Advice needed - Introducing female to male....

[CharlieRixon]

Hi all- this is my first post so plse forgive me if its in the wrong place etc etc.

I have had Arthur (Pet-dragon) for about 18 months now, he was 8 months when i got him. He is a lovely handsome placid boy in a 4ft viv. Recently i was offered a rescue female to keep him company. She is a very sorry state indeed. She is roughly the same age, but has bad MBD. She was kept with no light, no heat no uvb and barely fed. The male she was in with ate everything that went in the tank. She is emaciated, has serious bone kinks in her tail and an overshot jaw. She has never had a dose of calcium in her life until 3 weeks ago, and is as dark as i have ever seen a beardie.

She was taken to the vet, who removed her from the owner and gave her to a specialist friend of mine to rehome. She now eats like a horse, has 3 meals a day dusted lots, she will always be a sorry sight to look at but she has this second chance.

Today i have introduced her to Arthur - if it works out then fab if not then i can rehome her back to the specialist, but i really want to give her a chance.
Heres my question -
What constitutes hitting it off really badly and being a danger to each other?
So far ive had Arthur blacken up and puff out his beard, head bob whenever she moves and try to make himself bigger. He did rush at her once and take her by the lip, but i stepped in and separated them in seconds.
She is not at all bothered and is happy to eat every and anything she can and is just slowly lowering her head and lifting it, i even saw an arm wave.

So - will they work it out?
Can he harm her?
How long do i give them to work it out?
Am i being fair to them both?

Opinions are welcome, as long as they are constructive, i am not a child!

Thanks
Charlotte

 

[Ric]

So - will they work it out? Very slight maybe. Most likely one will eventually hurt the other.

Can he harm her? Yes they can and have been to known to kill eachother.

How long do i give them to work it out? Till you get a second enclosure. Or better yet take her out and with you to the store.

Am i being fair to them both? Not by leaving them together.

Opinions are welcome, as long as they are constructive, i am not a child!

Thanks
Charlotte

It's dangerous for your dragons.

 

[beardielover17]

What constitutes hitting it off really badly and being a danger to each other? There really is no such thing as hitting it off with eachother regardless of gender combos

So far ive had Arthur blacken up and puff out his beard, head bob whenever she moves and try to make himself bigger. He did rush at her once and take her by the lip, but i stepped in and separated them in seconds.
She is not at all bothered and is happy to eat every and anything she can and is just slowly lowering her head and lifting it, i even saw an arm wave.
Everything you just mentioned above is signs of mating and/or aggression.

So - will they work it out? No
Can he harm her? Yes and overbreed with her and possibly lead to her death
How long do i give them to work it out? You separate ASAP
Am i being fair to them both? By keeping them together? I'm sure you have good intentions but they need to be apart

 

[crypticdragons]

The biggest issue here is by housing them together you are going to end up with her being gravid. And with her being in as bad shape as you posted producing eggs could easily kill her. I personally can't believe that a specialist would give her to you knowing you were planning to house her with a male.

 

[CharlieRixon]

OK - so general advice taken, and i have separated them.
I will take her back to the chap and ask that she be homed separately.