Unlike other animals, beardies do not rely on acids and bacteria to digest food. 3-12 months-juvenile 3. When it comes to figuring out why a bearded dragon isn't eating, this is one of the most overlooked causes. 1. Not wanting food, laziness, pacing, aggressiveness are all signs of stress. Shedding is an irritable time for bearded dragons and shedding can be triggered by many things including environment, diet and health but for the most part, it is caused by growth and development for baby and juvenile bearded dragons. Why Is My Bearded Dragon Breathing Heavily? Within minutes after eating even one of the flashing insects, a bearded dragon starts shaking its head violently, gapes with open mouth as if trying to vomit and develops severe breathing trouble . Soft or runny stool could be a sign that your bearded dragon has a possible internal parasite or an inadequate diet. Bearded dragons eat a wide variety of different insects, fruits and vegetables. . 8. If your bearded dragon exhibits any of the following symptoms after eating greek yogurt, seek veterinary assistance immediately: Excessive mucus production. The first is that it's not uncommon for bearded dragons to aspirate their food, much the same as a human. As a result, we always suggest that you take the time to set up a proper light system for your bearded dragon. Therefore, most beardies will stay in their basking areas after eating, and the heat will make them gasp. A Bearded Dragon refusing to eat could be a signal of a well being downside, the results of a poor eating regimen, a pure habits or unhealthy husbandry. Ideal humidity for a bearded dragon is 20-40% humidity and should be monitored using a hygrometer inside the enclosure. Because impaction can result in death, suspected impaction should always receive veterinary attention. Juveniles may shed every 3-4 weeks But babies will not be able to do so. I feed him super worms crickets roaches and blue horn worms all I get from a good pet store So I dint think so But he's wheezing very loud and I noticed it when I agve him a bath today . 3: Less activity and lots more sleeping. Continually eating hair or other substances like sand or the hard exoskeleton of feeder insects can cause impaction. Soft, Runny, or Foul Stool. Anxiety & Stress. 4. It is important to have a clean water . Upper Respiratory Infection, commonly abbreviated as URI, is a type of bacterial infection that mainly affects the lungs of bearded dragons. At the end of the day just stay calm, figure out what's going on, and proceed from there. In Australia, it's normal for bearded dragons to dig a hole where it's nice and cool so if you are . Cherries are loaded with antioxidants and essential vitamins and minerals. In this kind of situation, people make mistakes very often. The difference between humans and bearded dragons is that bearded dragons are in the deep sleep stage longer than humans, causing them to look more dead while they sleep. 6.2 Celery. . If your beardie seems to be wheezing, gasping, or coughing, there may be something going on with him. It's not advisable to place beardies in the same cage. Humidity assists in proper shedding and rate of dehydration, but cause respiratory issues if too high. Feeding a bearded dragon lettuce can cause a runny stool and cause malnutrition. Let's talk about some of the causes of heavy breathing in beardies. They're Stretching Their Beard All animals need to stretch their muscles when they haven't been in use for a while. You can try to feed it one or two times again, and find it behaving that way; it means the bearded dragon cannot digest this particular type of vegetable or protein. If you're still worried and it keeps happening I'd go to the vet just to make sure. Bearded dragons require a warmer side and a cooler side in their cage. Aim for a daytime temperature around 68 degrees Fahrenheit and a nighttime temperature around 60 degrees Fahrenheit. The meek bearded dragon will escape to the corner, eat less, and appear weak. Gut-loaded means that these critters are fed lizard-friendly nutrients and vitamins to promote their growth. Reason number 1: Air-gasping after eating It is not uncommon for bearded dragons to breathe heavily or even gasp for air after having a meal. Offer water, but don't force your dragon to drink. However, stress, wrong humidity setting, and other diseases and conditions can make your bearded dragon to breathe abnormally. Swelling of the face, tongue, or lips. Secretion. However, keep in mind that although many of