How many times a year do they lay eggs?

[RedDr4gon333]

Okay, for those of you that do not know me, I have 3 adult chinese water dragons. Kai is my male. And my two females are Dori and Oscar (just found out Oscar is female after she became gravid).

Anyways, Oscar has laid a clutch of eggs, but I was wondering if she will do it again this year, or if one time is it? Kai is still chasing the women around. (What a gigolo!!!) So, is there any chance of Oscar laying another fertile clutch?

Also, even if Kai wasn't still after the women, would the next clutch, if one even comes, be fertile anyways? I seem to remember reading that some where... might be mistaken though -- that would also mean that another clutch is possible.

And where are Dori's eggs? I can't tell if she is gravid right now or not. She seems fatter, but she has also been eating like a pig lately. Which kinda points in the not gravid direction, but she has seriously put on some chunk.

Ok... thanks... [/font][/color]

[dragosmom]

Yes! Oscar (and Dori if she's old enough) can lay multiple clutches, even as late as July. That's why I advised you to build her back-up as quickly as possible! She'll need extra calcium through out the breeding/laying season. (Usually Oct-June). Kai also doesn't need to catch her again for the eggs to be fertile. From what I have read, they only need to mate once per season. BTW, if you go on repticzone would you give a shout to Redlady. Her dragon Rico is gravid and huge and she is worrying herself to death the same way you did before Oscar laid her eggs. I told her to IM you so you could share your angst about egg laying with her! LOL These females!

[RedDr4gon333]

Dori should be old enough. I bought all 3 dragons at the same time - but they all were different sizes, so maybe she is a lil young yet.

As for getting Oscar back into action, I gave her some wax worms to fatten her up a little bit. After laying those eggs, her legs just looked so patheticly skinny. She is getting dusted crickets and meal worms every day. She seems to be doing just great... except when Kai is chasing her around. He gets pretty rough with her. Makes her puff her throat so much that she gets saliva coming out of her nostrils! I might have to seperate them, but I really don't want to - mainly because my back-up cage has turned into the cage for my baby dragons! Guess I need a new back up...

I went over to the other forum and posted a message to RedLady. [/font][/color]

[dragosmom]

Thanks, Carrie. Red lady is just frantic with worry. You may need to put some extra hides in your viv so she has someplace to go. I saw a viv recently that had clay flower pots turned sideways and buried halfway in the substrate. If you soaked it in water first for 24 hrs. it would also help with the humidity.

[Pooka]

dragosmom said:

Yes! Oscar (and Dori if she's old enough) can lay multiple clutches, even as late as July. That's why I advised you to build her back-up as quickly as possible! She'll need extra calcium through out the breeding/laying season. (Usually Oct-June). Kai also doesn't need to catch her again for the eggs to be fertile. From what I have read, they only need to mate once per season. BTW, if you go on repticzone would you give a shout to Redlady. Her dragon Rico is gravid and huge and she is worrying herself to death the same way you did before Oscar laid her eggs. I told her to IM you so you could share your angst about egg laying with her! LOL These females!

Keep in mind that one breeding session does not gurantee fertile eggs for the season only that the potential is there for fertile eggs. So, if your trying to get fertile eggs try multiple breeding sessions to raise the chnaces. This can be accomplished by letting them get togther successfully then removing the female for a week then reintorducing her, I guess absence makes the heart grow fonder or somthing

on this page members.aol.com/msnick1/waterdragons/wdrepro.htmlunder EGG LAYING AND INCUBATION there is a quote you should also be aware of "Let's see now... Once gravid I lay eggs about 2 months after breeding. During the breeding season, I usually lay one clutch each month for 5 - 6 months. " So be aware that you will have to have the girls stocked up and keep them as healthy as possible during the breeding season to avoid complications. Hope some of this info helps, just wanted to make sure you had it all.

[RedDr4gon333]

Poor girls! That's a lot of work!

And I am not doing anything to get my dragons to breed. Kai is just a man. He is doing it all himself. I have not messed with the light times or the heat or anything. Teenage boys, what can you do with them?

Oh. And for Dori not being old enough, would Kai still be after her even if she wasn't old enough? Because he does go after her too. Not as much as Oscar though. Oscar is his woman. {Which makes me feel so much better now that I know Oscar is a girl. Cause lemme tell you, I used to think I had gay dragons.}[/font][/color]

[Pooka]

Not sure about them going after underage females.... thats a good question as that could stress the female I would bet. I certainly would like to know the answer.