Why Is My Bearded Dragon So Small?

Bearded dragons are one of the most popular pet lizards, but they come in many different sizes. If you’ve recently acquired a bearded dragon and noticed it is much smaller than other adult specimens, then you may be wondering why your dragon is so small.

In this article we will discuss possible causes for having a small bearded dragon and how to address them. We will also provide some tips on how to better care for your little reptilian friend.

Common Causes of Small Bearded Dragons

• Age: Younger bearded dragons are typically smaller than their adult counterparts, so if your dragon is still a juvenile it may just be growing into its size. Juvenile dragons usually reach adulthood between 8-10 months old.
• Diet: A proper diet is essential for a healthy and strong bearded dragon. If you’re not providing enough nutrition in their food or they’re eating too much unhealthy food (too many insects, fatty foods, etc.), this can result in stunted growth and a small stature.
• Stress: Stress can have an effect on the growth and overall health of your pet lizard. Make sure to provide them with a safe environment that has plenty of hiding spots and places to climb. Also, keep handling to a minimum as too much interaction with humans can also cause stress.

Tips for Helping Your Small Bearded Dragon Grow

• Provide Proper Nutrition: Be sure to feed your dragon nutrient rich food such as dark leafy greens, vegetables, fruits, cooked proteins like eggs and lean meats, calcium supplements and vitamins regularly. You should also offer live insects like crickets or mealworms every couple of days.
• Create Appropriate Habitat Conditions: Be sure that the habitat you create for your beardie provides the right temperature gradient (warm side vs cool side), humidity levels, lighting conditions, substrates, hides, basking areas, decorations and more. All these factors play an important role in helping them grow properly.
• Monitor Health Carefully: Keep an eye on your dragon’s weight by weighing them regularly – this will help ensure they’re getting all the nutrients necessary for growth. Additionally, monitor any signs of illness or injury that may impede growth. Consult with a veterinarian as soon as possible if something seems off.

Why Is My Bearded Dragon So Tiny?

Bearded dragons are usually quite small, so it is normal for them to remain relatively tiny. Your bearded dragon’s size is likely determined by a few different factors, including genetics, nutrition and age.

The first factor that contributes to the size of your bearded dragon is its genetics. Bearded dragons come in many different sizes and shapes due to their genetic makeup. For example, some breeds have larger heads and more substantial bodies than others. Even individuals from the same breed can vary in size depending on their parents’ traits.

In addition to genetics, the food your bearded dragon eats also affects its growth rate and overall size. Proper nutrition provides the necessary nutrients for growth during each stage of development until they reach adulthood. If your bearded dragon isn’t getting enough food or isn’t eating a balanced diet, this could prevent it from reaching its full potential size-wise as it matures into adulthood.

Finally, age plays an important role in determining your bearded dragon’s size too. Juveniles tend to be smaller than adults simply because they haven’t had as much time to grow yet but will eventually reach their full adult size if given proper care and nutrition throughout their lives.

All things considered, there are several factors that contribute to why your bearded dragon might be smaller than average – most notably genetics, nutrition and age – so don’t worry if yours looks tiny compared to others! With proper care and a nutritious diet tailored specifically for them, you can help ensure that your pet reaches its maximum potential size over time regardless of what breed or age it may be!

How Can I Make My Bearded Dragon Grow Bigger?

Bearded dragons are naturally small creatures, but there are some steps that you can take to ensure they reach their full size potential.

The most important thing to do is provide your bearded dragon with a healthy diet. A good diet for your beardie should include fresh vegetables and fruits as well as high-quality insects like crickets and waxworms.

You should also supplement their diet with vitamins and minerals specifically formulated for reptiles. Feeding your dragon a balanced diet will give them all the nutrients they need to grow properly and stay healthy.

Another way to help your bearded dragon grow bigger is to provide appropriate lighting and heating conditions in its enclosure. Bearded dragons require UVB light exposure as well as supplemental heat from either an overhead basking bulb or ceramic heater.

Proper temperatures allow bearded dragons to better metabolize their food, which helps them put on size more quickly. Additionally, providing a larger enclosure allows them space to move around freely and exercise so they can build muscle mass that contributes to their overall growth rate.

Do Small Bearded Dragons Get Bigger?

Yes, small bearded dragons do get bigger. Bearded dragons typically reach their full size at around 18 to 24 months old. After this period of growth has concluded, a juvenile or baby bearded dragon can expect to reach an adult length of 18-24 inches long. However, some larger species of beardies can grow up to 28 inches in length.

A healthy and well-cared for bearded dragon will continue growing until they reach the age of 2 years old. During this time, it is important that owners provide them with proper nutrition and environment in order to ensure optimal health and growth rate.

A diet should be composed mainly of insects like crickets, mealworms and wax worms as these are all high in protein which helps promote healthy development during their growth process. In addition, providing adequate lighting and temperature along with plenty of space to roam around will also help stimulate growth hormone production which encourages faster development rates.

How Do I Know If My Bearded Dragon Is Malnourished?

Malnourishment in bearded dragons can occur if they are not receiving a balanced and adequate diet. To determine whether or not your bearded dragon is malnourished, there are some physical signs that you should look for.

The first sign to look out for is the presence of a sunken-in abdomen. A healthy bearded dragon will have a plump stomach area due to their regular consumption of food. If your bearded dragon’s stomach appears to be concave or has indentations along its sides, this could be an indication that it is malnourished.

Additionally, you can inspect the texture of your beardie’s skin; healthy skin should have good elasticity while malnourished skin may feel dry and flaky.

In addition to physical signs, behavioral changes can also indicate malnutrition in your pet. If your normally active reptile has become lethargic or uninterested in eating its meals, these could be signs of malnourishment as well.

An overall lack of appetite combined with other physical symptoms such as weight loss or discolored scales are further indicators that something might be wrong with the health of your bearded dragon’s diet.

If you notice any of these signs in your pet, it’s important to take them all into consideration when determining whether or not your bearded dragon is malnourished and seek advice from a qualified veterinarian on how best to address any issues identified with their diet and nutrition regimen

What Does A Stressed Bearded Dragon Look Like?

A stressed bearded dragon can present a variety of outward physical signs. These indicators may vary depending on the severity and duration of the stress, as well as the individual animal’s unique personality.

Common physical signs of stress in bearded dragons include: changes to their coloring (usually becoming darker or more dull) that indicate an increase in adrenaline levels; decreased activity and reluctance to move around; excessive panting or open-mouthed breathing; raised scales along their backs, known as “beard puffing”; increased aggression towards other animals or people; loss of appetite and weight loss due to lack of eating.

The most important thing is to identify the source of your pet’s stress so that you can take appropriate measures to address it. This could be anything from environmental conditions (such as temperature or humidity), improper diet, not enough space, too many humans handling them at once, etc. Once you have identified the cause, you should change whatever is necessary to decrease your pet’s anxiety levels and improve its quality of life.

Conclusion

In conclusion, it is important to recognize the importance of providing proper nutrition and care for your bearded dragon in order to ensure its health and wellbeing. A balanced diet should be provided, as well as an appropriate environment with adequate heat and UVB light exposure.

If these conditions are not met, then a beardie’s growth may be stunted or otherwise hindered. Additionally, some dragons may remain small due to genetics or other factors that cannot be changed. With proper care though, you can help your little pal reach their full potential!