Bearded dragon poop may not be a fun topic, but it is critical. Your bearded dragon’s poop can be an excellent indicator of their current health. Understanding what it means can make a significant difference in the quality of care they provide. If you want to keep them happy and healthy, you must understand what healthy poop looks like. You should also understand how frequently you should see it and what to do if they are not pooping. When you understand your bearded dragon’s poop, you’ll be able to spot abnormalities. It’s also important to understand what black, green, red, yellow, all white, or even runny stool means. In this article, we are talking about the “Mucus in Bearded Dragon Poop” topic.
There are various types of bearded dragon poop, and it is critical to understand which types are healthy and which indicate illness. The frequency with which your bearded dragon poops, as well as the texture and color of the feces, are all important indicators of your pet’s health. Bearded dragons are an excellent pet for active children and adults. The most important aspect of their care is maintaining a healthy environment. They are extremely easy to care for once you have the proper setup with the proper UVB and temperatures. So, keep reading to know more about this topic.
Mucus in Bearded Dragon Poop color
There are seven different types of bearded dragon poop, and each one tells you something about the dragon. Continue reading below to learn about each Poop type and its meaning.
Brown Poop
The brown poop is typical dragon feces, and it indicates a healthy dragon. There is no need to be concerned when you see this type of poop.
Runny Poop
Runny poop is usually indicative of diarrhea in your bearded dragon. Dietary changes, parasites, or a poor diet are the most likely causes. If you recently changed your bearded dragon’s diet, it will take some time for the runny poop to stop. If the foods have a high water content, you may need to make some adjustments to reduce the amount of water required. It’s also possible that parasites have infected your beardie. The primary means by which this can occur is through the insects that they consume. Check to see if your bearded dragon is experiencing any of the following symptoms: mucus in the stool, weight loss, lethargy, loss of appetite, anorexia, or foul-smelling poop.
White poop
If your beardie’s poop is chalky white, you have a mild case of dehydration on your hands. Another sign to look out for is stringy saliva. To treat this condition, your beardie should take short fifteen-minute baths to help rehydrate its skin. A return of this white poop after treatment is a sign that it is time to see the vet.
Bloody Poop
Internal bleeding can occur in your bearded dragon at times. Some sharp part of what it ate could have pierced its intestine and caused internal bleeding. If you find a blood-like substance in your beardie’s poop, you should be concerned. If it becomes repetitive, you should definitely see a veterinarian.
Yellow poop
If your pet is excreting yellow poop, it means they have too much calcium in their system, which can cause organ damage, particularly liver failure. It is best to limit the amount of calcium your bearded dragon consumes. Limiting the amount of Vitamin D your bearded dragon gets from UVB lighting is one way to control the amount of calcium it gets into its body.
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It’s worth noting that male and female bearded dragons excrete yellow substances that aren’t poop. It would be a case of infertile eggs being excreted in the female. The male would have a seminal plug that is often yellow and string-like. Both sexes can benefit from a gentle bath and massage.
Black poop
Black poop could indicate that your bearded dragon is eating mostly insects and little or no plant matter. This should be balanced by providing the beardie with the necessary plant. If you still see black poop after doing this, you should take it to be examined. It’s possible that your beardie has inaction (blocked bowel movements), which can cause severe constipation, tears, and internal bleeding. If the poop smells bad, it could be a sign of a parasitic infection. It’s also worth noting that as bearded dragon poop dries, it darkens.
Green Poop
The bearded dragon eats a lot of vegetables, which can cause a green-like pigment in its poop. It’s not cause for concern, especially if your beardie is acting normally. However, if your beardie isn’t feeling well, it’s worth a look. If the poop is green, runny, or stinky, it could indicate serious conditions such as liver disease, anorexia, or hemolytic anemia. If you suspect this is the case, consult a veterinarian.
Mucus in Bearded Dragon Poop Healthy poop
Poop from a healthy bearded dragon should be a firm brown log with a white or light-yellow, pasty urate. Because of how the excretion process works, this urate is usually found at the end of the stool. There is some variation in the appearance of normal bearded dragon poop. For example, instead of brown, you may occasionally see green stool. Surprisingly, this is quite common. Green poop is usually caused by green dye from vegetables that you have recently fed them. It should be back to normal in a few days. Normal bearded dragon poop is brown with white urates at either end and is in the shape of a solid tube. This is how healthy poop looks, and you should keep doing whatever you’re doing.
Although seeing bright green poop may be unsettling at first, it is actually beneficial. The green color is typically derived from green dyes found in leafy greens such as spinach, kale, lettuce, and green peppers. If you’re feeding these greens to your bearded dragon, the occasional green one isn’t a problem. Green poop can be normal as long as your bearded dragon is acting normally. Simply ensure that they are still active, alert, and acting normally. If your bearded dragon has green stools, is lethargic, or is losing weight, this could be a sign of a health problem. Their poop should not have a strong odor and should not be runny. Dark black stools, the presence of blood, all white poop, and mucus are all signs that there is a problem. What you might see in unhealthy bearded dragon stool and what it means is listed below.
