Bearded dragons are a beautiful species and they come in a variety of vibrant colors. Some even have stripes! But if you’ve ever owned a bearded dragon, you’ll know that their coloring can change over time. They might get greener and greener, or start fading to grey – but why? In this article, we will discover more about why your bearded dragon might be turning grey and what you can do to reverse this process.
Why Is My Bearded Dragon Turning Grey?
The answer to this question is that your bearded dragon has been exposed to a toxic substance, either on purpose or by accident. This could be something in the environment or something that was ingested by your pet. This article will explain what causes a beardie to turn grey and how you can prevent it from happening again.
What Is A Grey Beard?
A grey beard is a term given to a bearded dragon that has turned a greyish color. In reality, it’s not the beard that is turning grey, but the skin underneath. The beard itself is still colorful and vibrant. Bearded dragons (like other reptiles) shed their skin. This happens about every 3-4 weeks, depending on the size and age of the dragon. As the new skin grows underneath, it is a much lighter color than the skin that is currently on the reptile. In general, you should be concerned if your bearded dragon has been turning grey for more than a few weeks. If the color change is gradual, it’s normal and nothing to be concerned about. If it happens in a matter of days, it could be a sign of a serious health problem.
What Are The Reasons For Bearded Dragons Turning Grey?
1. Your Bearded Dragon is Dehydrated
Bearded dragons are ectotherms. This means that their body temperature is regulated by the environment and not by the amount of heat that they produce themselves. If a beardie is dehydrated, it will lose more fluids than it would if it were well hydrated. This can lead to the beardie losing color in patches on its skin.
2. Your Bearded Dragon Is Old and Getting Old
As bearded dragons age, their skin loses its ability to hold onto the color. The older your dragon gets, the more likely it will turn gray. If your dragon has already turned gray, there is no telling how long it will take to turn completely white again!
3. Your Bearded Dragon Has Been Exposed To Toxic Chemicals
The most common substance causing a beardie to turn grey is arsenic. Other toxic substances that are found in many pet shops include copper, zinc, chromium, and lead (in’s their elasticity. This means that it loses the ability to stretch and return to its original shape after being stretched. As a result, your beardie’s skin is no longer able to cover the underlying bones as well as it once did. As a result, more of the skin is exposed to the sun and can turn grey in areas that are not directly under direct sunlight.
4. Your Bearded Dragon is Pregnant
Bearded dragons are oviparous animals, which means they lay eggs rather than give birth to live young. When female bearded dragons give birth, they lay between 10-15 eggs at a time. The eggs incubate for about 2 weeks before hatching into miniature versions of their parents. If you have recently acquired a bearded dragon or if your beardie has been laying eggs for more than 2 months, then you should be concerned about her health and that of her offspring because she may be pregnant and the babies may not have elasticity. This makes it more likely for a beardie to turn grey.
5. Your Bearded Dragon is Ill
Bearded dragons are susceptible to a variety of ailments, including colds, parasites, and skin infections. These are all things that can cause the skin to turn gray and lose color.
6. Your Bearded Dragon is Constipated
Bearded dragons may be suffering from constipation if they turn grey in patches on their body. Constipation is the most common reason for your bearded dragon to turn gray, but it’s not the only one. It’s possible that your bearded dragon has eaten something that bothered his digestive system or has picked up a parasite from another source (such as an insect). If you notice an increase in shedding and diarrhea in your bearded dragon, it could be constipation instead of grey hair. Constipation can be caused by stress or dehydration, so if you think this might be the case for your pet it’s color. This is because the skin on a bearded dragon doesn’t have the same pigment as the rest of its body. The skin on their head and back usually stays the same color all throughout their lives, while the skin on their belly and legs fades with age.
7. Your Bearded Dragon is Sick
Bearded dragons are susceptible to many different diseases and illnesses. If your beardie is sick, it may turn grey in patches because of an underlying problem that is causing them to lose color.
8. Your Bearded Dragon has a Habit of Turning Grey Hairs White
Beardies can turn grey hairs white if they have been exposed to something that causes them to lose pigment (like a chemical). Once this happens, it will be difficult for your pet’s hair to go back to its normal color. If this happens often, you should take your pet to a vet because it could indicate an underlying health issue that needs treatment. If you notice this some of its colors. This is normal and nothing to be concerned about. It is important to keep a check on your beardie’s health and look at the skin on its head, neck, and body to see if it is turning grey. If you notice any changes, it’s a good idea to have your bearded dragon checked by a vet as soon as possible.
What You Can Do To Reverse The Greying Process?
- Make sure that your bearded dragon has access to fresh, clean water. In nature, bearded dragons don’t drink from stagnant pools of water. They drink from streams and ponds, which they can easily access. Make sure that you provide fresh drinking water at all times so you will avoid the possibility of your pet getting sick.
- Your bearded dragon may be lacking in Vitamin A or Vitamin D3. If it is not eating correctly, it will not be able to produce vitamin D3 (the active form) in its skin and this could cause a grayish color to appear over time. If this is the case for your lizard, give it a vitamin supplement every day, and make sure that you are feeding your pet a healthy diet with plenty of calcium and greens like kale leaves.
- You may also have a problem with calcium in your pet’s diet if he or she isn’t eating greens regularly (see below). If this is there with vibrant colors and will have a dull appearance. These vitamins are important for the health of your reptile and can only be found in vitamin supplements. If you can’t afford to buy these supplements, you can use egg yolks to make a homemade vitamin supplement.
- You should feed your bearded dragon a diet that contains fresh vegetables and meaty foods such as crickets, mealworms, or other insects or worms. If you do not provide these foods, your pet will eventually turn grey.
- Make sure that you regularly clean the tank where your bearded dragon lives. The longer it takes for the waste to decompose, the longer it will take for your pet to turn grey from this decomposition process.
- Don’t forget to dust the shed skin from time to time with a reptile dusting powder like ReptiDust. This will help speed up the growth of new skin so that your pet does absorb these vitamins. You can give your dragon a vitamin supplement to help it absorb the vitamins that it needs.
Conclusion
A grey beard, or other color changes in the skin, are normal signs of aging for bearded dragons. You should be concerned if your dragon’s coloring changes quickly or looks abnormal in any way. Bearded dragons should live for about 10 years in captivity, so you can expect to see this coloring change as your pet ages. You can help prevent skin discoloration by providing lots of UVB light in the dragon’s enclosure and making sure they get the right vitamins (including Vitamin D) in their diet. If you’ve been curious about this process, hopefully, this article has helped clear up any confusion.
