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Everything you need to know about caring for bearded dragon eggs

Rebekkah Adams
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If a bearded dragon served as your entrance into the world of herpetology, then wise choice. These gentle yet curious lizards make excellent pets for you and the whole family — with plenty of personality, to boot. Ready to take the next step in reptile ownership? Bearded dragon egg care will take you up a level as it requires double the knowledge and experience for twice the reward (or perhaps 20 times if they all hatch). You’ll want to be a hands-on pet parent and helper for your lady beardie throughout the whole process to ensure babies and mother come out doing well.

Yellow bearded dragon looks at camera
Image used with permission by copyright holder

What to do before she lays eggs

You notice your dragon has started to act funny and her tummy has grown. It’s likely that she’s gravid, which means pregnant with eggs. Sometimes this happens even in the absence of a mate. Just as chickens often lay even without a rooster present, so, too, do reptiles — wishful thinking maybe. If you know she has not been in the presence of a male for more than six weeks, you can dispose of them. Otherwise, start getting ready for a clutch to take care of. You’ll want to up her calcium intake for starters and her food, though she may not eat right before she lays. If the six-week mark comes and goes with no eggs in sight, you’ll need to take her to a vet. She might be egg-bound and in need of immediate care.

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How to tell if bearded dragon eggs are fertile

Assuming she has seen her man recently, you can be reasonably sure that the eggs contain a future beardie, but there is a way to check. Shine a light into the egg (in a dark room) and try to spot a little collection of veins (or really a blob) inside. The light may also come out looking pinkish (yellow means not fertile). But don’t handle them too much — you should treat them extra gently. You must decide early if you’ll mostly be caring for the eggs or if Mom will be involved. Either way, they take work. 

She’ll have already built a nest using dirt and needs your help to keep it moist and warm. Aim for 85 degrees and 75% humidity at all times. Monitor this with a thermometer and hygrometer. Watch carefully to ensure no mold is growing, either. If mold does spring up on an egg, you’ll have to dispose of that one quickly so that the others stay safe. Don’t forget to keep them in the upright position. You might struggle to tell, but it does make a difference to the tiny animal growing inside. 

When will they hatch?

It takes about two months for the new eggs to hatch, which means a lot of time spent carefully tracking them for both of you. Don’t expect the babies to arrive exactly on time and most importantly, don’t help. Your new tiny pets will squirm out of their eggs on their own. Keep out for a day or two to let all the minis come when they come. Some won’t ever open, and after a couple of days, you can discard these.

Baby bearded dragons in an easter basket
Image used with permission by copyright holder

Where do the babies go after?

While you wait for your newest arrivals, start planning where these additions will go once they show up. You probably don’t have enough space for all 20 newborns and Mom. Once they reach 4 weeks, you can give them to new owners or move them to different enclosures, so Mom can go back to living the single life. 

Welcoming baby reptiles takes a lot of work, and you may feel unprepared. If you have a pair or if your female has recently hung out with her beau, you should stay ready. Once she reaches a year old, all bets are off, and you may get a gaggle of lizards. It’s best to keep your vet involved in this whole process, especially to check your pregnant pet in case she needs special attention. While 20 little ones seem like a lot, it’s not more than she can care for, and once they’re ready, you can send these cuties off to new, loving homes.

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Rebekkah Adams
Rebekkah Adams
Contributor
Rebekkah’s been a writer and editor for more than 10 years, both in print and digital. In addition to writing about pets…
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Do beardies like to go on walks?
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What type of harness does my bearded dragon need?
Especially at first, you'll need some way to secure your animal, and that's where the harness comes in. Just as you'd put your dog or cat on a leash attached to a collar, so too you need something to maintain control and keep track of your reptile. Don't go outside without something to keep him close by since it only takes seconds to lose track of your pet, who can get away quickly and go under or over things you can't. Some of these contraptions come in different sizes, and you can try a few out and see what works best for the both of you. Choose one specifically for this species, though — do not repurpose a mammal harness or try to make your own if he hasn't tried it out yet. You need him to stay secure for the entirety of your expedition.
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You certainly want to ensure that the harness fits and that you aren't dragging him around, much as you would with any other pet. On top of that, though, check the temp outside before scheduling your journey. It needs to be extremely warm for him to do well outdoors. As in, well into the 80s preferably with a gentle sun beating down. Don't go out in the rain or cold as that does not match his natural habitat, which is often the desert and other warm climates. However, he also needs the opportunity for a cooldown at a moment's notice. Stay within reach of some shade as that will allow him to escape there as needed. Along these lines, keep the walks short to start, maybe five or 10 minutes until you adjust to his preference. 

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