Bearded dragon owners should be familiar with their pets’ waste, as it can indicate important information about their health. The color, consistency, and frequency of your reptile’s poop can offer insights into their well-being. As such, it is crucial to gain an understanding of your bearded dragon’s poop schedule to ensure they are in good health.
Factors that Influence Bearded Dragon Poop Frequency
Several factors can influence the frequency of a bearded dragon’s poop schedule. One of the essential factors is age. Baby beardies typically poop once a day due to their need for a high protein diet to cope with their accelerated growth rate. Juvenile beardies typically poop every other day, and as they approach 18 months old, their poop frequency naturally adjusts to two to three times a week. Adult beardies, on the other hand, can poop once to seven times a week.
Diet is another factor that can affect a bearded dragon’s poop frequency. Beardies consuming diets that are rich in calcium, such as silkworms, may poop more often than those predominantly eating crickets. It is worth noting that silkworms are notorious for causing runny poops, which can indicate changes in your beardie’s poop consistency.
Your bearded dragon’s husbandry and environment account for another crucial factor. Since proper temperature and humidity levels are essential for your bearded dragon’s health, an enclosure that doesn’t provide the right conditions may affect their poop schedule. Similarly, if your beardie doesn’t receive sufficient UVB and UVA light daily, it can impact their digestion and overall health. Even your beardie’s tank position can cause them to eat less, affecting their poop frequency.
The mood of your bearded dragon is yet another factor that can influence their poop schedule. Beardies that feel stressed can go for weeks without pooping. This is particularly common in baby bearded dragons that are transitioning to their forever home for the first time. Even adult beardies can experience stress responses when transferred to a new and bigger enclosure.
Brumation is a hibernation-like state that some bearded dragons experience, and during this time, they won’t move or eat much. It’s therefore normal not to expect them to produce as much waste during periods of reduced activity.
What Does Healthy Bearded Dragon Poop Look Like?
Typically, healthy bearded dragon poop consists of two portions: the traditional brown “log-like” poop, and white or yellow urates. These two parts are passed together, so you should see them in the same area when your bearded dragon poops. Over time, you will become familiar with your beardie’s poops and be able to identify if something is off. If you notice any unusual changes or deviations in their poop, you may want to pay closer attention to their activity levels, mood, or diet to gauge whether they are feeling unwell.
What to Look Out For
Constipation or impaction is the most common digestive problem seen in captive reptiles, and it can be fatal. Some factors that can cause impaction in your beardie are easily corrected. Since beardie poop frequency varies so much, it’s important to be familiar with your dragon’s schedule to spot deviations early on. Some of the signs that your beardie might have an impaction are sunken, dull eyes, no poop or bloody poop, lack of appetite, lack of energy, or difficulty moving hind legs, which is a severe sign that can require a visit to the vet immediately. To avoid impaction, be vigilant about their substrate to ensure that it is not too loose and that they’re eating foods they can easily digest.
In conclusion, as a bearded dragon owner, it’s important to familiarize yourself with your pet’s poop schedule to maintain their health. Generally, you should expect baby beardies to poop at least once a day, while adult beardies can go several days without eliminating waste. You can tell a lot about your beardie’s health by the appearance and frequency of its poop, necessitating a closer look if you spot any deviations from their standard poop pattern. A bearded dragon that poops less or more than usual yet shows out-of-character behaviors could indicate an underlying illness that warrants a visit to an exotic vet.