Mucus in Bearded Dragon Poop Unhealthy poop
Changes in the texture, color, or frequency of your bearded dragon’s bowel movements could indicate a medical problem. Runny poop, also known as diarrhea, is especially concerning because your dragon will quickly become dehydrated if the problem is not resolved as soon as possible. Aside from these symptoms, your bearded dragon may become lethargic, lose appetite, and lose weight. If your pet has a blood issue, read our post on how to treat bearded dragon bloody poop. In this section, we’ll go over the causes of runny poop, parasite symptoms, and what different colors of poop mean for your bearded dragon. If your bearded dragon has runny or watery poop, it is critical to identify the cause and treat it before severe dehydration occurs. The diet of your beardie has a lot to do with the firmness of its stool.
When you abruptly change your bearded dragon’s diet, his poop may become runny for a couple of days. This is normal, and your pet’s feces will return to normal within a day or two. Too many high-fiber foods, such as apple, pumpkin, and broccoli, will also result in runny or watery poop in your bearded dragon. This problem can be solved by gradually reducing high-fiber foods in your beardie’s diet. Because vegetables account for 75% of a bearded dragon’s diet, runny stools are a common problem. Some fruits and leafy greens contain a lot of water, which will cause your lizard to become dehydrated. Runny stools can also be caused by a parasitic infection.
Mucus in Bearded Dragon Poop Blood
If you notice poop in your bearded dragon’s poop, this could be a serious problem. Please review any changes to the setup or diet that may have contributed to this issue. If you feed your bearded dragon insects that are too big (larger than the width between its eyes), it may cause impaction. Furthermore, providing too many bugs with sharp legs, such as locusts or large roaches, may cause tears in your bearded dragon’s intestines, resulting in minor bleeding. Furthermore, if your bearded dragon comes into contact with foreign objects, they may cause tears in the guts, resulting in some blood after poop. At the same time, this could be coloured poop rather than blood.
Certain foods can turn the poop of your bearded dragon red. Have you been providing beets, raspberries, or pellet food, for example? Is it possible that the poop is more pink than red? A parasitic infection, such as Coccidia, pinworms, or hookworms, is another cause of blood after poop in bearded dragons. If your dragon is also sluggish and refuses food, please have a full screen as soon as possible. Parasites can irritate the intestinal lining, resulting in some bleeding. Another problem could be that your bearded dragon is straining and having difficulty pooping. In this case, your bearded dragon’s poop may be too large to poop out, causing discomfort for your bearded dragon.
Mucus in Bearded Dragon Poop Blood Reason
This can happen after eating a large meal or if your bearded dragon is constipated. Extremely large poop can also cause intestine tears, resulting in some blood after poop. These scars are likely to heal on their own, but you should consider eating more fiber-rich foods and staying hydrated to avoid large, dry stools and constipation. Furthermore, your bearded dragon may develop a polyp in the gut, which swells and takes up space, making pooping difficult. A polyp will cause bowel obstruction, poop bleeding, and tears. Dehydration can result in dry poop, and if your bearded dragon tries too hard to poop, it may tear its guts. This will result in some blood leaking into the poop.
Mucus in Bearded Dragon Poop Age
The frequency of bowel movements in a bearded dragon is determined by factors such as age, diet, health, environment, disposition (relaxed or stressed), and state of brumation. Brumation is similar to hibernation in that lower environmental temperatures signal a slowing of the dragon’s metabolism and activity. It’s a good idea to keep track of your bearded dragon’s poop so you can become familiar with the appearance, frequency, and consistency so you can be alert to any health issues that arise and address them as soon as possible.
Depending On Age
Age is a quick factor in determining how frequently healthy bearded dragons poop. Baby bearded dragons poop a lot more than juveniles and adults due to growth spurts and more frequent feeding schedules. If you don’t know how old your bearded dragon is, you can guess based on its size (measure from head to tail). Babies up to one month old will be 3-4 inches tall. Longer dragons 12-18 inches long should be 6-8 months old, while those 18-22 inches long are adults at least 12 months old.
Because baby bearded dragons require more frequent feedings of a protein-rich diet to aid in their growth, they will poop at least once per day. Some of the factors listed below can cause them to defecate up to three times per day. Young or juvenile bearded dragons between the ages of 4 and 17 months will poop every other day, decreasing to about 2-3 times per week once they reach the age of 18 months. Adult bearded dragons can poop anywhere from once a week to almost every day, depending on factors such as their health, diet, and environment (proper tank lighting and temperature).
Depending on your diet
Bearded dragons that consume more fiber through vegetables or calcium through silkworms, for example, defecate up to four times per week as adults, and some even daily. Those who consume mostly protein from crickets and some fiber from vegetables, for example, may poop only 1-3 times per week. Frequency is a good indicator. But you have to consider other factors such as general temperament, appearance and appetite. Also, because each dragon is unique, it’s important to keep track so you can become acquainted with your pet’s quirks.
