Last updated on March 10, 2023 at 4:03 PM. m.
One of the coolest things about owning a bearded dragon is watching it shed its skin. This will happen many times throughout their lives, and they can't get enough of seeing the transformation!
The old skin is shed and new, smooth and often more colorful skin grows. The fascinating part, however, is not that they lose. Believe it or not, we all lose. We shed tons of dead skin cells every day! But not all of us regularly shed large patches of skin only to reveal a new layer underneath.
In humans, a regular exfoliation or even a daily bath is enough to remove old skin cells. It's a bit different with bearded dragons. And this leaves many bearded dragon owners wondering what to do if they are losing bearded dragons.
Healthy bearded dragons shed their skin naturally without the help of their owner. Proper tank setup (lighting, temperature, humidity, and plenty of rough scrubbing surfaces) and a nutritious diet also play an important role in a healthy molt. Extra baths and the occasional light brushing can also help.
If you are a responsible bearded dragon owner who follows basic care and feeding guidelines, your dragon will fall on its own without your help. All you have to do is sit back and enjoy the show!
But this show is so much more interesting when you understand what's going on. And sometimes even the best-groomed beards need a little help from their owners in the shedding process. And that is why we wrote this article.
Why do bearded dragons lose?
Although skinning parallels the growth of a bearded dragon, there are other reasons why they shed their skin. Skin is organic and it dies and needs to be replaced naturally. Peeling can also help heal damaged or unhealthy skin. The new skin is also more efficient at converting UVB light into vitamin D.
Bearded dragon skin is neither porous nor elastic. Non-porous means that things from the outside cannot pass through the skin. Not only is it waterproof, but it also protects you from many other harmful elements.
Inelastic means that it cannot stretch or grow. It is a fixed size. This is a big part of why they lose. While it is a myth that the only reason reptiles shed is to allow for growth, this is arguably one of the main reasons.
But even as adults, once they have stopped growing, Beardies will continue to shed several times a year. This is a sign of health, completely normal and expected.
The new fur is not only softer and more colorful (our favorite part of a bear after hair loss!), but it's also free of blemishes and damage that may have accumulated in the old fur. New skin is also more sensitive to UVB light, which helps maintain healthy calcium levels.
occasional spillsI couldIt could be a sign of low calcium, but it should never be a problem unless you have other symptoms.We wrote a detailed article on this topic, which you can read here.if you're interested.
Like bearded dragons shed
When it's time for your beard to fall out, a new layer of skin cells begins to grow under the old one. While his skin is made up of several layers, only the top one is visible.
Beneath the tough top layer of the cuticle is a softer layer that closely resembles nail cuticles. New scales and the bearskin layer grow underneath.
When the old skin is about to fall off, fluid is secreted between the new, soft, skin-like layers. This fluid contains enzymes that break down the soft layer between the old and new scales.
Once this soft layer dissolves, the old skin is shed in layers that are very rich in calcium. Nature does not like to waste things.It's not uncommon for bears to eat their old fur to use up that calcium!
Look, we said it was fascinating!
How often does your bearded dragon shed?
The frequency of moulting in bearded dragons varies with age. Young Beardies up to the age of 6 months are euthanized weekly. From 6 to 12 months they molt once a month. After that, bearded dragons tend to shed every 3-4 months, but there is no set schedule or frequency.
In other words, the faster they grow, the more they lose. Young men with beards tend to shed all of their skin at once. As they age, they begin to shed in patches, depending on which part of the body has a new layer of skin on it at the time.
If your bearded dragon won't shed, especially when young, it's best to see your vet. Some conditions can prevent them from falling off or growing, and it's important to catch them early if possible.
This is how you can tell if your bearded dragon is about to go down.
Many behavioral changes can coincide with the kite shedding, but these changes alone won't tell you if your barbette is about to change. There are few clues that will tell you for sure that hair loss is imminent.
When your bearded dragon is ready to shed, his skin will look very dull. It also takes on a translucent whitish color. In the process, the old skin dries out, leaving too much calcium and sloughing off the underlying skin. These opaque, white areas can be patchy or cover the entire body.
It almost looks like your beard is covered in dust when this happens. On more than one occasion we thought maybe something was growing in our bear's fur, even though we knew it was just beginning to shed.
