Bearded dragon dark beard

Bearded dragons get their names from the bristly spines under their throats and around their ears. Sometimes these reptiles will puff them out, making them look even more beardlike. They also have the ability to darken the areas, turning them gunmetal-gray or jet-black.

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.

Bearded dragon dark beard

That said, 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. It works because a darker jaw area makes them more threatening and intimidating to other animals, particularly other bearded dragons. Here are some reasons why your bearded dragon may feel threatened or scared:. If your male bearded dragon is older than six months, you may also notice its beard turning black around spring or summer , which is when most bearded dragons enter the mating season. There are two main reasons for this. The other is simply to impress a female beardie with this mating display and hopefully get chosen by her. Both male and female bearded dragons do this as part of their courtship behavior, though females tend to be more subtle about it. After all, instinct is instinct, and bearded dragons will do their best to follow it. Beardies are sensitive creatures, and they can easily become stressed due to various factors. These include sudden changes in the environment, too little or too much handling , and overcrowding, among many others. If you think your bearded dragon is stressed, make sure you look out for other symptoms. This includes:.

They read on a forum that a black beard means your beardie is toast and they freak out!

Has your bearded dragon turned black? There are a number of reasons why this may be happening. This article provides an overview of these reasons and how to address them. Bearded dragons will change color for various reasons, some of which are normal while others are not. Understanding why your bearded dragon turned black will require some detective work by you. I believe we should treat color change as a message our bearded dragons give us about their well-being.

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.

Bearded dragon dark beard

Bearded Dragon HQ. Bearded dragons are adorable and fascinating pets. Luckily, this change is pretty easy to notice. This pet can change color on different body parts, such as the tail, neck, or head, for different reasons: age, brumation, camouflage, shedding, thermoregulation, or communication with you or other beardies. Interestingly, the beard may turn black in response to external factors. Identifying why it turns black is essential to providing your pet with a healthy and happy life. They can do this because they have skin cells called chromatophores, which can absorb and reflect light directly in response to changes in their mood or temperature. Bearded dragons get stressed out for several reasons, including fear, anxiety, anger, or discomfort. Many environmental factors can cause stress in bearded dragons, including loud noise, other pets, relocation, a small tank, a dirty environment, cage mates, or shedding. In addition to turning their beards black, they express stress through refusing to eat or drink, lethargy, hiding, aggression, glass surfing, stress marks, and hissing.

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As with all captive reptiles, your bearded dragon should be provided with a thermogradient, which means there is variation in temperature within the enclosure. A bearded dragon may turn black to let you know he is upset. Factors to consider include temperature, humidity levels, and lighting, as well as ample space to roam and climb. Share on Print. High-stress situations can lead to a black beard in our bearded buddies. There are two main reasons for this. It has been estimated that, during the mating season, bearded dragons can save around 85 hours of basking time by using this method. In females, a black abdomen may mean they have eggs they cannot lay. Here are some reasons why your bearded dragon may feel threatened or scared:. You may have noticed your bearded dragon becoming more withdrawn and spending more time hiding. If you just spent some time handling them, this is probably not the cause. Your email address will not be published.

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.

If your bearded dragon is feeling too cold, you may want to get a high-quality heat lamp like one of these to avoid them having to dark their beards just to be warm. It is not unusual for bearded dragons to be dark-colored in the early morning hours. It also includes providing a varied diet that includes both plant and animal matter. When this happens, they are sending a message. A team of pet enthusiasts and I created this website to help other reptile keepers take care of their pets! Less time basking means more time for the mating season. Let your pet have time to get accustomed to its new home. One study exposed bearded dragons to a demonstration of a particular action. My name is Pierre, and I am the owner of this website. Be aware they might feel a bit self-conscious and stressed, so be mindful of their feelings!