An adult beardie who poops once a week may be perfectly normal for some beardies but completely abnormal for others. If you suspect your bearded dragon is pooping less, keep an eye on his or her appetite and energy levels. They will poop less if they consume fewer calories. Check that their UV light and tank temperature are at the proper levels to aid digestion and overall health.
Brumation
When bearded dragons go into brumation, their metabolic activity slows down, they eat less and poop less. They will also be less active and more likely to hide. Brumation is the cold-blooded equivalent of hibernation in warm-blooded animals, and it typically occurs when ambient temperatures fall below 65°F for an extended period of time (during winter). Bearded dragons can brumate for up to three months. If your bearded dragon is pooping less but otherwise healthy, even if it appears to be less active, especially during the cold season, it could be going through brumation.
Depending on their overall health and stress levels
Stress or other health issues frequently affect the digestive system of a bearded dragon, causing it to poop less frequently. A sudden change in environment typically raises a dragon’s stress levels. You may notice this when you first get your beardie or when you clean their enclosure too thoroughly. Even a tank upgrade can cause stress in your bearded dragon. Biting, hissing, or a black beard are also signs of stress. Excessive noise, dietary changes, and an unclean tank can all contribute to stress.
Depending on the environmental factors
Pet reptiles will have specific tank requirements, particularly in terms of UVA and UVB lighting and temperature gradients. Bearded dragons require a hot basking area (95-100°F) as well as a cool area (75-80°F). A temperature gradient in between is also recommended, as are numerous hiding places. Heat aids in the digestion of a bearded dragon, while specialized UV lighting allows it to absorb calcium from its diet and avoid several illnesses. Natural sunlight is another excellent way to keep your dragon healthy. Keeping your beardie’s enclosure in good condition is an excellent way to ensure a healthy pooping schedule and overall health.
Some Frequently Asked Questions
What Do Bearded Dragons Consume?
Bearded dragons are omnivores that rely on both plants and animals for survival, though plants make up a larger portion of their diet (around 73 to 76 percent). A beardie will eat vegetables and fruits such as pepper, banana, sweet potato, and kale. They can also eat insects such as crickets, cockroaches, locusts, mealworms, and kingworms.
Is this Dragon Poop Dangerous?
While the bearded dragon is friendly, its feces is not. Its feces contain Salmonella, which may not be fatal to the reptile but can be extremely dangerous to humans. As a result, even a very healthy bearded dragon can transmit diseases to humans. When handling the reptile or cleaning up its poop, extreme caution is required. Contact with the reptile may not cause infection, but it can bring it too close to sensitive areas of the body, such as the mouth. It’s best to clean up the poop with hot water and soap, then thoroughly wash your hands.
Why is My Bearded Dragon’s Poop White?
If your bearded dragon’s poop is mostly white, it could indicate that she is dehydrated. Another way to check for dehydration is to gently tug at the skin; if it slowly returns or stays out a little and wrinkles, she is dehydrated. Returning to the white poop. If the poop appears chalky, stringy, and mostly white, try adding more water to the diet. Make sure a shallow water dish with clean water is always available. They may not drink frequently, but they will occasionally dip their tongues in and get a tiny little drink. You can also try rehydrating your beardie by giving him more juicy foods like mango, papaya, and watermelon, or by giving him a fat, juicy hornworm. That fat caterpillar is full of beneficial liquid, and your beardie will enjoy the treat.
Should the poop of a bearded dragon be runny?
The brown portion of bearded dragon poop and the white portion of bearded dragon poop are soft-firm in consistency. A healthy bearded dragon will not have feces that are too soft, runny, or rock-hard.
How do you get rid of internal parasites in bearded dragons?
Stool testing is the only way to confirm a parasite infestation. The veterinarian will ask you to collect a fecal sample, which will be tested for the presence of parasites. If your bearded dragon does have parasites, he or she will be given a dewormer dose or two, which should cure the problem.
Do bearded dragon parasites naturally disappear?
Bearded dragons may not get parasites as frequently as cats and dogs because they are typically solitary animals that do not travel far when exploring. It still happens, and when signs and symptoms appear, it’s best to treat them as soon as possible because they rarely, if ever, go away on their own.
Where do bearded dragon parasites come from?
Parasite infections in Bearded Dragons are common as a result of the insects they eat. When lizards feed on parasitic insects, the infestation spreads. Crickets are commonly fed to young Bearded Dragons due to their high protein and fat content, which promotes growth.
Do bearded dragons require a lot of sunlight?
Bearded dragons require natural sunlight in addition to heat and white light for good health. This is due to the fact that they require a specific spectrum of ultraviolet (UV) light known as UVB. So, Bearded dragons need UVB to make vitamin D.