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Bearded Dragons
How to Breed Bearded Dragons Download ArticleExplore this Article parts 1 Preparing to Breed Your Bearded Dragons 2 Breeding Your Bearded Dragons 3 Letting Your Female Dragon Lay Her Eggs 4 Incubating the Eggs 5 Hatching and Caring for the Bearded Dragon Babies + Show 2 more... - Show less... Other Sections Expert Q&A Video Related Articles References Article Summary Co-authored by Pippa Elliott, MRCVS
Last Updated: February 27, 2024 Approved
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This article was co-authored by Pippa Elliott, MRCVS. Dr. Elliott, BVMS, MRCVS is a veterinarian with over 30 years of experience in veterinary surgery and companion animal practice. She has worked at the same animal clinic in her hometown for over 20 years. In addition, Dr. Elliott is a freelance veterinary copywriter specializing in taking dense topics and making them easy to digest. Her clients include The Webinar Vet, PetPlan US, TIME, and other top-ranked blogs. She also works with Improve International as a developmental editor for veterinary textbooks. She graduated from the University of Glasgow in 1987 with a degree in veterinary medicine and surgery. wikiHow marks an article as reader-approved once it receives enough positive feedback. This article received 14 testimonials and 92% of readers who voted found it helpful, earning it our reader-approved status. This article has been viewed 458,830 times.
Bearded dragons have an easy-going personality, are a reasonable size, and have an attractive appearance, all of which make them very popular to keep as pets. Bearded dragons that are kept as pets can be bred year-round, so you can breed your dragons at any point during the year. Ensuring a successful breeding will take a lot of time and preparation, so make sure that you have a full understanding of the entire process before breeding your dragons.
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Part 1 Part 1 of 5:
Preparing to Breed Your Bearded Dragons
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1 Determine the sex of your bearded dragons. There are several physical characteristics that will help you tell your male and female dragons apart. The male bearded dragon’s head is larger than that of a female. In addition, his abdominal girth will be smaller and he will have larger pores in his anal region.[1]XResearch source
Another way to determine the sex is to look at the hemipenile bulges. To do this, hold your bearded dragon on his back in your hand and gently bend his tail toward his back at a 90-degree angle; be careful not to damage the vertebrae in his tail when you bend it. Two hemipenile bulges on either side of the tail indicate a male; one centered bulge or no bulge at all indicates a female.[2]XResearch source
2 Take your bearded dragons to your veterinarian. It is essential that your bearded dragons are in optimal condition prior to breeding. Your veterinarian can give them a thorough physical exam and let you know if they are in good health or are in need of treatment. He or she can also test your dragons for atadenovirus, which is very contagious among dragons and can cause serious disease.[3]XResearch source
Bearded dragons should not be bred if they test positive for atadenovirus, since it can be passed from mother to baby.[4]XResearch source
Keep in mind that a bearded dragon that has the virus may not be shedding it at the time of the test, leading to a false negative result. For this reason, it would be good to have your dragons tested repeatedly before breeding.[5]XResearch source
Have your veterinarian check your bearded dragons’ ages, lengths, and weights. For optimal breeding, the male should be at least 18 months old and the female should be at least 24 months old. They should both be at least 18 inches in length from snout to tail. [6]XResearch source The female should weigh at least 350 grams.[7]XResearch source
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3 Supplement your female bearded dragon’s diet. Your female will need a daily supplement that contains calcium and vitamin D. This will help ensure that her eggs will be adequately calcified and that she will not suffer from a calcium deficiency after laying her eggs. She will also need a general multivitamin.
Your female should receive this supplementation at least several weeks before breeding.[8]XResearch source Talk with your veterinarian if you have questions on how to incorporate these supplements into your female bearded dragon’s diet.
4 Prepare the breeding habitat. Although your female and male bearded dragons will only temporarily live together in the same enclosure, it is important that the enclosure is set up for an optimal breeding situation. First, the enclosure should be large enough to comfortably house two adult bearded dragons; your local pet store can help you determine the exact enclosure size that you will need.[9]XResearch source
Glass aquariums are very popular enclosures for bearded dragons, but other types are also available, including melamine cages and PVC cages. Using a screen lid cover will keep your bearded dragons from escaping and will allow for fresh air circulation.[10]XResearch source
Use a thermometer to maintain the overall temperature at 77 to 88 degrees Fahrenheit during the day and the mid 70’s at night.
