Don’t be alarmed if your bearded dragon sheds its skin. This process is known as ecdysis and there is no cause for concern if you see your pet going through this process. It is part of the normal life cycle of a reptile to experience this. There are three factors that contribute to the molting process, these are: Health, Moisture and Growth. If these three factors are properly maintained, your bearded dragon will shed its skin successfully.
Why do bearded dragons shed?
Like humans, dragons continue to grow. As time goes by, they grow bigger and bigger. An increase in size, therefore, demands a larger space for your skin. This is why bearded dragons, like any other reptile, shed their skin so it can accommodate growth. You will notice water forming on the outer layer of their scales once your pet has almost shed their scaly skin. The new skin slowly replaces the old. The new skin is found under the old loose skin.
When does shedding occur?
The shedding process depends on the age of your pet. Your dragon’s body size expands as its age increases. In the early life stages of bearded dragons, their total mass doubles or triples. This is why you will notice that baby bearded dragons constantly shed their skin. Depending on the physical growth and build of the baby bearded dragon, shedding can occur every month.
When to worry?
Become alarmed if your adult bearded dragon sheds its skin frequently. If shedding happens twice a month, then it’s time for you to take action. There are underlying conditions that cause this to happen. Therefore, you need to have your pet seen by a veterinarian. Adult bearded dragons rarely shed regularly because their development and growth gradually slow down.
Older bearded dragons shed at most twice a year. If your pet’s shedding period has been delayed, there is no cause for concern. If detachment does not occur, treat as the cause of another problem. Don’t treat it as a problem in itself. Examine the conditions of the enclosure and make sure the proper levels of heat and humidity are maintained based on the size of your dragon.
What do you hope to see during the molting process?
It’s fairly easy to identify once your dragon begins the molting process. It will look completely different from your ordinary appearance. Of course, his behavior will also change. You will notice changes in its color followed by a change in the texture of its scaly skin. There will be water in some parts of the skin. The scaly parts is where the shedding is occurring. Unlike snakes that shed their skin all at once, your pet sheds slowly, taking its time, until the entire body has finished shedding. The first part of the body where the molt occurs are the legs followed by the back, the beard and then the head. Once your pet has fully shed, it’s also an important time to breed, as their reproductive organs are mature as well.
As an owner, it is your responsibility to be resourceful in finding out information about your pet’s shedding stage. It is very important to find the necessary information on how to properly care for your beard during the shedding stage.
