Okay so for context, our female beardie within the last week has been hiding a lot in this hide she has, very rarely coming out. Normally she's in one of her basking spots getting some heat, but recently hasn't at all. She lays in her hide all the way down and kind of tucks her head under part of it. She eats about twice a week and we've noticed while she's eating, she gets very labored breathing. She slows down, takes a deep breath and her beard puffs out, and sits there for a moment. Afterwards she continues eating but it repeats the entire time. She's also looking a little heavier around her belly but we haven't upped her feedings or anything, she has remained the same size for a while (she's a year about 4 months).

Okay so if you say my last post, I just recently got a beardie who ended up having MBD. The pet shop I got him from has refunded the price of him. I have made the decision to keep him!

Now, what special care is this little dude going to need throughout his life since he has MDB? His mobility is great! He eats like a champ, even for being in his new home for all of 2 1/2 days.

I know he’ll obviously need the basics like a proper linear uvb light along with supplemental calcium like any normal beardie.

I currently have him in a 40 gallon. When doing research, I got conflicting results on a starter tank so that’s why he’s in a 40. Would a 4x2x2 be recommended for a beardie who has MBD? If so, he’s definitely getting an upgrade in a month or two.

Any advice is welcome!!

Hey all! I currently have a Zilla T8 15 watt 18” UVB fixture above my 11 year old bearded dragons enclosure, and am looking to upgrade to an Arcadia UVB light fixture. I am wondering if I’d be able to just swap the bulbs with the same fixture, or if an entirely new fixture/bulb is necessary?

I am a bit financially tight, so I would prefer to save money anywhere I can, though I understand that this is something that shouldn’t be cheaped on.

All recommendations are welcome, thanks for having me :)

Hey there, dragon family.

My three-month-old female bearded dragon is not drinking any water or eating any greens. I've had her for a little over two weeks now and she only eats bugs, no luck with any greens or any water. I've tried holding out on bugs for her to eat veggies but she refuses. I've given her loads of variety and added bee pollen today.

I've given her two short baths in warm water but otherwise, I'm concerned that she's super dehydrated. Her poops are also totally solid, no liquid at all. I also tried putting a little water dish in her 120-gallon enclosure, no luck. Not even a pee yet that I can tell since I got her...

Today she good on the spot she basks and then stayed there. I was only gone an hour so it was not more than that but odd to be so close to it when there are other warm spots to be.

Is this normal? Today her eyes look more tired. Is there a better way to ensure she's getting water? Any help would be so appreciated! Above is a photo, she's currently going through a shed and just finished her head.

The ambient temperature in the morning, in vivarium, before lights turn on is reading 17degree on the cool side. I'm assuming cooler than that in the wee hours so I wanted to add a lightless ceramic heating bulb.

Where does this get placed in relation to warm side, cool side and other lights. I use 12% Arcadia 34w and basking light 100W in a 4x2x2. Also is it enough to set it to come on for a few hours through the night or does it need to be on the whole time the others are off ?

Thanks in advance ☺️

I’m taking in a family member’s bearded dragon soon and I’m concerned with his ankle area. There’s a tinge of yellow making me worry he has some infection however there’s also some gray. I’m hoping to bring him to the vet this weekend at the latest in the next two weeks (still researching different vet options first time going to an exotic vet so any advice is appreciated). Anyways in the meantime what should I do? Does this seem extremely severe or do you think he’ll be okay with treatment? I was really excited to take him in :(

This is Taz the Spazz and think she’s actually defective. Home girl really tired looking at me human style and went cross eyed. She also seems to REALLY like the beetles mealworms turn into…like REALLLLLLY likes them.

I put his favorite branch next to his basking spot and now he doesn't wanna lay on his rock
I checked the temps and its at a solid 100

This is at petsmart so fish people don’t come at me for the dirty tank 😭😭 does anyone else’s beardie like fish tanks? Pete always tries to eat the fish or tbh anything smh but I like letting him watch or play lol he really likes the neon ones under black light he def be trying to eat them

No one other than lizard lovers can understand how adorable this is

My bearded dragon (3yr old boy) was sitting behind my on the cusions of my bed (he likes to sit there cuz he can look out the window. He climbed onto my shoulders and was sitting on my head, he does this all the time. but then randomly he bit my hair and pulled it out. like only two strands before i stopped him - ive not got a bald spot thank god - but like do we think its just because he came out of brumation recently and has A LOT of energy (he spends the entire day running around his enclosure and my room - he also gets outside times if the weather is good, and live bugs so he shouldnt be bored)

Idk if its just random or if it means something.

Currently he is in the minimum size for adult beardie but I am getting a new enclosure (will be double the size) as he really likes to climb and I feel bad for when I'm not home and cant let him free roam.

anyway, its proabbly just a completely random thing, ive seen videos of people beardies biting them (hes only bit me while feeding) and come to think of it hes bit my sock before, but it was green so i assumed he thought it was a plant idk.

also do i need to be worried about him trying to eat other random stuff, he has ive plants that are safe fot him in his enclosure and aways has fresh greens?

A celebration feast of all her favorites! Arugula and watercress, carrots peeled and grated, orange pepper, squash, cucumber, and dessert dubia!

