Shedding is a process that all reptiles go through and it’s due to the fact that their skin is static and unable to keep up with their physical growth.  Although when they’re fully-grown it’s simply because the skin was old. The frequency that they go through this process is dependent on their age.

 

Immediately before the shed though you will notice how dull their skin appears to be and their eyes might look slightly puffy. It’s also likely that they will have a very low appetite in comparison to how much they generally eat. Shedding is a stressful process for a bearded dragon. As such, they are likely to be moody and not their usual curious social selves. This is perfectly normal and nothing to worry about. Their change in behavior is probably caused because if they were in the wild this would be a very vulnerable time for them.

 

Bearded dragons will shed more regularly as babies, even as frequently as once per month, but it will be less often as they get older. When they are adults the frequency of shedding might drop down to a couple of times per year at the most. As they keep growing, they won’t actually shed all of their skin at once like a snake would. They’ll shed it in pieces, usually losing it on the parts of their body that have grown the most. It’s actually quite rare to see a bearded dragon shed their full body in one go. You will often observe them attempting to rub off the loose dead skin on their basking rock or some other ornament in their tank.

 

 

 

 

Bearded Dragons require regular misting in order to keep hydrated. The plants that they eat in captivity don’t have the same water content as plants from their native environment in the desert.  Therefore they need to be supplemented with additional water. Just doing this will help a lot with the shedding process.

 

To help them shed a little bit faster you can give them regular bath. Just allow them to soak in the warm water for 20 minutes or so. You can take a spare toothbrush and gently scrub in the direction of scales, never against. When 20 minutes have passed take the bearded dragon out and be sure to dry it off by patting them down with a soft towel before returning their to their terrarium. If you don’t dry them off properly they can get sick.

 

If your bearded dragon is having a tough time shedding, or you are looking for an additional way to help them with the process, you try Zoo Med’s Repti Shedding. It’s very good for helping with shedding as it helps by keeping the skin pliable and also acts as a conditioner for your bearded dragon’s skin.

 

Pay special attention to their eyes when they first begin to shed, a very common trouble area is that their eyelids will shed but are very difficult to get off. Their eyes will become covered, leaving them unable to see. If you notice it during a bath this is the one area that should help to them with. Gently peel back at the skin if it has no resistance.