Why Do Bearded Dragons Eat Their Shed?

Bearded dragons are one of the most popular pet lizards, known for their bright coloring and docile temperament. They require specialized care to stay healthy and happy. One aspect of bearded dragon care that can be confusing is why they eat their shed skin.

Understanding this behavior can help you provide better care for your pet and keep them healthy. In this article, we’ll explore why bearded dragons eat their shed skin and what it means for their overall health.

Bearded dragons are beloved by reptile owners for their friendly and curious nature. These reptiles have a few unique attributes that make them stand out from other lizards, including why they eat their shed skin.

What Is Shedding?

Shedding is the process of shedding old skin as new layers grow in. All reptiles, including bearded dragons, will go through this natural process throughout their lifespan. This shedding helps them to keep up with growth spurts and maintain healthy skin.

Why Do Bearded Dragons Eat Their Shed?

There are several theories as to why bearded dragons eat their shed skin. Some believe that it may be an instinctual behavior stemming from the wild, while others speculate that they do it simply because it tastes good or provides additional nutrients. The most commonly accepted theory is that eating the shed helps to promote better health and digestion by providing extra protein and vitamins needed for optimal body function.

Benefits Of Eating Shed Skin

Eating shed skin can provide numerous benefits for your bearded dragon’s health:

• Extra Protein: Eating shed skin can provide extra protein which is necessary for proper growth and development.
• Additional Nutrients: Eating shed skin also provides additional vitamins and minerals needed for a healthy diet.
• Digestive Aid: By eating shed skin, your beardie’s digestive system can more easily break down food particles.

How To Promote Healthy Shedding In Your Bearded Dragon

In order to ensure that your beardie stays as healthy as possible, there are some steps you should take when it comes to shedding:

• Provide Proper Hydration: Keeping your pet hydrated is essential when it comes to promoting healthy shedding.
• Keep Up With Grooming: Regularly grooming your beardie’s nails, claws, scales can help remove any old bits of stuck-on sheds before they become an issue.
• Use A Humidifier: Maintaining adequate humidity levels in your lizard’s enclosure will help prevent dryness which could lead to difficulty shedding.

What Happens If A Bearded Dragon Eats Its Shedded Skin?

If a bearded dragon eats its shed skin, it will likely cause some digestive issues. Because the shed skin is not digestible or nutritious, it can cause constipation or blockages in the intestines.

The reptile’s body cannot break down this material so it can remain stuck in their system and create an intestinal impaction. This could be very dangerous as the impaction prevents feces from passing normally through the intestine and could lead to serious health problems such as dehydration, malnutrition and even death if left untreated.

To prevent your bearded dragon from eating their shed skin, make sure to keep their habitat clean and remove any pieces of old shed which may be lying around before they have a chance to eat them. It is also important to provide plenty of environmental enrichment activities for them such as providing climbing structures and hiding spots that help stimulate natural behaviours which can distract them from wanting to eat their own shedding.

Additionally, providing a variety of safe foods in addition to their regular diet can also help reduce boredom that may lead them towards eating something they shouldn’t.

How Often Should Bearded Dragons Shed?

Bearded dragons will shed their skin in order to grow and get rid of old, damaged scales. The shedding process usually takes place every 4-8 weeks depending on the age and health of the bearded dragon. Young bearded dragons typically shed more often than adults because they are growing rapidly.

In general, a healthy adult bearded dragon should shed once every month or two. However, if your bearded dragon is not getting enough moisture or humidity in its environment, it may take longer for them to shed as dry air can cause the shedding process to be delayed. Additionally, if a new beardie is stressed from being moved from one environment to another or from changes in diet or temperature, this can also delay the shedding process as well.

It’s important that you provide your bearded dragon with plenty of water and humidity by misting its enclosure regularly so that it stays adequately hydrated throughout the entire shedding process.

A warm bath during the shedding period can also help speed up the process by allowing your pet’s skin to come off more easily. If you notice any patches of skin that seem stuck on for too long, gently scrubbing with a wet cloth should help remove them without causing discomfort for your reptile companion.

Should I Soak My Shedding Bearded Dragon?

Soaking your bearded dragon is an important part of its care routine. It helps keep the skin and scales healthy, can improve appetite and digestion, and can even help with shedding. But should you soak your shedding bearded dragon? The answer is yes – but only if done correctly.

When your beardie starts to shed, it’s likely that their skin will become dry and flaky. Soaking them in warm water for 15-30 minutes a day can help soften the skin so that it comes off more easily when they rub against surfaces or scratch themselves.

Additionally, soaking helps get rid of any dead skin cells that may be stuck in between scales or on the tail tip. This prevents bacterial growth which could lead to infection or irritation. Be sure not to use soap or other products as this could irritate the dragon’s delicate skin!

In addition to assisting with shedding, regular soaking sessions can also benefit your bearded dragon’s overall health by helping them stay hydrated and improving their digestion. Just be sure to provide plenty of clean drinking water throughout the day too!

Finally, remember that some dragons don’t like being submerged in water so you should monitor their reaction during each soak session carefully – if they seem stressed then it’s best to stop immediately.

Should Bearded Dragons Eat Every Day?

The answer to this question is that it depends on the age of the bearded dragon, as well as other factors. For young bearded dragons, they should be fed every day in order to ensure healthy growth and development. As they get older, you can start to feed them every other day or even once a week. However, if your dragon is still growing then you should continue feeding it daily for optimal nutrition.

It’s important to remember that different beardies have different dietary needs, so what works best for one may not work for another. If you are unsure how often your pet should be eating, consult with a veterinarian who specializes in reptiles.

The vet can help determine an appropriate feeding schedule based on your reptile’s age and lifestyle. Additionally, while some people believe that their pets will do better when offered food every day, studies show that intermittent fasting – meaning offering food only 1-2 times per week – actually has health benefits for adult bearded dragons such as improved digestion and enhanced immunity against disease and parasites.

What Does An Overfed Bearded Dragon Look Like?

An overfed bearded dragon can look very different than a healthy, well-fed one. The most common signs of an overfed beardie are obesity, a large belly, and thick skin folds around the neck, arms and legs. An overweight beardie may also have dull eyes or appear sluggish.

Obesity in bearded dragons can lead to several health issues including Metabolic Bone Disease (MBD), which is caused by an insufficient diet of vitamins and minerals. In addition to MBD, overweight Beardies are prone to developing fatty tumors known as lipomas.

While these tumors are usually benign, they can cause discomfort for the dragon if left untreated and become infected due to bacteria present on their scales. Overfeeding also increases the risk of liver disease since too much fat in their diet puts additional strain on their organs.

To prevent your beardie from becoming overweight it is important that you provide them with a balanced diet made up of fresh vegetables, insects and some fruits in moderation; this helps ensure they get all the nutrients they need while maintaining a healthy weight. It is also important to monitor portion sizes so that you don’t feed them too much at once; doing this will help keep your pet fit and active throughout its life!

Conclusion

In conclusion, it is perfectly normal and natural for a Bearded Dragon to eat its shed. Shedding provides an additional source of nutrition and helps keep their skin healthy as they grow.

As long as the shedding process occurs normally, eating the shed should not be cause for concern. However, if your Bearded Dragon begins to have problems with shedding or appears to eat too much of its shed, it could indicate an underlying health issue that requires veterinary attention.