these fruits contain important nutrients, too much fruit can also be harmful. Impaction, a health issue similar to constipation, refers to an indigestible lump in your bearded dragon's digestive system that can cause discomfort and even partial paralysis. Vertically slice the prickly skin before peeling it off. Firstly, let your BD eat early in the early morning so that it can burn its "bearded dragon fat belly" throughout the day. In this case, your dragon may have already gone into brumation. After, take it to the vet to check for any additional problems. Bearded dragons drink water, need water and continual mild dehydration causes long term health issues. Rash or hives. Remember to keep all food smaller than the distance between their eyes. Beardies mostly get URI when they are kept in an environment that has too much moisture. Hissing noise. Here are the most common noises bearded dragons may make: 1. If they look dull, dry, or sunken, this means they're suffering from dehydration. Bearded dragons rely on the sun's UV rays to provide them with the minerals and vitamins they need to remain healthy. Young bearded dragons tend to enjoy live mealworms, crickets, and waxworms which are "gut loaded". 6. Small enclosure (less than 75-gallons). 1. If you suspect shedding is the cause, help your pet through this by bathing your sick bearded dragon. Bearded Dragon Upper Respiratory Infection Symptoms Lethargy Lack of appetite Mouth breathing/gaping mouth Black bearding Snorting, sniffling, wheezing Weight loss Difficulty breathing Runny discharge from mouth or snout Bloated/puffy throat and/or body Noises coming from their throat As you can tell, these symptoms are pretty self explanatory. The human sleep cycle lasts 60 to 90 minutes and is interrupted by the REM cycle throughout. Your Bearded Dragon is sleeping a lot or being lethargic. 3-straight-forward-things-to-do-while-bearded-dragon-hiccups. There are many causes of chronic stress: Wrong tank temperature or humidity. They're Hungry. 2. Quick Navigation. There is no Heimlich maneuver for bearded dragons, so seeing what the problem is will be the best course of action. The reptile will hiss if there's something scary or unusual invading its space. Bearded dragons use their lungs for breathing, and their respiratory system is unlike that of mammals. Coughing may also be an attempt to expel any food lodged in your dragon's throat. Did the Hiccups Occur just after Eating/Drinking: In this case . To wrap it up, bearded dragons brumate they don't hibernate. 6.5 Bananas. Your Bearded Dragon isn't eating. Wheezing in general is a pretty common sign for upper respiratory infection. Bearded dragons can safely eat the hibiscus plant as it contains potassium, phosphorous, magnesium, calcium, and some amount of copper and zinc which are very beneficial nutrients. You will notice that your bearded dragon's activity level will be dramatically reduced, they will sleep a lot and refuse to get under the basking light this is because they're trying to cool down. After eating, bearded dragons tend to bask as they wait for the food to digest. Humans commonly stretch first thing in the morning, after sitting in the car for a long drive, or after sitting through a meeting. 6.3 Apples. Bearded dragons can safely eat the hibiscus plant as it contains potassium, phosphorous, magnesium, calcium, and some amount of copper and zinc which are very beneficial nutrients. Due to breathing difficulties, illnesses relating to the breathing system usually manifest by sound. A bearded dragon that stops eating can be due to several reasons. Sometimes they may stop eating and digest the previous food then eat after digestion of previous food. Hatchies (baby bearded dragons) will shed almost every week. The first is that by puffing up the bearded dragon makes more room in its stomach so it can eat more food. It looks comical, and you may even think your beardie is playing or sees his reflection in the glass but it . If your bearded dragon is dehydrated, he may need to be treated . Your bearded Dragons can eat Cherries but only as a treat, i.e., Occasionally. Dehydration - Heavy breathing can be a result of dehydration. 