Understanding your bearded dragon’s poop is an essential part of good dragon husbandry.
Whether it’s runny, bloody or stuck you need to be on top of this subject matter, it’s best to think of it as a “computer printout” of your dragon’s current state of health.
This article is aimed at beginners, if you’ve owned a dragon for some time chances are you’ve experienced the stress of your dragon not pooping or seeing anomalies, for beginners this article will give you more confidence should any problems arise.
In this article, you’ll learn everything dragon-poop related including why understanding poop helps you become a better-bearded dragon owner, what is normal and what warning signs to watch out for.
How Many Times A Day Does A Bearded Dragon Poop?
There are a few factors that have an impact on how often a bearded dragon poops, for example:
- Age
- Diet
- Environment
- Stress
- Brumation
Environment
It’s very important that there is enough heat and UVB inside the enclosure as the UVB helps with the digestion of food among other important functions.
The ideal temperature gradients to aim for are:
- Warm area around 80°F – 84°F (26° – 29° degrees C)
- Basking spot that reaches 95°F – 100°F (35° – 39° degrees C)
- Cool, dark area 80°F – 90°F (26° – 32° degrees C)
This allows your dragon to warm up and cool down as needed.
Keep in mind that your dragon will require at least 10 – 12 hours of UVA and UVB radiation every day.
Use digital thermometers as they are a lot more accurate than the thermometer sticks which can be off anywhere from 10-20 degrees.
If your bulbs are older than 6 months then replace them with new ones.
Stress
If you’ve recently purchased a new bearded dragon it’s quite normal to not see any poop from them for a couple of weeks we call this relocation stress.
This can also happen if moving to a new enclosure (upgrade) that they are unfamiliar with.
Once they get comfortable in their new surroundings they will resume their normal pooping.
There are other things that can trigger anxiety in dragons such as another dragon in the enclosure, the tank being too small, etc.
Brumation
When a dragon is in brumation (similar to hibernation in mammals) they won’t be eating as much and so won’t need to pass as much.
During this period of around 3 months (this time frame can vary wildly) your beardie won’t really be interested in much at all which catches a lot of new beardie owners off-guard.
Read my article 5 Signs Your Bearded Dragon Is Ready For Brumation to easily identify when your little guy or gal is getting ready to brumate.
Age
If you’re not sure how old your bearded dragon is use this as a rough guide:
Length (Inches) Age (Months)
3-4 in. (7.5cm – 10cm) = 0-1 months
5-9 in. (12cm – 22cm) = 2 months
8-11 in. (20cm – 28cm) = 3 months
9-12 in. (22cm – 30cm) = 4 months
11-16 in. (28cm – 40cm) = 5 months
11-18 in. (28cm – 45cm) = 6 months
13-20 in. (33cm – 50cm) = 8 months
16-22 in. (40cm – 55cm) = 12 months
How Often Should A Baby Bearded Dragon Poop?
Expect a healthy baby dragon (0 – 3 months) will go at least once per day (1-3+ times is normal).
How Often Do Juvenile Bearded Dragons Poop?
Juvenile (Sub adult) bearded dragons (3 – 18 months) should be going every other day.
How Often Should An Adult Bearded Dragon poop?
An adult beardie will go between 1 to 7 times per week is completely normal but I’ve heard of adult dragons that sit outside of these numbers as there are variables that influence your beardies pooping habits.
Not All Dragons Are Created Equal
Yes, each dragon will have their own “rhythm” when it comes to this sort of thing, some dragons will sit way outside of these numbers but you will get used to your dragons schedule.
5 Types Of Bearded Dragon Poop
As I mentioned in the open of this post bearded dragon droppings are like a computer printout of your dragons overall health.
Since you sit down with them and chat about how they’re feeling you need to watch for cues and this is one of them.
Here are 5 common types of bearded dragon poop you should get familiar with and what they mean.
My Bearded Dragon Has White And Brown Poop (i.e. Normal Poop)
Often times when a dragon poops it will be brown and white – this is quite common with reptiles.
The white part is the “urate” (urine) while the brown part is the poo.
Urates are simply the waste products that are produced from the kidneys. Bearded dragons don’t pee so urates are collected inside their gut and come out with their poop.
When a dragon poops it will typically pass urate and the poo simultaneously.
The white part should be soft, if it is hard and “chalky” then your dragon is dehydrated and needs more water.
Another sign of dehydration is sunken in eyes thick saliva if you’re feeding your dragon and you see that their saliva stringy then it’s time to give them a drink.
Chronic dehydration could be a sign of something more sinister like internal worms leeching water from your poor beardie.
Here are a couple of tips to help your dragon re-hydrate:
- Tip 1: Give daily baths, since dragons can only see moving water some beardies will more readily drink from the bath than from their water dish.
- Tip 2: Installing a small water drip or fountain is a good idea as well since it provides water movement.
My Bearded Dragon’s Poop Is All White
If your dragon’s poop is all white or even runny it most likely means that your dragon is overly-hydrated and is no real concern for alarm as it is just urine.
My Bearded Dragon Has Yellow Poop
This can come from orange or red fruits or vegetables which shows itself in the stool but it could also mean that your beardie is getting too much calcium.
