Bearded dragons receive no maternal care. In fact, if the mother encounters her hatchlings, she might try to eat them. In captivity you must incubate bearded dragon eggs in order for them to hatch successfully.
Bearded Dragon Egg Laying
It takes four to six weeks after mating for a female to lay her eggs. Because she can store sperm in her body, she might lay additional clutches months after mating. Female bearded dragons dig a hole and lay their eggs, with each clutch numbering about 24. They might lay up to nine such clutches annually. The female buries each clutch, and the heat from the soil allows the eggs to incubate.
Young Bearded Dragons
About two months after eggs are laid, the hatchlings emerge. These little bearded dragons start life at sizes ranging from 3 to 4 inches. Their mother is long gone, so they are on their own from the beginning. Bearded dragons reach sexual maturity between the ages of 1 and 2 years, when they start the cycle over again.
References
Photo Credits
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Writer Bio
Jane Meggitt has been a writer for more than 20 years. In addition to reporting for a major newspaper chain, she has been published in "Horse News," "Suburban Classic," "Hoof Beats," "Equine Journal" and other publications. She has a Bachelor of Arts in English from New York University and an Associate of Arts from the American Academy of Dramatics Arts, New York City.
