Is Your Beardie Feeling Blah? 7 Telltale Signs of an Unhealthy Bearded Dragon

Bearded dragons are masters of stoicism. Their calm demeanor and hardy nature are part of what makes them such fantastic pets. However, this stoicism can also be a double-edged sword, as it can make it difficult to tell when they’re feeling unwell. As a responsible owner, learning to spot the subtle signs of illness is one of the most important skills you can develop.

Catching health problems early can make all the difference. By paying close attention to your dragon’s appearance and behavior, you can intervene before minor issues become major emergencies. Here are seven key signs that your bearded dragon may be unhealthy.

1. Lethargy and Excessive Hiding

A healthy bearded dragon is typically alert, curious, and active, especially during the day. While all dragons have lazy days, persistent lethargy is a major red flag.

• What to look for: Your dragon is unresponsive, floppy, or spends all its time hiding on the cool side of the enclosure. It shows no interest in basking, exploring, or interacting.
• Potential Causes: This is a general symptom that can point to many issues, but the most common culprits are improper habitat temperatures. If the basking spot is too cool, your dragon can’t properly digest food or generate energy.
• What to do: First, double-check your temperatures with a digital probe thermometer. The basking spot should be around 95−105°F (35−41°C) for adults, with a cool side gradient down to 75−80°F (24−27°C). If your temperatures are correct and the lethargy continues for more than a day or two, it’s time to call a vet.

2. Loss of Appetite and Weight Loss

While it’s normal for a bearded dragon’s appetite to fluctuate (especially during shedding or brumation), a complete and prolonged refusal to eat is a serious sign.

• What to look for: Your dragon consistently ignores its favorite insects or fresh greens. You may also notice its tail base getting thinner and its hip bones becoming more prominent.
• Potential Causes: Loss of appetite can be caused by stress, incorrect temperatures, parasites (impaction), or internal illness.
• What to do: Weigh your dragon weekly on a small kitchen scale. Consistent weight loss, paired with a lack of appetite, warrants a vet visit for a fecal exam to rule out parasites.

3. Abnormal Feces

Your dragon’s poop is a fantastic window into its internal health. A healthy bearded dragon dropping consists of two parts: a solid, brown/dark portion (feces) and a white or off-white part (the urate, which is crystallized uric acid).

• What to look for: Diarrhea, extremely foul-smelling feces, undigested insects in the stool, or runny, discolored urates. The absence of feces for many days could signal constipation or impaction.
• Potential Causes: Parasites, dehydration, a new diet, or a bacterial infection can all cause changes in the stool.
• What to do: Provide a warm bath and gently massage your dragon’s belly to encourage a bowel movement if you suspect constipation. If you see consistently abnormal droppings, collect a fresh sample in a sealed bag and take it to your vet for analysis.

4. Sunken Eyes and Wrinkly Skin

These are the classic signs of dehydration, a common and dangerous condition in bearded dragons.

• What to look for: The eyes appear sunken into the skull, and the skin loses its elasticity. If you gently pinch the skin along their side, it will hold its shape (a “tent”) for a moment before slowly returning to normal.
• Potential Causes: Insufficient water intake, low humidity, or diarrhea can all lead to dehydration.
• What to do: Ensure a shallow, clean water dish is always available. You can also offer water via a dropper onto the tip of their snout (let them lick it off, don’t force it). Regular warm baths are also excellent for hydration.

5. Weakness, Twitching, or Swelling (Signs of MBD)

Metabolic Bone Disease (MBD) is a preventable but devastating condition caused by a critical imbalance of calcium in the body. It’s one of the most common ailments seen by exotic vets.

• What to look for: Shaking or twitching limbs, a swollen or soft lower jaw, lethargy, weak legs that struggle to support the dragon’s body, and bumps or kinks along the spine.
• Potential Causes: MBD is caused by a lack of proper UVB lighting (which allows them to synthesize vitamin D3​) and/or an improper diet low in calcium. Vitamin D3​ is essential for calcium absorption. The ideal dietary calcium to phosphorus ratio (Ca:P) should be around 2:1.
• What to do: This requires an immediate vet visit. Ensure you are using a high-quality, full-spectrum UVB tube light (not a coil bulb) and replacing it every 6-12 months as recommended by the manufacturer. Also, be sure to dust feeder insects with a quality calcium supplement.

6. Gasping and Open-Mouth Breathing

While a dragon may sit with its mouth open to regulate body temperature (“gaping”), this should only happen when directly under the basking light. Persistent open-mouth breathing, especially when combined with other signs, points to a problem.

• What to look for: Audible popping or clicking sounds, wheezing, mucus or bubbles around the nostrils or mouth, and labored breathing.
• Potential Causes: This is a telltale sign of a respiratory infection, which is often caused by humidity levels being too high in the enclosure, incorrect temperatures, or unsanitary conditions.
• What to do: A respiratory infection is an emergency and requires veterinary care for antibiotics. Immediately review your habitat’s humidity levels and ensure your temperature gradient is correct.

7. Mouth Rot (Infectious Stomatitis)

An infection in the mouth can quickly turn serious if left untreated.

• What to look for: Swelling around the mouth and jaw, redness or tiny black spots along the gum line, or a thick, yellowish-white, cottage cheese-like substance inside the mouth.
• Potential Causes: This can be caused by an injury to the mouth, poor sanitation, or a weakened immune system from another underlying issue.
• What to do: This is another condition that requires a vet’s diagnosis and treatment, which usually involves cleaning the area and a course of antibiotics.

Your Role as a Dragon Guardian

Being a bearded dragon owner means being an observant detective. Your pet can’t tell you what’s wrong, but it will show you through these subtle signs. By conducting daily wellness checks and knowing what to look for, you can ensure your scaly friend lives a long, happy, and healthy life.

Disclaimer: This article is for informational purposes only and is not a substitute for professional veterinary advice. If you suspect your bearded dragon is ill, please contact a qualified exotic animal veterinarian immediately.