Place a basking light (available at your local pet store) outside of the cage to provide a focal basking spot in the cage at a temperature of 105 degrees Fahrenheit. [11]XResearch source
Position full-spectrum light bulbs (UVA and UVB) above the enclosure, about one foot from where your dragons will likely spend most of their time. The UVA and UVB rays from the bulbs will help keep your bearded dragons healthy by helping them produce vitamin D.[12]XResearch source
Places branches and rocks in the enclosure. The branches will give your bearded dragons something to climb on, and the rocks will give your dragons opportunities to rest and hide from each other.[13]XResearch source
5 Prepare the lay box. The lay box is where your female dragon will lay her eggs. The lay box should be an eight to ten-gallon plastic container with a secure lid that allows for air circulation. Fill the box with about eight inches of either topsoil or potting soil, along with sand.[14]XResearch source
The soil mixture should be damp enough so that it lightly clumps together and is easy to dig in. The soil should not be so dry that it would cave in when she tries to bury her eggs.[15]XResearch source
6 Purchase an incubator. The eggs will need to be removed from the lay box and incubated. It would be best to purchase a pre-made incubator at your local pet store to reduce the likelihood of malfunction. The Hovabator is a commonly used incubator for bearded dragon eggs.
Fill small containers with either vermiculite or perlite (available at your local gardening store) and place them in the incubator. Press your thumb in each container to make a depression where the egg will go, and cover the container with a lid that allows for air circulation.
7 Prepare your bearded dragons for brumation. Brumation is the process of decreasing the temperature and photoperiod (lighting schedule) for your bearded dragons. When the male and female are in their separate cages, decrease the temperature to 80 degrees Fahrenheit during the day and 60 degrees Fahrenheit at night. Decrease their exposure to light: 10 hours of light and 14 hours of darkness.
You will probably notice that your dragons will eat less and hide more during brumation. They probably will not bask as much either. After brumation, they will want to resume their usual diet.
Brumation should last at least two to three months before breeding.[16]XResearch source
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Breeding Your Bearded Dragons
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1 Place your bearded dragons in the breeding enclosure. Your dragons probably will not mate right away, and will need some time to adjust to their new surroundings. Making this enclosure ready for them beforehand will get them more comfortable. When the male is ready to breed, his beard will darken to black.[17]XResearch source
2 Observe the courtship behavior. Your bearded dragons will exhibit courtship behaviors before the actual mating. Both your male and female will start bobbing their heads; the female may also start waving one of her arms to indicate her receptiveness to be bred. Your male may also stomp his feet and chase your female around the enclosure.[18]XResearch source
Your bearded dragons may also twitch their tails as a courtship behavior.[19]XResearch source
3 Observe the mating behavior. To mate, your male will quickly climb on the back of your female and bite her neck; biting her neck keeps her from running off before the mating process is complete. Your male will then press his cloacal region against that of your female. The entire mating process only take a few minutes.
4 Return your bearded dragons to their separate cages after one week. It is recommended to leave your dragons together for about a week after mating. After this one week, place them in their separate cages for one week. Put them together for another week for another mating session. You may need to do this several times to ensure a successful mating.[20]XResearch source
Continue to feed your female her supplements after the mating. Increasing her exercise and keeping her well hydrated after mating will help her be better prepared to lay her eggs.
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Letting Your Female Dragon Lay Her Eggs
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1 Observe her in her separate cage. Your female will demonstrate behavior that shows that she is ready to lay her eggs. She may start pacing her cage and looking a little anxious. She will also eat less and frantically dig in her cage. When she is exhibiting this behavior, gently move her to the lay box so that she can lay her eggs.
You will also be able to easily see that her belly is full of eggs. You will be able to see the outlines of the eggs, which will look like small marbles.
Egg laying typically occurs about four to six weeks after mating.
2 Allow your female dragon to lay her eggs in the lay box. You will see her digging in the enclosure to create an area to lay her eggs. It may not be easy to tell when she has laid her eggs, especially if you didn’t see her do it. If this is the case, you will know that she has laid eggs when you see that her belly looks more deflated and flat. Remove her from the lay box after she has laid her eggs.
If you do not think that your female has laid all of her eggs, take her to your veterinarian immediately. She may be suffering from egg binding, which is a serious medical condition that would keep her from laying her eggs.
