Can Bearded Dragons Swim? Yes, and Here's How to Manage It Safely (2024)

FAQs

How long can a bearded dragon swim? ›

When adult bearded dragons swim underwater, they can hold their breath for between 10 and 15 minutes. Bearded dragons drown if they stay underwater for any longer than that.

Some bearded dragons like to swim, but not all. When bearded dragons swim they can, and often do, inflate themselves with air to help themselves float. Even though bearded dragons do have some floating ability, they seem to enjoy swimming most when they can do it in short bursts.

If their terrarium is too cold, bearded dragons may attempt to regulate their body temperature by flattening out in order to absorb as much heat as possible. If you notice your dragon pancaking a lot in his tank, this is likely the cause.

Don't kiss or snuggle your bearded dragon, and don't eat or drink around it. This can spread Salmonella germs to your mouth and make you sick. Keep your bearded dragon out of your kitchen and other areas where you eat, store, or prepare food.

Bearded dragons shed as they outgrow their skin. A few fun facts about bearded dragons' skin: It's waterproof and protective. It's inelastic (can't grow).

Using water that is between 85 to 92 degrees F is ideal. This will keep the bearded dragon warm while bathing, but not cause scalds or discomfort. For baby and juvenile bearded dragons, fill the bath with about half an inch of water to one inch.

Many dragons absolutely love bath time. It's a great way for them to unleash their wild side and have some fun. It can also be a wonderful opportunity for you to strengthen your relationship with your pet.

Many beardies don't like drinking from bowls, but will happily slurp up their bathwater. Baths are of course also important for hygiene. Plus, they help with shedding and constipation. Last but not least, many lizards simply enjoy a good soak!

You may also want to use filtered bottled water to keep your pet hydrated and healthy. Filters remove the harmful chemicals that can be dangerous for your bearded dragon, at the same time helping them stay safe and hydrated.

The basic routine for cleaning out a bearded dragon is daily, with a little care which will remove the need to completely clean the vivarium out regularly. With this daily care, your bearded dragon's vivarium will need a full clean once every month or so.

How often does a bearded dragon poop? ›

Baby bearded dragons that are 3 months old or younger usually poop one to three times a day because their diet is rich in proteins. A young bearded dragon (4 to 18 months old) will have a bowel movement every day or so, while you can expect those older than 18 months to poop 1-7 times a week.

Do - Be as gentle as possible with your bearded dragon. Slowly reach your hand in their terrarium and lift up on their chin. This will usually prompt them to start climbing onto your hand/arm. If they don't climb, you can slowly place your hands around them and place them on your hand.

Bearded dragons can drink tap water; however, it is a good idea to use one of the commercially available dechlorinating products to treat the water. There are chloramines and chlorine in the water that you want to remove as well as unwanted minerals present in the water.

A bearded dragon may turn black to let you know he is upset. Many factors can contribute to a bearded dragon's stress—shedding; a new terrarium; frightening decor; or noise such as loud traffic, music, or a blaring TV.

You may be surprised to hear that dragons actually enjoy eating the banana peel as well as the fruit, and it adds a little extra nutrition to the treat. So you can slice the banana up with the peel and place the pieces in your dragon's food bowl alone or with some other fruits and veggies in a colorful, healthy salad.

Intestinal Parasites

Being infected with an abundance of parasites is another common reason why your pet bearded dragon will strain and prolapse their cloaca. 2 You should have a fecal sample checked by your exotics vet to rule out having too many parasites.

When a bearded dragon reaches its thermal maximum, it will often sit with its mouth open. This behavior, called gaping, shows that the lizard is at its optimal temperature for basking. This gaping will allow a bearded dragon to dissipate extra body heat.

Training your dragon doesn't merely teach them to follow your commands and do entertaining tricks. It also allows you to build trust and establish a tight bond with your beardie. You can even potty-train your dragon, but the most important trick to master is training your bearded dragon to come when you call.

Since bearded dragons are naturally solitary creatures, they do not get lonely if placed alone in a cage or left for some time away from their keeper. They much prefer having their food and heat to themselves rather than sharing it with another bearded dragon.

Bearded dragons spend a lot of time basking, some would even call them sun worshippers, so getting your heat and light sources correct is paramount for this species.

Can bearded dragons bond with you? ›

While bearded dragons offer a much different relationship from dogs and cats, owners can still develop close bonds and enjoy many similar types of interactions as other pets.

Bearded dragons are one of the most easy-going and relaxed in the reptile world. They are amongst the easiest to leash train, and will even casually allow their owners to dress them in clothing.

Although a small pool with tap or filtered water is fine, don't let your dragon swim in a chlorinated pool. The chemicals can harm your dragon, causing eye infection or respiratory problems.

Bearded Dragons have a "third eye" known as the parietal eye, which they use to sense shadows and light changes above them. How is this helpful?

Use a flash-light (phone flash-lights work great) and shine through the base of the tail, above the vent on the tail's topside, and look at the underside. If it's a male, the two mentioned hemipenal bulges should be easily visible. If female, you will not see the two bulges, just the single centre bulge.

Bearded dragons can have up to 80 teeth that run all the way around their jaws in a 'U' shape (like the human mouth). They've got two different types of tooth; one type on the upper jaw, and another type on the lower jaw. Each tooth is made up of a hard enamel coating, followed by a body made of dentin.

Tail up — Your beardie is feeling alert! This is typically displayed while hunting down bugs or adventuring. And it's terribly cute. Head bobbing — This is a territorial display, as well as a sign of dominance.

Lugarti's Natural Reptile Soap is unscented and made from all natural ingredients, without any of the harmful chemicals found in most soaps. It's very mild and safe to use on any reptile species to effectively remove all dirt, poop, and odors. It can also be used to clean terrarium decor!

