We have two red beardies and had them together for breeding purposes and we noticed that the female was getting large and lumpy so we assumed she was pregnant. We put a box of sand in her tank and she would get in it and dig around all the time. One day we came in and she had laid her eggs (all 28) NOT in the sand and they were all dried out and ruined. So, my question is, does this bearded dragon just lack the maternal instincts they are suppose to have? Since this was her first clutch it is possible the eggs were slugs and that is why they were all dried out by the time we found them, but still I thought it was common sense for them to lay the eggs in the sand. Any help would be great because I am worried she will lay another clutch and ruin them too.
It may be possible that they were not good eggs. Next time you may want to use moist pearlite or vermiculite, they make for better laying substrates and also you want to keep the eggs moist by having the substrate around them slightly moist. That may also appear as a more desirable place for your dragon to lay eggs. The eggs may also have been good, they may have just dried out under the heat lamp depending on how long they were out. 28 eggs is good amount for a first clutch too. when you know she's going to lay her eggs, just check on her often and mine will typically spend most of their time in their lay box before they lay. Actually, they will dig a hole for several days before they lay so if your dragon is digging a hole in their laybox, this will give you a few days warning. You may just need to try moister substances like I said.
usually they lay them out of the sand box if they are infertile