Female bearded dragons typically lay their eggs in the afternoon or early evening. You may want to start watching her around this time of day to see if she looks ready to lay her eggs.
Females usually lay between about 24 eggs at a time, but can also lay as few as15 and as many as 50.[21]XResearch source A group of eggs is called a clutch.
3 Remove your female bearded dragon from the lay box. After she has laid her eggs, she should be placed back in her original cage. In general, female bearded dragons are not very maternal. Also, captive female bearded dragons tend not to guard their eggs.[22]XResearch source
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Incubating the Eggs
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1 Place the eggs in the incubator. To do this, lift the eggs with your hands or a spoon. It is important to be extremely gentle when you are transferring the freshly laid eggs from the lay box to the incubator. As best you can, keep them in the same orientation as you found them in the lay box. It may be helpful to mark the top of the egg with a pencil to keep you from accidentally turning it upside down when placing it in the incubator.
Place each egg in an individual container in the incubator. The egg should fit snugly within the thumb depression that you made earlier. Make sure that the egg is not covered with the vermiculite or perlite and place the lid on the container.
2 Maintain the incubator temperature at 82 to 86 degrees Fahrenheit. Use a digital thermometer to monitor the temperature. If the temperature gets too hot within the incubator, the embryos could die inside the eggs. The incubator should be in a room that is cooler than the temperature inside the incubator; a warmer room would increase the incubator’s temperature, which puts the embryos at risk.[23]XResearch source
The incubator’s humidity should be maintained at around 80%. Placing a bowl of water within the incubator will help to maintain the humidity level. Refill the water as needed.
Check the temperature daily and the humidity about twice a week.
3 Monitor the eggs on a regular basis. Pay close attention to see if the eggs look wet or overly dry. Condensation on the eggs can be deadly to the embryos, so it is very important to make sure that the eggs do not have any moisture on them. If they look wet, take the lid off the incubator for 24 hours to release the excess humidity and let the vermiculite or perlite dry.
If the eggs look dimpled or look like they’re about to collapse, they may be too dry. Use room temperature water to dampen the vermiculite, making sure not to make it so damp that the egg gets wet.
Healthy and fertile eggs will increase to about twice their original size and turn chalk white. Eggs that are yellow, pink, or green may not be fertile.
Eggs with mold on them may or may not be fertile. Talk with your veterinarian if you are unsure what to do with the moldy eggs.
The eggs will begin to hatch in about 60 to 70 days.[24]XResearch source
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Hatching and Caring for the Bearded Dragon Babies
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1 Observe changes in the egg’s appearance. Just prior to hatching, the eggs may begin to deflate and develop water droplets. These changes are completely normal and should not be confused with signs that the egg is infertile. You will also see a slit in the eggs exterior, which is caused by a baby bearded dragon’s egg tooth on the tip of their snout. The baby will make a slit large enough to fit its snout and head through, and will rest with its head out for about one day.
2 Avoid helping the baby bearded dragons emerge from their eggs. Let the babies hatch on their own, which will typically take about 24 to 36 hours. You will probably notice that all of eggs will hatch within a day or two of each other.
Keep the babies in the incubator for their first 24 hours of life to help them adjust to their new environment.
Remove any babies that did not survive.
3 Group the baby dragons together according to size. Line their enclosure with moist paper towels, which will help keep them hydrated during their first few weeks of life. You can also lightly mist them with water until they begin drinking water on their own. In terms of food, the yolk from their individual eggs will provide them with nutrition for a few days, so you can wait until around day 3 to feed them real food (crickets, chopped greens).
You will need at least a 20-gallon tank to hold the baby dragons. They will need larger tanks as they grow older.[25]XResearch source
Provide the babies with plenty of food so that they do not begin nipping at each other’s toes or tails.
Place the larger and more dominant babies in a separate enclosure so that the smaller ones can eat.
