Bearded dragon dark beard

That said, bearded dragon dark beard, is this truly something that you need to be worried about? However, knowing the exact cause is still important if you want to prevent it from becoming something serious. Without further ado, here are 12 potential reasons why your bearded dragon has a black beard. A rapidly darkening beard is a clear sign that your bearded dragon, whether male or female, feels unsafe or under threat.

They read on a forum that a black beard means your beardie is toast and they freak out! This guide is going to cover all the likely reasons why bearded dragon beards turn black. This will allow you to accurately diagnose the cause, and make adjustments if needed. Some of them are pretty harmless, and others are more concerning. If this is something your beardie is going through right now, use this list as a starting point to see what causes are a possibility.

Bearded dragon dark beard

Not only are they known for their quirky personalities, but they also have a secret weapon in their arsenal—the infamous beard! When love is in the air or in the terrarium , male bearded dragons pull out all the stops. During mating season, these fellas puff up their beards and turn them jet-black, hoping to impress the ladies. They even do a little head-bobbing dance! Sometimes, the ladies respond with a regal wave. Just like us, bearded dragons have those days when they feel a bit grumpy. On these gruff days, they might puff up their beard and show off their macho black look. However, if you put a mirror in front of them, you might see the same puffed up reaction. Be aware they might feel a bit self-conscious and stressed, so be mindful of their feelings! Even the happiest dragons can have their off days. Look out for other signs like:. High-stress situations can lead to a black beard in our bearded buddies. Loud noises, chaotic environments, or even having nosy neighbors cats or dogs, for example can stress them out.

In addition to a black beard, s igns of stress include:.

While Supplies last! Order a Heat Pack to protect your bugs! When this happens, they are sending a message. Usually they are trying to tell you they are stressed or sick. Or, they might be ready to mate. But when I do, you better pay attention.

They read on a forum that a black beard means your beardie is toast and they freak out! This guide is going to cover all the likely reasons why bearded dragon beards turn black. This will allow you to accurately diagnose the cause, and make adjustments if needed. Some of them are pretty harmless, and others are more concerning. If this is something your beardie is going through right now, use this list as a starting point to see what causes are a possibility. One of the most obvious reasons for why a bearded dragon gets a black beard is fear this might go hand in hand with puffing themselves up too. In the wild, this is designed to deter a potential threat from messing with them.

Bearded dragon dark beard

Please see our disclosure to learn more. When you think of the phrase black beard you might conjure up the mental image of a fictional pirate. Bearded dragons are named because they have a spiky beard that puffs up occasionally when something is amiss. So what causes a bearded dragon to have a black beard? Like most of their behaviors , several things can cause it, but we are going to help you learn what they are and how to identify them. This is pretty self-explanatory, but as we mentioned above, beardies have a spiky area on their neck that puffs up for different reasons. This puffing can happen at any time but when it turns black and puffs is indicative that there are issues in their environment. Any of these things can cause that big puff up and the blackening of their beard, but as long as you keep an eye on them and their environment you should be able to figure out the cause pretty quickly. But how do you identify these as the source of the problem? There will likely be additional signs in their space or that they are showcasing themselves to help guide you to the cause.

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Give them time to get used to their enclosure, then start slowly increasing the amount of time you handle them. And never decorate the tank with anything that could easily break and be swallowed by your dragon—like cheap plastic plants. Loud noises, chaotic environments, or even having nosy neighbors cats or dogs, for example can stress them out. The dark beard also serves to scare away predators; it may be accompanied by hissing and a gaping mouth to make a specimen look larger and more impressive. He may accomplish this with head-bobbing, which also is a dominance indicator. Honestly, the only thing you can do for this is let them acclimate and give them space. Inaccurate temperature readings frequently lead to mismanaged care! By providing a thermogradient, you are allowing your lizard to find the temperature it needs to maintain its health. Within days or in some cases a few weeks the beard should return to its normal color. There are some situations where your dragon is trying to communicate an urgent problem by showcasing the black beard. Territorial Feelings 8. Sometimes, when a dragon is temporarily scared or irritated, you just need to leave them alone or remove the source of stress say, a barking dog and they will calm down momentarily. If your pet is brand new, realize it may take time for your pet to become accustomed to you.

Beard blackening is a form of communication for beardies.

Have you been handling your dragon a lot lately? Less time basking means more time for the mating season. This can cause them to become stressed, leading to their beard darkening in color. Both male and female dragons will puff out and blacken their beards as a sign of aggression or to demonstrate that they wanting to be left alone. Look for any of the following:. In contrast, brumation occurs mostly in reptiles. Is your bearded dragon in close proximity to another beardy of the opposite sex? Some research suggests that males turn black during the breeding season as a way to improve thermoregulation. Also, make sure that you provide hiding places for your bearded dragon. Are there other concerns that you have for your bearded dragon, other than it turning black? Even if your dragon is too hot, she might puff out her beard as a sign of distress.