Pete posing like the model he is 🥰 he knows he’s the most handsome guy in the universe

He's almost 2, has not done this since 7 months or so. He's hissing, heart palpitations...

Nero asked if I could post his photo here. So, here you go :)

California finally had a good enough day for some outside sun! Hope everyone else’s day is good! 💞

I just recently got my girl from someone who could no longer keep her. I’ve been doing my best to learn as much as I can about what she needs to be happy and healthy in the short period of time I’ve had. It’s not finished and I may move some things around but for now, is this tank setup good for her? I just want her to be happy and comfortable. She was in a tiny tank when I got her and I can tell she is happy with the size but I just wanted to know if this looks like a good home for her, atleast for now. I’m open to any and all suggestions

Hello everyone, this is my first time posting to Reddit so apologies in advance. I just have one question, I was feeding my beardie her weekly roaches and just as she was done eating she stomped her foot at me. It wasn’t a typical hand wave and she didn’t bob her head while doing it either. I would say in a better description she stomped like a rabbit with an attitude would have. Do any of you know what type of behavior this is? Was she angry? I’ve own beardies in the past and they’ve never expressed this type of behavior. Any advice would be helpful ☺️☺️. Here’s a few pictures of my beardie for laughs and giggles. Her name is PeeWee and yes I know she has missing toes I don’t know her backstory she was like that when I adopted/rescued her. Thanks in advance 🥰🥰

My 7 month old beardie has coccidia, we have antibiotics from the vet but we're on day 5 of her not eating at all and I'm worried. She's become a little more active but just won't eat. I'm worried she's dehydrated but she hasn't lost any weight at least.

Going to call the vet in the morning as I want his opinion on when to step in with critical care food and probiotics.

The enclosure is stripped down, steam cleaning and using f10. Soaking her daily as advised by the vet. She has good fat pads but I'm so paranoid about the dehydration. Before this she was savage for food. We have 2 more days of antibiotics to go.

Any tips or advice is appreciated, one very paranoid beardie mum here. I'm so worried I've failed her, but when I got her I took her for a check and fecal test and she had pinworms, did the whole paper towel setup and thorough cleaning and she got through that well and was eating and thriving. I'm always careful to clean anything new with f10 as well as when I clean her out. The reptile vet breeds bearded dragons so I checked my whole setup and showed photos when I first took her to him for her first health check and he was happy I had everything down. I specifically chose this vet through recommendations and because he breeds them.

Daisy loves watching movies with us lol

Hi everyone!

I got Mushu yesterday from a local pet store. Today, I noticed his leg is a lil funky. I went and looked at the pics i took yesterday and you can kinda see it there too so I don’t think he injured himself in the hospital tank I have.

Is this something he could live with comfortably?

Edit: the local pet store said they can replace him, order me a new one, or give me a discount on him. If this is something he can comfortably live with, i’ll probably keep him. He’s already attached to me. When I pick him up and put him in my hand, he pancakes and won’t get off my hand unless I gently force him off!!

I painted my bearded dragon a desert backdrop for his enclosure. :)

I recently discovered that prickly pear cactus is an excellent addition to a bearded dragon’s diet. 3 out 4 of my beardies seem to really enjoy it.

The pads are a good source of fiber, calcium, and hydration, while being relatively low in oxalates, making them a great option to include in a daily staple-green rotation alongside collard greens, turnip greens, and other nutritious vegetables.

Prickly pear is also incredibly easy to grow, especially here in South Florida. When preparing the pads, make sure to carefully remove any spines and glochids (the tiny, hair-like splinters that can be difficult to see).

Another great benefit is how well the pads keep. Uncut cactus pads can last at least a couple of weeks in the refrigerator, and having a plant growing at home gives you an easy, fresh backup when you run out of greens or can’t make it to the grocery store.

The fruit is very tasty as well for both humans and as a rare treat for your beardie..

Note: beardie poop may be a bit more watery than usual this is just due to the higher water content in the prickly pear cactus pads.

Per 100 g of raw cactus pad, roughly:
94% water
2.2 g fiber
164 mg calcium
16 mg phosphorus
52 mg magnesium
257 mg potassium
9.3 mg vitamin C
Beta-carotene / vitamin A precursors
Very little fat or sugar

I have an appointment today at the vet, but does anyone have any idea what they think this is? He’s been very sleepy eyes closed during the day looks like possible liquid in his eyes. This morning he opened his mouth a few times, and I seen his tongue girl and then he closed it. He barely keeps them open and his beard has been black for several days I’m so worried.😭

We’re on day 2 of treating Xiaoxi for coccidia and pinworms.

Every day, I clean his enclosure, replace all the paper towels, and pour boiling water over everything he has touched that can safely be cleaned that way. His enclosure is very empty now.

He’s already had two medications (Panacur and Baycox), with another round of each scheduled for later this month.

Despite all this, Xiaoxi is doing pretty well! He’s still eating, pooping normally, and staying active.

He’s only been with me for two weeks, but he’s already developed a strong attachment to his basking platform and my hands.

We will recheck his poops in November, hoping he will be well soon.