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Question Is there a way to hatch the eggs without an incubator? Pippa Elliott, MRCVS Veterinarian Dr. Elliott, BVMS, MRCVS is a veterinarian with over 30 years of experience in veterinary surgery and companion animal practice. She has worked at the same animal clinic in her hometown for over 20 years. In addition, Dr. Elliott is a freelance veterinary copywriter specializing in taking dense topics and making them easy to digest. Her clients include The Webinar Vet, PetPlan US, TIME, and other top-ranked blogs. She also works with Improve International as a developmental editor for veterinary textbooks. She graduated from the University of Glasgow in 1987 with a degree in veterinary medicine and surgery. Pippa Elliott, MRCVS Veterinarian Expert Answer An incubator provides the optimum environment for the eggs to hatch, and is the best option for a successful brood of hatchlings. However, you can improvise with a plastic box (such as an ice cream tube or wet wipe box) containing moistened vermiculite and kept at the appropriate temperature. Around two inches of moist (not wet) vermiculite is about right, making small indentations with a thumb, and place an egg in each indentation. Monitor regularly for signs of the eggs being too moist or dry. Thanks! We're glad this was helpful.Thank you for your feedback. If wikiHow has helped you, please consider a small contribution to support us in helping more readers like you. We’re committed to providing the world with free how-to resources, and even $1 helps us in our mission. Support wikiHow Yes No Not Helpful 6 Helpful 41
Question If my beardies have lived together their entire lives, should I still separate them after mating? Pippa Elliott, MRCVS Veterinarian Dr. Elliott, BVMS, MRCVS is a veterinarian with over 30 years of experience in veterinary surgery and companion animal practice. She has worked at the same animal clinic in her hometown for over 20 years. In addition, Dr. Elliott is a freelance veterinary copywriter specializing in taking dense topics and making them easy to digest. Her clients include The Webinar Vet, PetPlan US, TIME, and other top-ranked blogs. She also works with Improve International as a developmental editor for veterinary textbooks. She graduated from the University of Glasgow in 1987 with a degree in veterinary medicine and surgery. Pippa Elliott, MRCVS Veterinarian Expert Answer If they like each other and get along, then there's no need to separate them after mating. It might be worth double-checking their genders, since two beardies of the opposite sex kept together are likely to breed spontaneously. If this hasn't happened already, you may have two dragons of the same gender. Thanks! We're glad this was helpful.Thank you for your feedback. If wikiHow has helped you, please consider a small contribution to support us in helping more readers like you. We’re committed to providing the world with free how-to resources, and even $1 helps us in our mission. Support wikiHow Yes No Not Helpful 16 Helpful 51
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Co-authored by: Pippa Elliott, MRCVS Veterinarian This article was co-authored by Pippa Elliott, MRCVS. Dr. Elliott, BVMS, MRCVS is a veterinarian with over 30 years of experience in veterinary surgery and companion animal practice. She has worked at the same animal clinic in her hometown for over 20 years. In addition, Dr. Elliott is a freelance veterinary copywriter specializing in taking dense topics and making them easy to digest. Her clients include The Webinar Vet, PetPlan US, TIME, and other top-ranked blogs. She also works with Improve International as a developmental editor for veterinary textbooks. She graduated from the University of Glasgow in 1987 with a degree in veterinary medicine and surgery. This article has been viewed 458,830 times. 70 votes - 92% Co-authors: 53Updated: February 27, 2024 Views: 458,830 Categories: Featured Articles | Bearded DragonsArticle SummaryX
To breed bearded dragons, start by lowering the temperature and exposure to light in the dragons’ cages for at least 2 months so they can undergo brumation before breeding. Then, place both bearded dragons in a breeding enclosure and wait for the male to climb on the back of the female to mate. After a week, return the dragons to separate cages and wait another week before putting them in the breeding enclosure again. When the female starts pacing about 4 weeks later, move her to a laying box so she can lay her eggs. For advice from our Veterinary reviewer on how to incubate bearded dragon eggs, read on.Did this summary help you?YesNo
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Reader Success Stories
Denise Cain
Jun 17, 2016
"I didn't know that the tails of the males got darker when they were ready to breed. And I wasn't aware that they would eat their own babies. I didn't know you had to take the eggs out. Also, your article says to keep them a lot hotter than I thought."..." more
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Yes No Advertisement Cookies make wikiHow better. By continuing to use our site, you agree to our cookie policy. Co-authored by: Pippa Elliott, MRCVS Veterinarian Co-authors: 53Updated: February 27, 2024 Views: 458,83092% of readers found this article helpful. 70 votes - 92% Click a star to add your vote
