3 year old female Bearded Dragon

Question
QUESTION: Hello,

My dragon is about 3 yrs old and she laid her first clutch of eggs about 1 year ago. She has never been introduced to a male  and has not laid any eggs since. A man at a pet store told me that it is common for them(females) not to lay eggs if they have never been around a male. It still makes me worried as this is my first dragon I have had her since she was a hatchling and I do not want her sick or stressed. Is it really common for them not to lay? Is it better for them to have a male so they do?"


ANSWER: Hello Cristin,

They will lay infertile eggs, yes.  Did she not lay this year?  
Has she been acting normal, or sluggish?  Sometimes, they will only lay once & not again, it greatly varies with each dragon.  
Laying infertile eggs is sometimes harder on them because hormone levels are not always optimal like when they are pregnant.  However, if she is healthy she should be able to lay infertile eggs with no problem.
Have you taken her in for a health check up & x-rays to make sure she is not carrying any eggs that you don't know of?  They can suffer from egg binding problems that you don't always detect until they begin not doing well.  

Tracie

---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------

QUESTION: No she hasn't been acting sluggish but sleeping more than usual. Maybe an extra hour or two after I turn the lights on and bedding down before I turn them off. But while she is awake she is active. Very hungry always looking out to the bottom of the tank where she knows i keep her crickets. and doing the little window dance. No I have not taken her to the vet yet but I will to be on the safe side.
Thank you again
Cristin

Answer
Hello Cristin,
I think since she did lay last year & has not this year, that you should get at least an x-ray or bloodtest to see what could be going on.
She could have developing follicles where her body is using extra energy for that.  Her protein levels could be higher if she is absorbing the eggs this time & not going to be laying them.  There are several things that could be off.  
How old is your UVB light?  That is good she is hungry then.  
I am happy to hear that she is not sluggish right now, that is a good sign.

Tracie