Your Bearded Dragon Bath Guide: How to Bathe a Bearded Dragon in 7 Easy Steps, Plus Bath Tips and More (2024)

FAQs

How long should I let my bearded dragon soak in the bath? ›

Let your beardie soak for about 15 – 20 minutes. Once bath time is over, gently pat your pet dry with a soft sowel. This is very important! If he's still damp when you put him back in his tank, the substrate may stick to him.

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.

So, can my bearded dragon shower with me? Unfortunately, no, you should not shower with your bearded dragon. Showering with your bearded dragon is not a viable alternative, as it can cause potential harm and will not provide the same health benefits as a bath.

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.

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.

Fill your bathtub or basin with lukewarm water up to the level of your bearded dragon's hind knees or armpits which is about 0.5 – 1 inch for small dragons and babies and 2-3 inches for larger ones. Your bearded dragon should be able to keep its head above the water level to keep water away from its lungs.

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.

During the day, the optimum basking area temperature for a Bearded dragon is 40-42°C (104-107°F) with the cool end sitting at around 22-25°C (71-77°F). A heat source placed in one end of the enclosure is usually enough to keep the temperatures within the required range across the entire thermogradient.

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.

How do you tell if a bearded dragon is a boy or girl? ›

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.

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.

Regular handling helps bearded dragons get used to people, so you should handle your beardie daily. Doing so also minimizes stress during regular care, such as bathing or tank cleaning. They are generally gentle and easy to hold.

One very important note: Don't approach your bearded dragon directly from above. Bearded dragons have sensory receptors on the top of their head because in the wild their predators attack from above. If you try to grab a bearded dragon from directly above, they will interpret this as a predator attack.

Make sure you don't use vinyl or linoleum, which are too slippery for your bearded dragon's claws to gain any traction. The other issue with those materials is they retain a lot of heat and there is nowhere for it to escape in your dragon's tank, so it can burn your dragon.

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.

How Many Teeth Does a Bearded Dragon Have? The number of teeth a bearded dragon has varies, typically ranging from 11-17 on each side of their upper jaw and 13-20 on each side of their lower jaw.

Their lifespan is usually 10 to 15 years or more, so they're quite a commitment. It's important to replicate their natural habitat as best you can. Learn more about how to care for your bearded dragon and how to keep them healthy and happy.

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!

It is extraordinarily common when bathing bearded dragons for them to poop in the bath, expect it! If the bowels move while in the bath, either remove the faeces before it gets mixed into the bath water or end the bathing session.

Can bearded dragons drink tap water? ›

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.

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.

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.

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.

Turtles, tortoises, bearded dragons, iguanas, and chameleons are some common examples of reptiles that need UVB light. This helps prevent animals from developing hypocalcemia (or lack of calcium). UVB lights should be kept on during the day and turned off at night and should be used along with calcium supplements.

Temperatures at night should be lower than during the day for your bearded dragon. The temperature should fall between 72° degrees Fahrenheit and 80° degrees Fahrenheit (22° – 27° C) at night. This drop in temperature is in line with their original habitat in Australia and is what your pet prefers.

Bearded dragons have THREE eyes

Their two primary eyes see images, just like our eyes. And their parietal eye, located on the top of their head, doesn't see images but is an optical lobe on the top of their head that can sense shadows and changes in light.

Bearded Dragons are the only known reptile to show affection for their human companions, which is why they make great exotic pets if a reptile is the kind of animal you are looking for.

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.

Behavioural signs of pain in reptiles

The British Small Animal Veterinary Association has also documented general signs of pain in reptiles including anorexia, immobility, abnormal posture/locomotion, dull colouration, and increase in aggression (Brown and Pizzi, 2012).

What does it mean when a bearded dragon flicks his tail? ›

While you may not see it often, your dragon may sometimes twitch its tail in a fast side to side motion. This can mean that it's getting ready to pounce on something if it's in hunting mode. It can also mean that it's stressed by something and is trying to act tough.

Most, but not all, lizards have the ability to "drop" their tails. According to Margaret Wissman, DVM, avian and exotic veterinary consultant, reptiles such as green iguanas and bearded dragons will drop and regrow their tails, while others, such as crested geckos, can lose their tails but will not regrow them.

The bearded dragon, the most popular reptile kept as a pet, has the capability to change sex via two different sets of genes, either via sex chromosomes or via hot temperature, according to a study in the PLOS One journal. Researchers Sarah L. Whiteley ,Clare E.

Male bearded dragons are larger than female bearded dragons, have two hemipenal bulges compared to just a single bulge in females, and are much more territorial and aggressive compared to females.

As a general rule, bath time three times a week should be sufficient to keep your dragon clean and hydrated. If your dragon absolutely hates baths, then once a week may be a reasonable goal. If your dragon can't get enough bath time, you may want to do it more frequently, maybe even once a day.

Most bearded dragons love water and will enjoy the nice dip. Let the bearded dragon soak in the water for at least 15 to 20 minutes. This will give it a good soaking which will help the skin, especially when shedding.

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.

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.

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.

How long can you leave a bearded dragon in water? ›

You'll want to let your bearded dragon enjoy their bath for about 15 minutes or so. If they LOVE bath time, you can let them enjoy it for 30 minutes, but I would not go any longer than this, especially if they're enjoying multiple baths a week.

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!

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.

When bearded dragons become over-hydrated, they will throw up water. The vomit of a bearded dragon that has consumed too much water will be clear and slimy. Their vomiting may be accompanied by a rocking motion, which is normal.

Using misters on bearded dragons not only is effective for providing them with water, but also for making the shedding process go more smoothly. If you mist your beardie's skin during shedding, you increase the moisture in the environment -- and on his skin -- and therefore facilitate the loss of the old skin.

The most common bowel movement type in bearded dragons will be brown and white. the brown part will be log-shaped with the white part on the end. The white color is the urate or their pee – waste product from your beardie's kidneys. Bearded dragons don't pee, so urates come out with their BM.

Long story short: reptiles are lactose intolerant! Unlike mammals, reptiles are not born with the enzymes necessary to digest dairy products. Bearded dragons do not lactate and their young do not drink milk. Because they simply cannot digest dairy, it can only result in harm, ranging from mild to severe.

How often should I feed my bearded dragon? Most young bearded dragons eat once or twice daily, while older lizards can be fed once daily, depending upon each pet's individual appetite.