As we mentioned earlier, other behavior changes can occur while your bearded dragon is shedding. But just seeing these symptoms doesn't mean they're going to lose skin.
Beards can be feisty little creatures, and each of these signs can mean a variety of things, including that they just want to be left alone! Behaviors that can accompany hair loss are:
- low energy
- Appetitverlust
- does not like to be treated
- It seems that they are soft to the touch.
- excessive scratches
- Rub more than usual on rough surfaces
- Looking stressed (black beard)
When you see these things, it's always a good idea to keep an eye on your scaly little friend, but there are so many reasons (big and/or irrelevant) that they can occur that we don't just associate them with what would be the hair. bring.
What to do when your bearded dragon starts to break down?
The best way to help your Beardie move is to be a good Beardie owner in the first place.
Bearded dragons have been helplessly hunted in the wild for thousands of years. They really shouldn't need your help at all.
What they dotheir need is proper care and feeding. Setting up the right tank with the right lighting, temperature, and humidity is a great start. It is also important to have plenty of rough surfaces for them to crawl and climb on.
Diet and hydration are also crucial, not only for losing hair, but also for maintaining good overall health from the start.
A dehydrated dragon may not shed properly. A calcium deficient dragon cannot shed properly. a malnourishedDragon only feeds freeze-dried crickets(not a good idea!) it may not land correctly.
Make sure your little friend is well cared for, well fed and well hydrated. make sure they havea regular bath time. In other words, be a good Beardie mom or dad and you'll be in great shape when they start to lose their hair!
Should you spray your bearded dragon when it lands?
Some people will tell you to mist your bearded dragon regularly to help with the molting process. We don't like this advice for two reasons.
First, excessive moisture in your tank can be a problem. It can promote bacteria and mold. It is also conducive to respiratory problems. Not a good idea, especially when regular showers are so much more effective.
Second, remember that their fur is waterproof.Until the skin starts to crack and peel, there's no use getting wet. The real reason to continue with a regular bathroom routine isGive them a chance to drink and stay hydrated..
In the beginning of a shed, it's the water that goes into your body that counts, not the water you put out!
What to do with a shed?
We would like to remind you once again that Mother Nature knows what she is doing. Your beard probably won't need your help here. But there are a few things to consider.
First, make sure your showers last at least 15 minutes. The water should start around 100℉.
Second, it helps to use a soft-bristled toothbrush on areas of loose skin. Don't scrub like you're trying to deep clean them; Just brush them in gentle circles. This will help remove the pieces that are ready to be separated.
You will see a lot of people strongly warning against pulling loose skin. We agree...Art of So'ne.
Have you ever had an ingrown toenail? You start out as that innocent little piece of skin you're pulling, and before you know it, you're missing a painfully bleeding channel of skin on your finger.
This is what happens when you shed your bear's fur and it's not ready to shed. It is not a good idea to pull too hard when there is loose skin.
We know it's tempting! So this is what youI couldCanluzPull that loose skin. Only a little. If it comes out, great. If not, leave it. But sometimes it helps to just give avery gentle pull.
Think about those nails again! Imagine a giant descending on your body! oops! This is what you do to your beard when you pull hard.Then no!
We'd also like to say something about shedding aids (products sold to help your bear get rid of dander). We are not fans. We're 90% sure it's just marketing and they're not doing anything a nice warm bath wouldn't do.
If your Beardie is having trouble getting rid of it, there's no harm in trying; they are not harmful. But as we mentioned, Mother Nature has been doing this for centuries, and I can be sure he never jumped into the Amazon and asked for help getting rid of the reptiles for his bearded dragons!
shed care
This one is easy. Enjoy your new, softer and more colorful bearded dragon! Is that. As usual. The same tank, the same food, the same bathroom plan they had before they lost their fur.
Some people ask us how long it takes to get to that point and the answer varies by Beardie. Young Beardies will complete your shed in a day or two. The older they get, the longer they take.
Bearded adults can take up to two weeks to shed their loose fur. So get used to them walking around looking weird and weird for a week or two!
things to see
We know we worry a lot about not having to do anything when your facial hair falls out, but it's still a good idea to keep a few things on your toes. There are occasional issues that can arise and you should pay close attention just in case.
