Hi all. My female Boyd's is gravid for the second time. First time around, she appeared quite distressed for at least three weeks - down on the ground for most of the time, pacing the enclosure, scratching on the walls, barely eating, etc. Like she could not find anywhere suitable to lay. I sought advice as to how to change the enclosure to make it more suitable to her needs. It was suggested to place dark cardboard around one corner of the enclosure, to give her a secluded spot to lay. Eventually she did lay in that spot. This time around, though, she is displaying the distressed behaviour all over again (has been 4 weeks, now) and it would appear that she is no longer happy with the original nesting site, as she has not used it this time. I gave her more ground cover plants, to no avail. Then, I googled nesting behaviour of this species in the wild. Appears they like more open, sunny sites to lay. So, I removed some of the ground cover again. She gets a little direct sunlight in the afternoon, in one corner, for about 5 mins a day. Substrate used is damp coco peat (approx. 3 inches deep.) She has a large dish to bathe in, plenty of vertical branches, and some fake plants in the enclosure. UV and humidity are supplied as suggested in reptile books, for this species. She seems very distressed currently, and I am quite concerned for her. She is over a year old, housed alone, and when not carrying eggs, is a content, healthy dragon, who eats well. Any suggestions as to how I could meet her needs better, if this is not typical Boyd's behaviour? I've been in herps for many years, but am relatively new to keeping forest dragons.... If you read to the end of this long post, thank you!
Distressed gravid Boyd's Forest Dragon
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Erebos
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Hey what are you using as a substrate try coco pete if your not using it and make sure it's damp and there is enough humidity ask mr.Boyd on here he has helped me alot with Boyds and has lots of good info.
It's a bit early or late for more eggs are you sure she's gravid. Well goodluck hope it all goes well.
Post some pics of your enclosure.
It's a bit early or late for more eggs are you sure she's gravid. Well goodluck hope it all goes well.
Post some pics of your enclosure.
Hey. Thanks for your reply, Br3nton.
Yep, using damp coco peat.
I assume she's gravid (??) for 2 reasons...
1. behaving exactly as she did last time
2. person I purchased from said that even if not housed with a male, she'll lay every couple of months. (kinda like chooks, I guess...)
Yep, using damp coco peat.
I assume she's gravid (??) for 2 reasons...
1. behaving exactly as she did last time
2. person I purchased from said that even if not housed with a male, she'll lay every couple of months. (kinda like chooks, I guess...)
Erebos
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That's crap they won't just lay what he ment is that they can retain sperm and lay at any time there not chickens. at least they don't look it to me lol
Could u post some pics and feel her stomach it's noticeabull if you cam feel eggs.
Could u post some pics and feel her stomach it's noticeabull if you cam feel eggs.
I must say, I had not heard of a lizard doing that, either. (And you are right - she has no chicken-like characteristics, whatsoever.
)
But, certainly she has been housed alone since a wee hatchling, so the retaining sperm bit does not really fit, either.
When she first layed, she only deposited two eggs. So, I guess, despite not really knowing where the eggs have come from initially, she may have not laid them all first time round (?) and that is why she is gravid now (?)
She seems to get stressed very easily, so I wish not to feel her stomach, or snap pics at the moment. She has certainly re-commenced displaying all the behaviours she did when first carrying eggs, though. And to look at, her stomach appears as it did when gravid, also.
Susie.
) But, certainly she has been housed alone since a wee hatchling, so the retaining sperm bit does not really fit, either.
When she first layed, she only deposited two eggs. So, I guess, despite not really knowing where the eggs have come from initially, she may have not laid them all first time round (?) and that is why she is gravid now (?)
She seems to get stressed very easily, so I wish not to feel her stomach, or snap pics at the moment. She has certainly re-commenced displaying all the behaviours she did when first carrying eggs, though. And to look at, her stomach appears as it did when gravid, also.
Susie.
JAS101
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I must say, I had not heard of a lizard doing that, either. (And you are right - she has no chicken-like characteristics, whatsoever.
But, certainly she has been housed alone since a wee hatchling, so the retaining sperm bit does not really fit, either.
When she first layed, she only deposited two eggs. So, I guess, despite not really knowing where the eggs have come from initially, she may have not laid them all first time round (?) and that is why she is gravid now (?)
She seems to get stressed very easily, so I wish not to feel her stomach, or snap pics at the moment. She has certainly re-commenced displaying all the behaviours she did when first carrying eggs, though. And to look at, her stomach appears as it did when gravid, also.
Susie.
id say its double clutched - do some research on multi clutches, there u will find all the info u need .
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