Use lukewarm water that's between 85 and 100 F (29.4 and 37.7 C). Water that's too hot could burn your dragon, but because he is cold blooded and relies on his surroundings for warmth, a bath that's too cold could also cause your dragon's body to shut down. Fill the tub with one to three inches of water.

Although bearded dragons can eat grapes whole, many owners prefer to cut them up into smaller pieces to make it easier for their dragons to eat and to eliminate any possibility of choking. Cutting up the grapes also ensures that there are no seeds, since even the occasional seedless grape actually does have a seed.

Do you have to cut bearded dragons nails? ›

Keeping your beardie's nails trimmed neatly or clipped is very important for comfortable and safe handling. Their nails grow fast, so regular clipping (once a month) is necessary to prevent scratching or them getting their nails caught on something and damaged.

Certain lizards (bearded dragons, anoles, geckos) and chelonians (turtles and tortoises) can live successfully together when set up properly in same-species tanks. Snakes, however, are best housed singly and generally should not be combined in one tank, even if they are of the same species.

How Often Should They Eat? Young bearded dragons will eat more often than adults. They need all of that extra energy while they grow. A bearded dragon that's less than 18 months old might eat 2-5 times a day, whereas an adult bearded dragon only eats 1 time a day.

So can bearded dragons eat chicken? The short answer is no. Chicken is not exactly a safe food for your beardie. A very small piece or two might be fine every few months, but if your bearded dragon eats a lot of chicken, he may become ill or die.

No. Milk and other dairy products sit high on the list of foods that beardies should not consume. You should not give milk to your bearded dragon under any circ*mstances as its digestive system is not able to process milk. Consuming milk and other dairy products may lead to serious health issues in your pet.

Due to the above, loose, sand substrate still provides a more natural environment for a Bearded dragon, and for this reason, we recommend it for your Bearded dragon's substrate over other substrate types.

Most young bearded dragons eat once or twice daily, while older lizards can be fed once daily, depending upon each pet's individual appetite.

A clean tank is vitally important to the health and happiness of your bearded dragon. Not cleaning your dragon's enclosure regularly and not removing these daily can lead to health problems such as parasites, upper respiratory infections and also fungal growth.

Though bearded dragons usually sleep lying on their stomachs, there are many other positions some may use. In the wild, some bearded dragons will sleep up in a tree, vertical position. So it is not such a stretch to some of them sleeping upright in their enclosure, only they may not have a tree.

You only need to give your dragon insects two or three times a week, with vegetation everyday. Remember, adult Beardies don't need too many insects and animal matter otherwise they'll become obese.

Can you hold a bearded dragon too much? ›

Even the calmest bearded dragon will eventually become stressed out if you handle him for too long. In fact, it is important to understand that bearded dragons probably do not “like” being handled – they simply “tolerate” it. So, it is wise to avoid pushing their limits by keeping handling sessions relatively brief.

A warm bath (85-92 F) will relax your beardie, as well as giving them a chance to clean and hydrate themselves. Offer food daily. Alongside their normal greens, offer food daily, even if they are disinterested. This will help the beardie to positively associate with you.

Bearded dragons can drown in just a few inches of water! For a baby lizard, the water should be ½ inch to 1 inch deep. Adults can bathe in about 1-2 inches of water.

Bearded dragons do not absorb water through their skin. Instead, they remain hydrated by obtaining water through the vegetables in their diet, by drinking water provided through misting and taking in water through their vent. It is known for some bearded dragons to drink from a bowl too.

A bath 1-2 times a week is best for your bearded dragon. Doing this regularly also allows for good bonding time between you and your dragon and will help it take full advantage of the benefits. During shedding, you may want to increase the frequency to 3-4 times a week to help ease the old skin off.

Bearded dragons often poop while they are swimming, and this will contaminate your bathtub with salmonella. Salmonella will make you incredibly ill. It is best to have a designated tub for your bearded dragon to swim in rather than using the bath tub in your home.

Step 2: Make Sure The Water Temperature Is Correct

Next, you want to make sure that the temperature is correct. Lukewarm water between 85 and 100 degrees Fahrenheit is ideal. Anything hotter than that and you run the risk of scalding your dragon.

Old skin is high in calcium. Sometimes bearded dragons eat their shed to take advantage of this important mineral. (This is normal, but you don't have to go out of your way to feed it to them.)

You can get sick from touching your bearded dragon or anything in its environment, and then touching your mouth or food and swallowing Salmonella germs. Always wash hands thoroughly with soap and water right after touching or feeding your bearded dragon and after touching or cleaning the area where it lives and roams.

Warm water (at a temperature of 90 to 100 degrees Fahrenheit)

How often should a bearded dragon poop? ›

Baby bearded dragons that are 3 months old or younger usually poop one to three times a day because their diet is rich in proteins. A young bearded dragon (4 to 18 months old) will have a bowel movement every day or so, while you can expect those older than 18 months to poop 1-7 times a week.

Typically bearded dragons can eat a few small pieces of watermelon once a month or less frequently. When they do eat watermelon, they'll receive a few key vitamins and minerals: Vitamin C and beta carotene, which strengthen the dragon's immune system, vision, reproduction, and growth.

Bearded Dragons, or “Beardies” as some like to call them, aren't lazy pets. It's just that they are known to enjoy cuddling up with their owners while they watch TV. Another reason that Beardies have become an increasingly popular pet is because of the common (mis)conception that they are easy to take care of.

You may be surprised to hear that dragons actually enjoy eating the banana peel as well as the fruit, and it adds a little extra nutrition to the treat. So you can slice the banana up with the peel and place the pieces in your dragon's food bowl alone or with some other fruits and veggies in a colorful, healthy salad.