Why does bearded dragons chin turn black

He has a long log that leans against the side of the cage near the hot spot. This is where he basks. To the far left on the cool side is where he sometimes sleeps. He also had a large cave-like rock that he basks on as well. We put calcium in the sand because he likes to lick the ground sometimes as he walks. But many people I have met said compared to their beardies, my lizard is the healthiest out of all of them. I try to take really good care of him, though I do have some questions.

Now, I say this in the nicest way possible, but there are quite a few things wrong with this setup that, if left unaltered, could certainly contribute to health issues over time.

I would recommend redoing his lighting setup. If you read my article on bearded dragon lighting and temperatures you should walk away with a keen understanding of what you can adjust to better suit your bearded dragon. Direct exposure to UVB is the only sure fire way to guarantee your beardie is absorbing it. Your basking should be, depending on his age, anywhere from degrees Fahrenheit. Again, the article linked above will walk you through all of this in much more depth so I highly recommend you find time to read it, it should really help you.

It would be so much less stressful and easier to simply switch out the substrate for something safe than deal with an impaction scare. Thanks so much for giving me this feedback, it really helped! At first I worried that he was too hot, so this really helps. I was happy to help.

The lighting will be the most critical component to get right. I have been reading what other ppl say and ask u for. When a bearded dragon gets a black beard dose that mean he is a boy or a girl so there is 2 bearded dragons in this house but in different area and he tells me 1 thing and turns around and says another thing so need help please and what should i get him to eat. He has just shed and he is friendly with me. He moved in about a month ago.

Hello, I need some help! Ive had my beardie since he was a baby 3yrs now this is his 1st brumation. It has been almost 3mths now. But the last week ive noticed his beard staying black and has runny poo which looks almost bloody but at closer look its not.

I have tried bathing and getting him hydrated because he has signs of dehydration. My daughter bearded dragon head is tilt back and is black. This is the first time it has happened. We got him back in April of this year when he was a baby.

He has acted always normal. We are leaving town tomorrow and I am worried now. I am scared. He was eating kale earlier.

Do you think it got stuck in its throat? But if I put any of my 4 snakes on the floor dor exercise straight away black beard and I have to put snake away and get dragon out put him on my chest and he calms down. We hope our article helped you out. Please tell us what you want to read about next and fill out our 5-minute survey. We promise it will be fun! Thank you for joining in making Reptile Guide the most useful website possible for millions of reptile enthusiasts.

Click the button below to start. Table of Contents. Best wishes to you too Reply. U should probably take the kittens away and give hi.

Some love and affection Reply. TIA Reply. Hi Jessica! In captivity, pet bearded dragons will still use the same tricks when they feel scared. There are a wide variety of common causes for bearded dragons getting spooked. The best thing you can do is to try and provide them with a stable and safe environment that eliminates a lot of variables.

Keep their cage away from widows, prevent other animals from getting close, and practice smart and patient handling more on that later. As you might expect, if a bearded dragon is angry they might turn their neck black to make it obvious to everyone else. This is a sign that they want to be left alone, and you should abide by their wishes. This could be other pets, young kids tapping on the glass of their enclosure, loud noises in the room, or a host of other possibilities. Expert Tip: This is obviously not the time for you to try handling them or tidying up their enclosure.

This is one of the reasons that many inexperienced owners jump to first. While this is often a panicked reaction, sometimes it is the cause for a bearded dragon turning their neck black. This is a tactic that many animals use, and it actually works quite well in the wild! The other reason why a sick bearded dragon might have a black beard is simply due to stress and discomfort. Lethargy, not eating , irregular poop , and other behavioral changes might indicate that something is wrong.

This is actually a pretty neat trick. As you probably know, black objects absorb more heat than white ones. Inaccurate temperature readings frequently lead to mismanaged care! If you find that the temperature in their enclosure is too low, make the necessary adjustments to bring it back into the normal level. Check the output of your lamps and UVB lights as well they might be due for a change. A general source of stress with new pet bearded dragons is adjusting to their enclosure.

The entire process is obviously quite a whirlwind for them, and the lack of a place they feel comfortable in will only contribute to this. You see, bearded dragons need some time to get used to a new home and habitat.

Because of this increased anxiety and fear, they might turn their beards black just to send a message. The changes in color in bearded dragons are normal. However, if your bearded dragon turns black especially the neck area and does not move, it probably the sign of impaction.

Impaction is a bowel obstruction in many kinds of animals. This happens when they eat something that cannot be digested by their digestive system. In most cases, impaction in reptiles including bearded dragons is caused by the rocks or sand they have accidentally ingested when they eat their food or prey.

These terms are mostly used interchangeably. They seem to have similar implications and meanings. However, there is a distinct difference between the two.

Impaction refers to the buildup of solid materials accidentally ingested by a bearded dragon. It could be rock or sand. These materials will remain in the digestive tract. Constipation is a little bit different. Instead of blockage due to inedible materials, constipation is the result of a hard buildup of food and stool in the digestive tract of the bearded dragon.

In other words, the only difference lies in the type of materials that make up the blockage within the digestive tract. Aside from the ingested inedible materials, there are many not obvious factors that could cause compaction in bearded dragons.

Bearded dragons are accustomed to the temperatures in the wild. So if you bring them in the artificial habitat, you should give them an environment similar to what they used to.

That said, you need to keep the tank warm. Monitor the temperature. For adult bearded dragons, keep the temperature at 90 to 93 degrees Fahrenheit. For babies and juveniles, make it 80 to 90 degrees Fahrenheit. Dehydration is another factor that could cause impaction.

This happens when your beardies do not receive enough water which in turn results in improper functioning of their digestive system. Bearded dragons need a proper and balanced diet. If they get an inappropriate diet, they could suffer some digestive issues. While a baby or juvenile bearded dragon needs more insects than greens. There are other factors that could contribute to impaction. This may include infection, tumors, and injuries. When impaction happens, you will be able to respond to it immediately and effectively.

Impaction affects bearded dragons in many ways. Your beardies become unstable in terms of their eating and pooping behavior. Fortunately, there are ways you can do to help get your reptile pet stay in normal condition. Before sharing the tips, I would like to emphasize here that I am not an expert.

The tips that I am about to share below are coming from my personal experiences in taking care of my bearded dragons for years.