First, you want to make sure that the shed skin falls off within 1-2 weeks (for adults, but almost immediately for very young bears).Skin that doesn't shed can restrict blood flow and cause serious problems.
This will not happen on large surfaces of your bear, such as its back, abdomen, or head. When this happens, it is usually at the tip of the tail, the base of the tail, and the joints of the legs and feet.
Pay special attention to these areas when bathing the beard in the middle of the shed. A little brushing with a soft-bristled toothbrush is usually all they need. But sometimes the skin in these areas can be unruly.
If you notice discoloration at the ends beyond the point where some of the skin is stubbornly held in place, it's time to act.
The first step is a long soak (an hour works fine), followed by more brushing. If that doesn't work, try rubbing some aloe vera or cocoa butter into unruly skin. Wait 30 to 60 minutes (with the tardigrade out of the tank and in sunlight - this can cause these substances to heat up and burn the tardigrade) and try another sauce.
If that still doesn't work,consult your vet. This taped skin can basically act like a tourniquet, and the resulting loss of blood flow can cause your tardigrade to lose part of its tail, a toe, or in severe cases, a limb.
That isNotogether. This rarely happens to a well cared for bear. But if it does, it's time to reconsider your setup. Check your lighting, substrate, nutrition, everything is working. Make sure it's not an environmental or nutritional deficiency that caused the problem.
Strange molting behavior in bearded dragons
As we mentioned at the beginning of this article, we found the spill fascinating. And aside from watching our bearded dragon shed an old coat of fur, there are a few other weird things we get to observe and learn along the way.
googly eye
Your bearded man will do all sorts of things to help get rid of that old skin naturally. One of the strangest are googly eyes. If you watch closely when the fur on the head is shedding or about to fall out, your bear's eyes may bulge a bit.
This is your way of loosening the skin around your eyes. It's crazy how mother nature works, right?
walk and rub
Our Bacardi bearded dragon can transform into a small lizard cat by shedding its skin. This is especially true if the head falls off.
Just as a cat walks to your feet and rubs its head against your legs, your bearded dragon may begin pacing around its enclosure, stopping frequently to rub its face and head on whatever is appropriate.
This is a big part of why we recommend plenty of rough surfaces in your bear's home. help with things likefemoral pore cleansingand it helps a lot in the moulting process.
To emphasize
Our Beardie has a very different "I have to poop" face. He's getting a little stressed and his beard is getting really dark. She's not happy about having to poop, and it shows!
He makes the same face when dandruff bothers him. And she is not alone. It is common for bearded dragons to become ill at some point during the molting process.
It's a bit like wearing an uncomfortable pair of shoes to a wedding. Eventually, you just want to get rid of the stuff and get a little grumpy about it. The same goes for your beard and uncomfortably tight skin.
eat a peel give them
Your bearded man might as well eat his own skin as soon as he gets out. Yes, approximately. But also very natural. As already mentioned, calcium accumulates in dry skin before being eliminated. Eating the skin is a way for your beard to reabsorb some of it.
With that said, it's still a good idea to remove any shed skin from your bearded dragon's enclosure. We would not encourage them to eat it. But if you do, that's not a problem and it's quite natural.
shedding in patches
Bearded youngsters shed their skin every time. No adult beards. In fact, it's not uncommon for them to only drop in a few places.
The last three times our bearded man shed some old fur, each time it was in a different place. Once only the tail was spilled. Next time, only on the crown of the head and around the mouth. So it was just the hind legs.
We wonder where it will land next!
Enjoy the show!
We are often asked, especially cat and dog owners, what we really areAgainwith our bearded dragon. "She doesn't just sit there doing nothing?" They asked.
Well, aside from daily snuggling, regular bathing, watching roach hunts, and a few other things, watching our bearded dragons is the most common thing bear owners do.
And yes, sometimes it can be a bit boring.
So when our Beardie falls over, we sit up and take notice. We are looking for where this will happen. We watch as it dries up, separates, and falls off in large chunks. We are anticipating the color changes that will appear when the new skin arrives.
So what should you do when your beard falls out? Enjoy the show!
Sources and further reading
Zootechnical and veterinary aspects ofbearded dragon(Pogona spp.) in Australia