7 Conclusion. Your dragon should resume eatinggraduallyafter he wakes up. Anyway back on track. Brumation involves sleeping for a maximum of four months and saving fats and energies through slowing down their bodies' metabolism such as breathing, heart rate and digestion. An upper respiratory illness is another reason a bearded dragon sounds like it's coughing. A lack of UVB light will not only suppress your Bearded Dragon's appetite, but can actually cause life threatening health issues. Why is my bearded dragon coughing after eating? If your bearded dragon is dehydrated, he may need to be treated . Generally, you will need to offer as many insects as your bearded dragon can eat in 15 minutes. Your Bearded Dragon isn't eating. Found the internet! Younger bearded dragons need more live insects, but mature dragons need more salads - 70-85% of plants vs. 15-30% live food. Endive is also a good source of fiber, which can help regulate digestion. 4. But when you have a reptile that lives indoors all day, it can get boring, and start looking for other things to do. Beardies are weird and like to sleep in weird ways.). Healthy lizards should breathe quietly and smoothly. Otherwise I'm not really sure.. my beardie sometimes does this after eating but not 10 minutes straight. In some cases, you may not notice all of the signs of brumation and you find your bearded dragon not eating or moving (aside from breathing, of course), apparently sleeping day after day. Note: Bearded dragons are more likely to need heavy breathing if they eat something too large. The main culprit blamed for breathing problems is respiratory infections, which may be due to bacterial, viral, or fungal infection. Bad diet. You can place the pieces in a container and sprinkle some calcium, then shake. In case of your beardie breathing heavily while shedding, and your pet is still eating, dring, and pooping just like usual, there may not be anything for you to worry about too much. There are many things to keep in mind when choosing which . Discharge from the eyes, ears, nose, or mouth can also be indications of sickness. Bearded Dragon poop that is extremely smelly, soft or watery. This condition happens when the bearded dragon eats a lot of food; they show this behavior. 12-18 months- sub adult 4. After they eat, the beardies tend to bask, and part of this may be breathing heavy. As a result, they will "own" the basking spots, sleeping spots, and even take food from the other cage mates. 3. Greens, vegetables and limited fruit make up 20% to 25% of the diet. It may happen so that, like human, they are allergic to some kind of food. This is strange behavior that bearded dragons exhibit in times of boredom and stress. Press question mark to learn the rest of the keyboard shortcuts. They don't rely on bacteria and acids for the digestion of food. 6.4 Carrot. Young bearded dragons should only feed once a day while the adult ones need to eat every two . If you have 2 or more bearded dragons in one cage, some of them may exert themselves as the alphas. Dehydration - Heavy breathing can be a result of dehydration. Improper handling. Also, it should not be used as a staple food for bearded dragons. Within minutes after eating even one of the flashing insects, a bearded dragon starts shaking its head violently, gapes with open mouth as if trying to vomit and develops severe breathing trouble. 6.1 Lettuce. Preparing cactus for bearded dragon plants differs from person to person. Secondly, do not let your BD eat too much and too many times a day. Don't freak out. 3. Impaction happens when a bearded dragon's digestive tract is blocked. Hissing is the most common type of noise that bearded dragons make to mean something is wrong. Bearded dragon wheezing after eating is normal. So if they typical don't sleep upright and you see this along with the wheezing I'd lean that way. Pro Tip: For optimal brumation conditions, turn your dragon's basking bulb and UV light off. Since Cherries are high in sugars and contain fruit acids, they can disturb your little Beardie's digestive functions. From there, use a pair of tweezers and carefully remove the food. I was taking care of him how my ex said I should, then I realized he was acting funny, so I started looking up his symptoms. Is it possible that when he got . If your pet breaths heavy right after eating, give it some time while basking to digest its food. Dec 21, 2009 #1 Ok, I was left this bearded a year ago. A home to discuss all things Bearded Dragons! If he behaves well (eats well, drinks well, is active, poops well) then I think he's fine. If beardie is not digesting their food properly, you should give them heat from external sources. A yellow tinged urate (the end of the poop that is usually white) can be a sign of dehydration. Symptoms include mobility issues, weight loss, and bulging along their spine.