Denise Cain
Jun 17, 2016
"I didn't know that the tails of the males got darker when they were ready to breed. And I wasn't aware that they would eat their own babies. I didn't know you had to take the eggs out. Also, your article says to keep them a lot hotter than I thought."..." more
Caroline Wood
Oct 2, 2018
"I have a male and female living in the same vivarium, and they get on brilliantly. I have had 2 clutches of eggs, but both sets were not fertilized. I'd like to say thanks very much for your information, it's helped me a lot. "..." more
Susan Kania
Mar 22, 2019
"I am just starting out as a bearded dragon breeder (by accident). After going online and checking several sites, I found yours the easiest to understand and it covered more info. I love the quizzes! Thank you for your input."..." more
Nicholas Tan
Sep 2, 2017
"Thanks for this article wikiHow! Although I still don't have a bearded dragon, (i am saving money to buy two and breed) this is a good article!"..." more
Elle Michaels
Jul 24, 2016
"The step-by-step instructions from beginning to end helped. Even the unfamiliar words were explained in laymen terms. Easy to follow."..." more Share yours! More success stories Hide success stories
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Download Article Explore this Article parts 1 Preparing to Breed Your Bearded Dragons 2 Breeding Your Bearded Dragons 3 Letting Your Female Dragon Lay Her Eggs 4 Incubating the Eggs 5 Hatching and Caring for the Bearded Dragon Babies + Show 2 more... - Show less... Other Sections Expert Q&A Video Related Articles References Article Summary Co-authored by Pippa Elliott, MRCVS 
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Co-authored by: Pippa Elliott, MRCVS Veterinarian This article was co-authored by Pippa Elliott, MRCVS. Dr. Elliott, BVMS, MRCVS is a veterinarian with over 30 years of experience in veterinary surgery and companion animal practice. She has worked at the same animal clinic in her hometown for over 20 years. In addition, Dr. Elliott is a freelance veterinary copywriter specializing in taking dense topics and making them easy to digest. Her clients include The Webinar Vet, PetPlan US, TIME, and other top-ranked blogs. She also works with Improve International as a developmental editor for veterinary textbooks. She graduated from the University of Glasgow in 1987 with a degree in veterinary medicine and surgery. This article has been viewed 458,830 times. 70 votes - 92% Co-authors: 53 Updated: February 27, 2024 Views: 458,830 Categories: Featured Articles | Bearded Dragons Article SummaryX
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1 Determine the sex of your bearded dragons. There are several physical characteristics that will help you tell your male and female dragons apart. The male bearded dragon’s head is larger than that of a female. In addition, his abdominal girth will be smaller and he will have larger pores in his anal region.[1] 
2 Take your bearded dragons to your veterinarian. It is essential that your bearded dragons are in optimal condition prior to breeding. Your veterinarian can give them a thorough physical exam and let you know if they are in good health or are in need of treatment. He or she can also test your dragons for atadenovirus, which is very contagious among dragons and can cause serious disease.[3] 
3 Supplement your female bearded dragon’s diet. Your female will need a daily supplement that contains calcium and vitamin D. This will help ensure that her eggs will be adequately calcified and that she will not suffer from a calcium deficiency after laying her eggs. She will also need a general multivitamin. 
4 Prepare the breeding habitat. Although your female and male bearded dragons will only temporarily live together in the same enclosure, it is important that the enclosure is set up for an optimal breeding situation. First, the enclosure should be large enough to comfortably house two adult bearded dragons; your local pet store can help you determine the exact enclosure size that you will need.[9] 
5 Prepare the lay box. The lay box is where your female dragon will lay her eggs. The lay box should be an eight to ten-gallon plastic container with a secure lid that allows for air circulation. Fill the box with about eight inches of either topsoil or potting soil, along with sand.[14] 
6 Purchase an incubator. The eggs will need to be removed from the lay box and incubated. It would be best to purchase a pre-made incubator at your local pet store to reduce the likelihood of malfunction. The Hovabator is a commonly used incubator for bearded dragon eggs. 
7 Prepare your bearded dragons for brumation. Brumation is the process of decreasing the temperature and photoperiod (lighting schedule) for your bearded dragons. When the male and female are in their separate cages, decrease the temperature to 80 degrees Fahrenheit during the day and 60 degrees Fahrenheit at night. Decrease their exposure to light: 10 hours of light and 14 hours of darkness. 
