Introduction to Bearded Dragon Poop and Digestion
Bearded dragons are docile reptiles that make wonderful pets for beginners and experienced reptile owners alike. They are reasonably easy to care for and are known to form close bonds with their owners.
One aspect of bearded dragon ownership, not many people look forward to is monitoring their reptile’s bathroom habits. Although it might seem strange, bearded dragon poop can provide valuable insight into their digestive health. Good digestive health is the key to keeping them healthy and preventing certain diseases that can negatively impact their quality of life.
Understanding Bearded Dragon Digestion
Bearded dragons have unique digestive tracts that differ slightly from humans. Their gastrointestinal system comprises a stomach, duodenal bulb, esophagus, cecum, and small intestines. Each section has a crucial role in how bearded dragons digest their food, utilize nutrients, and produce waste.
Their digestive system is designed to process large quantities of animal and plant matter because they are omnivores. The cecum is enlarged in bearded dragons to effectively ferment plant matter and extract vital nutrients. Bearded dragons have a much slower digestion process than humans because they don’t chew. This means that their food takes longer to break down and allows them to go longer in between feedings than we can.
The digestive process starts when food enters their mouth and travels down the esophagus and into the stomach. The food gets broken down by stomach acid before moving into the small intestine and gets broken down further by digestive enzymes. Nutrients from the food are absorbed into the bloodstream through the walls of the small intestine. The food then travels to the colon, which absorbs water and electrolytes to form feces.
Normal Frequency of Bowel Movements in Bearded Dragons
The frequency of bearded dragon poop depends on factors like diet, age, and hydration. Most bearded dragons poop every 1 to 3 days, while others only poop weekly.
Hatchling bearded dragons poop daily or every second day up until they are around four months old. They poop more frequently because they eat more protein-rich foods and have faster metabolisms while they are growing. Juveniles poop every other day, while adults poop once or twice a week. You will notice significant changes in their bowel habits as they age because their metabolism slows down.
Bearded dragon poop is white and brown because they poop and urinate at once. The brown part of the poop should be firm, log-shaped, and have a mild odor. The white part is urates (a reptile’s urine), which is a form of semi-solid uric acid salts. Urates should be pasty and odorless.
Signs of Healthy Digestion
Healthy bearded dragon poop should be:
- Firm, dark brown
- Log-shaped
- Small, white to yellowish urates
- Consistent bowel movements
- Mild odor or odorless
It’s important to monitor your bearded dragon’s bowel movements to spot any signs of health issues early on. Their poop can tell you a lot about their current health and hydration status.
Dehydrated bearded dragons may suffer from constipation and won’t poop very often. Their poop will appear very dry and hard, with solid urates. You should consider adding more moisture-rich vegetables to their diets, like kale and Romaine lettuce. They should also have a water bowl in the enclosure with fresh, clean water that gets changed regularly.
Furthermore, black or bloody poops can indicate severe constipation or impaction, which requires immediate veterinary attention. Impaction occurs when food forms a blockage in the digestive tract. This can happen with improper temperatures or the ingestion of inedible items like substrate.
Common Digestive Issues in Bearded Dragons
Bearded dragons are cold-blooded, so they rely on external heat to digest their food properly. They struggle to digest their food properly in cold temperatures, which leads to digestive issues like constipation and bloating. Your bearded dragon must have a basking spot in the enclosure with a temperature of about 100° to 110° Fahrenheit for optimal digestion.
Diarrhea is another common digestive issue in bearded dragons. It’s characterized by loose, watery stools and is typically caused by diet or parasites. They can get diarrhea from sudden changes in their diet, like introducing new foods too quickly without giving their digestive system enough time to adjust. Feeding large amounts of fruit can also cause diarrhea because of the high water and sugar content.
Certain intestinal parasites like pinworms and coccidia can change the consistency of a bearded dragon’s poops, too, usually causing runny stools with mucous or blood.
Bearded Dragon Pooping Habits and Behavior
You should regularly inspect your bearded dragon’s poop and its appearance and frequency. You can expect young bearded dragons to poop daily or every few days and adults weekly. Monitor for any sudden changes in their bathroom habitats, like watery or very dry poops, which could potentially indicate an underlying digestive issue. Foul-smelling poop isn’t normal and generally caused by poor eating habitats or a potential infection.
Bearded dragons should eat a balanced omnivorous diet of insects and vegetables to have regular bowel movements. Avoid making sudden changes to their diet or feeding too many fruits or watery vegetables like iceberg lettuce. They get valuable fiber from vegetables, which is essential for proper digestion and gut health. Mustard greens, turnip greens, and dandelion greens are nutritious leafy vegetables that are high in fiber.
Bearded Dragon Poop Cleaning and Maintenance
Letting your bearded dragon’s poop build up is unhygienic and promotes an environment that harmful bacteria and fungi flourish in. It’s important to clean up your bearded dragon’s poop whenever you see it. You can keep disposable gloves and paper towels nearby to easily clean it up. Alternatively, you can manually remove the poop when you spot-clean the enclosure, which should be done daily. The poop should be disposed of into a toilet rather than in your household waste bin because it’s more hygienic.
If the poop has left stains around the enclosure or on the glass, you can use a reptile-safe disinfectant and damp cloth to clean it. Regularly cleaning the enclosure and preventing the poop from building up helps to keep your bearded dragon’s enclosure sanitary and smelling fresh.
FAQs About Bearded Dragon Poop
Why is my bearded dragon’s poop white?
Bearded dragons urinate and poop together, hence the different two different colors. The white parts of the poop are urates, which are a reptile’s urine in the form of semi-solid uric acid salt. This differs from mammals’ urine, which is a liquid, but both serve the same purposes.
How often does a bearded dragon poop?
Bearded dragons poop daily or weekly, depending on factors like age, diet, and overall health. Hatchlings under four months old poop frequently, usually daily. The frequency of their poop slows down as they age. Adult bearded dragons tend to only poop once or twice a week.
What should my bearded dragon’s poop look like?
Bearded dragon poop should have a firm, dark brown consistency. The urates should be pasty and odorless.
Conclusion
Monitoring your bearded dragon’s poop might not be something you look forward to, but it’s essential for their health. Healthy poop should be firm, dark brown with pasty chalky urates. Abnormal changes to the appearance and frequency of their poops can indicate potential digestive issues or dehydration, both of which can be harmful to bearded dragons. It’s normal for young bearded dragons to poop more often than adults due to changes in their digestive system as they age.
