dragons only breed once a year, typically in spring, as they brumate during winter. Once they wake up, your beardies will be more vital and healthier, which is why that time is perfect for breeding.

Your beardies are also ready for breeding once you notice courtship behavior. The male bearded dragon will bob his head and stomp his feet to attract the female’s attention.

Conclusion

Hopefully, you now have a better understanding of how to incubate bearded dragon eggs to keep them safe and enable the fetuses to fully develop. Remember to adjust the environment inside the incubator and monitor the eggs for possible changes. If you notice any mold, throw away the ruined egg to prevent it from contaminating the other eggs.

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Featured Image Credit: Steve Buchus, Shutterstock