1 Place your bearded dragons in the breeding enclosure. Your dragons probably will not mate right away, and will need some time to adjust to their new surroundings. Making this enclosure ready for them beforehand will get them more comfortable. When the male is ready to breed, his beard will darken to black.[17] 
2 Observe the courtship behavior. Your bearded dragons will exhibit courtship behaviors before the actual mating. Both your male and female will start bobbing their heads; the female may also start waving one of her arms to indicate her receptiveness to be bred. Your male may also stomp his feet and chase your female around the enclosure.[18] 
3 Observe the mating behavior. To mate, your male will quickly climb on the back of your female and bite her neck; biting her neck keeps her from running off before the mating process is complete. Your male will then press his cloacal region against that of your female. The entire mating process only take a few minutes. 
4 Return your bearded dragons to their separate cages after one week. It is recommended to leave your dragons together for about a week after mating. After this one week, place them in their separate cages for one week. Put them together for another week for another mating session. You may need to do this several times to ensure a successful mating.[20] 
1 Observe her in her separate cage. Your female will demonstrate behavior that shows that she is ready to lay her eggs. She may start pacing her cage and looking a little anxious. She will also eat less and frantically dig in her cage. When she is exhibiting this behavior, gently move her to the lay box so that she can lay her eggs. 
2 Allow your female dragon to lay her eggs in the lay box. You will see her digging in the enclosure to create an area to lay her eggs. It may not be easy to tell when she has laid her eggs, especially if you didn’t see her do it. If this is the case, you will know that she has laid eggs when you see that her belly looks more deflated and flat. Remove her from the lay box after she has laid her eggs. 
3 Remove your female bearded dragon from the lay box. After she has laid her eggs, she should be placed back in her original cage. In general, female bearded dragons are not very maternal. Also, captive female bearded dragons tend not to guard their eggs.[22] Advertisement 
1 Place the eggs in the incubator. To do this, lift the eggs with your hands or a spoon. It is important to be extremely gentle when you are transferring the freshly laid eggs from the lay box to the incubator. As best you can, keep them in the same orientation as you found them in the lay box. It may be helpful to mark the top of the egg with a pencil to keep you from accidentally turning it upside down when placing it in the incubator. 
2 Maintain the incubator temperature at 82 to 86 degrees Fahrenheit. Use a digital thermometer to monitor the temperature. If the temperature gets too hot within the incubator, the embryos could die inside the eggs. The incubator should be in a room that is cooler than the temperature inside the incubator; a warmer room would increase the incubator’s temperature, which puts the embryos at risk.[23] 
3 Monitor the eggs on a regular basis. Pay close attention to see if the eggs look wet or overly dry. Condensation on the eggs can be deadly to the embryos, so it is very important to make sure that the eggs do not have any moisture on them. If they look wet, take the lid off the incubator for 24 hours to release the excess humidity and let the vermiculite or perlite dry. 
1 Observe changes in the egg’s appearance. Just prior to hatching, the eggs may begin to deflate and develop water droplets. These changes are completely normal and should not be confused with signs that the egg is infertile. You will also see a slit in the eggs exterior, which is caused by a baby bearded dragon’s egg tooth on the tip of their snout. The baby will make a slit large enough to fit its snout and head through, and will rest with its head out for about one day. 
2 Avoid helping the baby bearded dragons emerge from their eggs. Let the babies hatch on their own, which will typically take about 24 to 36 hours. You will probably notice that all of eggs will hatch within a day or two of each other. 
3 Group the baby dragons together according to size. Line their enclosure with moist paper towels, which will help keep them hydrated during their first few weeks of life. You can also lightly mist them with water until they begin drinking water on their own. In terms of food, the yolk from their individual eggs will provide them with nutrition for a few days, so you can wait until around day 3 to feed them real food (crickets, chopped greens). 
Pippa Elliott, MRCVS Veterinarian Dr. Elliott, BVMS, MRCVS is a veterinarian with over 30 years of experience in veterinary surgery and companion animal practice. She has worked at the same animal clinic in her hometown for over 20 years. In addition, Dr. Elliott is a freelance veterinary copywriter specializing in taking dense topics and making them easy to digest. Her clients include The Webinar Vet, PetPlan US, TIME, and other top-ranked blogs. She also works with Improve International as a developmental editor for veterinary textbooks. She graduated from the University of Glasgow in 1987 with a degree in veterinary medicine and surgery.