Do bearded dragons have a gestation period?
Strictly speaking, bearded dragons do not have a gestation period because they lay eggs rather than give birth to live young. A female carrying eggs is called gravid. Two separate stages matter to owners: the gravid period while the eggs develop inside her, and incubation after the eggs are laid.
How long is a bearded dragon gravid?
Sources differ, but the gravid period is commonly described as roughly three to six weeks after mating, with some sources giving a wider range. Timing can vary with the individual female and her condition. A female can also develop and lay eggs without ever meeting a male, though those eggs will not be fertile.
Signs a bearded dragon is gravid
- a visibly rounder belly, sometimes with eggs visible or felt as lumps (do not squeeze her belly)
- a larger appetite at first, followed by a drop in eating shortly before laying
- restlessness, pacing or scratching at the enclosure corners
- digging attempts as she looks for a spot to lay
Caring for a gravid female
- Provide a suitable UVB light and a proper basking gradient. See bearded dragon without UVB for why this matters for calcium use.
- Offer calcium-rich food and follow your vet’s guidance on calcium and vitamin supplements. Egg production draws heavily on her calcium reserves.
- Keep her hydrated and offer a varied diet.
- Reduce stress and handling.
Setting up a DIY lay box
A lay box gives her a safe place to dig and lay. Many keepers build one from a large plastic tub or storage box with a lid and an entrance hole.
- Choose a container deep enough for her to dig a tunnel and turn around.
- Fill it with a damp, diggable mix, such as sand and soil. The medium should hold a tunnel shape when squeezed but not be soggy.
- Place it in a quiet part of the enclosure and keep it slightly damp.
- Add a hide cover or lid so she feels secure.
If she starts digging in the main substrate or cannot find a good spot, she may hold her eggs, which can cause problems.
How long does egg laying take?
Laying can take several hours, and sometimes longer. A female may lay more than one clutch in a season, and clutch sizes vary widely. Commonly quoted ranges are roughly 11 to 30 eggs per clutch, although a first clutch is often smaller. If she appears to be straining for a long period without laying, contact a reptile vet. This can be egg binding, a serious condition.
What to do with the eggs
If the eggs are infertile, they cannot hatch and can be removed after she has finished laying. Fertile eggs may be moved carefully to an incubator, keeping their orientation (do not rotate them) and placing them in a moist medium such as vermiculite. Local rules about breeding and selling reptiles vary, and you will also need to plan homes for the hatchlings before breeding.
Incubation and hatching time
Incubation time depends on temperature. Hobbyist reports commonly range from about 45 to 75 days, and some sources mention eggs taking longer. For example, one breeder reported hatches around 55 to 60 days at about 29 degrees Celsius. Keep the incubator at a stable temperature, and do not try to open unhatched eggs early.
Caring for hatchlings and telling a baby’s age
Hatchlings typically do not eat for the first few days, then begin taking small crickets and greens. Keep them on a simple substrate like paper towel, and remove uneaten insects to avoid bites. Because hatchlings can nip tails and toes, many breeders keep them in small groups at most, or separately.
How can you tell a baby’s age? Without records, size is a rough guide only: hatchlings are a few inches long and grow quickly, so a size-based guess is unreliable. See our juvenile bearded dragon care guide for growth stages and care.
When to call a vet
- she is straining or restless for a long time without laying
- she is lethargic, refusing food and swollen
- she shows signs of weakness or tremors
FAQ
How long does a bearded dragon lay eggs?
Laying a clutch can take hours, and females may lay more than one clutch in a season.
Can a bearded dragon lay eggs without a male?
Yes, but these eggs will be infertile.