Pull back on the calcium supplementation and see how it looks.
My Bearded Dragon Has Blood In Their Poop
Seeing blood inside your poor beardies stool is an alarming sight and may need to be addressed with the help of a vet but it is a good idea to wait for another 2 to 3 poops to see if the stool normalizes.
Blood inside your dragon’s poop could be due to internal bleeding (stomach or intestinal) or constipation.
Take a sample just in case you need to take him to the vet.
If it is constipation (or even impaction) look for things like:
- Loss of appetite and general lethargy
- Not as active (reluctance to move around)
- Reject or regurgitate food
- Pale in color
- Protrusions
- Rapid weight loss
- Back legs not moving (paralysis)
This could very well mean that there is a blockage inside the intestines and needs to be dealt with quickly either by using the warm bath method.
If it is a blockage then a warm bath and massage can help free up the rest of the stool inside.
Failing that then taking them to the herp vet or normal vet.
My Bearded Dragon’s Poop Is Runny
Alright, we’re talking about diarrhea which means that your dragon is going frequently and the excrement is runny as opposed to soft and firm.
The two most common reasons for this is diet and parasites (coccidia for example).
Parasites
Most dragons actually have coccidia and can live normal lives without needing to be treated.
Most vets will avoid treating parasites because the treatment wipes out the entire gut flora which are made up of good (and bad) micro-organisms that help fight illness, help digest food among other things which is incredibly important to any animal not just beardies.
However, if coccidia (or another parasite) is the cause then it needs to be addressed since diarrhea can severely dehydrate and deplete resources in the body.
Diet
Over-hydration will cause runny poop and this will typically come from feeding your beardie too many water-heavy leafy greens.
Try using fibrous plants instead.
Always Look For Patterns
Aside from seeing blood in the stool, try not to be alarmed by one instance of an abnormal stool, wait to see another 2 or 3 to see if the pattern changes.
If you do see blood then it still may be worth waiting an extra day or two to see if it improves otherwise take your beardie straight to the vet.
If this turns into a consistent theme and happens every time then take your dragon to the vet to see if there if there is another possible cause.
How long can a bearded dragon go without pooping?
Dragons have been known to go longer than a month without pooping, but it’s important to take note of their behaviour.
- Are they still active and alert?
- Are they still eating?
- Are they maintaining weight or are they losing weight?
- Are they in brumation?
- Also, are the tank temperatures in the ideal ranges?
If they are acting normally then there is nothing to worry about but I will admit, this is stressful and hard to keep a cool head especially if it’s been more than a week.
If you are very concerned then take your dragon to the vet although I understand that some vets are expensive just for the consultation so this may not be an option for you.
How To Make Your Bearded Dragon Poop
Get your beardie into a warm bath twice per day and feeding them natural laxatives work very well.
Bathing
- 85 and 100 F (29.4 and 37.7 C)
- Fill the sink or tub up to their shoulders
- Gently massage and stroke their belly in a downward motion towards the vent, do this for 10 minutes.
- Feed homemade laxative
Natural Homemade Laxative
Use 100% applesauce pumpkin (baby food prune or baby food pumpkin can be used also) just use a teaspoon of applesauce with a couple of drops of olive oil and see if your dragon takes to it.
If not feed him either through an eyedropper or dab around his mouth for him to lick off.
Laxatives can take a couple of hours or overnight to work so if you see know poop then keep running through the process.
Still Not Working?
If it’s been a week and still no joy, then take them to your vet to see if there is something else at the heart of the problem.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: What should healthy bearded dragon poop look like?
A: Healthy bearded dragon poop should be well-formed, dark in color, and moist but not runny. It should also have a white portion that is chalky in consistency.
Q: What are the signs of unhealthy bearded dragon poop?
A: Signs of unhealthy bearded dragon poop include watery or runny stool, an irregular poop schedule, black or red poop, or the presence of blood in your bearded dragon’s feces.
Q: Is it normal for a bearded dragon to poop a few times a week?
A: Yes, it is normal for a bearded dragon to poop a few times a week. The frequency may vary depending on their diet and activity levels.
Q: What do different poop colors in bearded dragons mean?
A: Green poop may indicate an issue with the bearded dragon’s diet, while white poop may indicate an issue with their bowel movements. Black or red poop may indicate a health issue that requires veterinary attention.
Q: What may cause runny or watery bearded dragon poop?
A: Runny or watery bearded dragon poop may be caused by improper diet, stress, or a health issue. It is important to monitor your bearded dragon’s poop and consult a veterinarian if they exhibit any irregularities or signs of illness.
Q: How often should I get my bearded dragon to poop?
A: You should not force your bearded dragon to poop, but ensure they have access to a healthy and diverse diet as well as appropriate heat and lighting. Monitoring their activity levels and behavior can help you gauge when they may need to go, and providing them with a designated poop area can encourage regular bowel movements.
Q: What should I do if my bearded dragon’s poop is an unhealthy color?
A: If your bearded dragon’s poop is a concerning color such as black or red, it is important to consult a veterinarian. However, if it is simply green or pale, evaluate their diet and make necessary adjustments.