Table of Contents
Let’s face it. Even though there’s a lot of information out there, first time reptile owners sometimes don’t know everything about taking care of a bearded dragon. Compared to a dog or cat, bearded dragons are complex pets to own, and things can go wrong with their health. So if you’ve noticed something different about your beardy lately, it’s important you identify the issue so you can treat it and make sure it doesn’t happen in the future.
In this article, we’ll talk about all the ways that malnutrition can manifest itself in a bearded dragon, what malnutrition means to your beardy’s health, and what you can do about it. Let’s dig in.
What is Malnutrition?
In a nutshell, malnutrition means that your pet isn’t getting something critical that it needs in its diet. We’re using “malnutrition” to mean both a lack of macronutrients like protein and fat, but also vitamins and minerals like calcium. We’re also talking about dehydration, as it falls under the broad umbrella of “not getting enough of what you need”.
Depending on what your beardy is lacking, malnutrition might present itself a few different ways. Some are more serious than others. For example, a serious calcium deficiency can lead to metabolic bone disease, which is very serious.
If you’re noticing your beardy looks like it’s lost weight, it could be due to diet. But it could also be due to a serious underlying condition.
That’s why it’s important to talk to your vet promptly if your beardy looks malnourished. You don’t want to leave things up to chance if your beardy looks noticeably different.
How Can I Tell If My Bearded Dragon is Malnourished?
There are a few telltale signs that a bearded dragon isn’t getting what it needs from its diet, and they vary depending on what your beardy is missing.
Fat Loss
If your beardy isn’t getting enough macronutrients (protein, fat, etc.), it’s going to start burning through its fat stores. Beardies store fat in their tails and in their abdomen. So you’ll notice your beardy is losing weight if it starts looking thinner in the tail first. In more extreme cases, you may see ribs protruding or the hip bones, which should be covered in a comfy layer of baby fat.
They also have fat pads on their heads. When these deplete, it will look like they have small cavities or cups around the tops of their heads. Their skin may also look more “wrinkly” than normal, as they don’t have as much body fat to fill it out. Any one of these signs is concerning.
Lethargy
Beardies are pretty lazy in general, and if they don’t get enough chemical energy in their diets, they become totally lethargic. If your beardy is sluggish and reluctant to move around, that’s almost always a bad sign. This can sometimes be accompanied by a lack of alertness, meaning your beardy isn’t responding to noises and other stimuli.
Shakiness or Tremors
Another clear sign of malnutrition is excessive trembling, which usually goes along with lethargy. This is a common sign of calcium deficiency or metabolic bone disease. Calcium is a necessary nutrient in helping your bearded dragon’s nervous system work. If it isn’t getting enough, it can cause your beardy’s muscles to spasm and tremble.
Signs of Dehydration
Dehydration can be a little harder to notice. You might notice your beardy’s eyes look “sunken” and unhealthy. If you pinch its skin, you might also notice that it doesn’t rebound, but stays in the pinched position. Some owners note that the white part of a beardy’s poop (the urate) turns yellow or orange if their pet is dehydrated.
How to Deal With Malnutrition
It’s important to note that these signs don’t always mean malnutrition. In fact, if your husbandry is good, it’s more likely that these symptoms are signs of some underlying illness or a parasite. That’s why it’s crucial to check up with your veterinarian before making changes to your beardy’s diet.
That said, if the problem is due to some kind of malnutrition, these are things you should be thinking about.
Macronutrient Balance
Bearded dragons need a variety of food, including both feeders, fruits, and vegetables. Ideally, they should be getting one main feeder (we recommend dubia roaches as staple feeders) that has higher protein, supplemented with another fatty “snack feeder” (like a superworm).
On top of that, you need to ensure your beardy is getting a good mix of leafy greens and other veggies. Chard, kale, collard greens, mustard greens, and carrot tops are all bearded dragon favorites. In addition, you should give them one piece of fruit per day. If any of these elements is missing from your beardy’s diet for long, something is bound to get out of balance.
Hydration
Beardies are native to the arid deserts of central Australia, so they are used to not having a ton of water. They get most of their water from veggies and fruits in their diet, but might also drink from time to time.
You can keep a shallow water dish in your pet’s enclosure, but they may or may not use it. Some owners will mist their beardies’ noses to encourage them to drink. Giving them a shallow bath a few times a week can also encourage them to drink water.
Micronutrients and UVB
The main micronutrient your beardy needs is calcium, which you should provide by dusting your feeders. This is a great opportunity to help them top up on anything else they might need. You can buy a dusting powder that includes a whole bunch of vital nutrients.
The other key component here is UVB light, which beardies need to turn calcium into vitamin D3 in their bodies. If they have dietary calcium, but no UVB, they won’t be able to get anything out of it. Make sure you provide UVB light in their basking area to prevent serious issues like metabolic bone disea