Is my bearded dragon dead?

[Beardie0252]

So I got my beardie nearly a year ago. The woman I got her and another female from said they were pet shop rescues and they were really small when I got them, even though she said they were a year old.
She has grown so much since I got her. She has been acting perfectly normal the last few days. Temps in the tank are normal. She ate salad yesterday morning silent crickets last night, appetite was fine.
She was in her basking spot this morning, I went out for a few hours and came back and she was in the corner of the tank with her head pushed up against the wall and was unresponsive. I thought she might be brumating but I can't see her breathing, I flipped her and she didn't respond. It looks like some liquid has come out of her mouth. She's still limp but has been unresponsive for hours. She doesnt look like theres anything wrong with her physicallly. It really seems as though she is dead but there have been a few stories where people think they are and they turn out not to be. Can anyone tell me what else I can do?

 

[chippy2001]

It's visually hard to see if a Bearded Dragon is breathing during Brumation, so I wouldn't automatically assume she's dead just because you can't see. In fact, seeing beardies breathe in general is difficult. During Brumation, a Bearded Dragon's body almost completely shuts down. It's a sort of suspended animation.

Given she's drooling, it's a good sign. That shouldn't happen otherwise. Has she pooped recently? If she has, I doubt there are any problems. I would leave her for a bit and see what happens. Maybe a day.

Given she seems to have been cared for properly, I doubt that she is dead after almost reaching 2 years old. In fact, that age is normally when they brumate for the 1st or 2nd time. Note that Bearded Dragons have a real knack for scaring their owners. It may as well be their job at this point.

I would like to know the complete setup, husbandry, food and to see pictures of your beardie, just so I can get a grasp of what could be going on.

 

[AHBD]

Some dragons can and do just die from hidden illness suddenly, but I hope that's not the case. She should respond by your picking her up or turning her over no matter if she's in brumation. If she does not respond, breathe, move when you put her on her back she may be gone. Of course you want to be sure, but for now it sounds like she may be. I'm really sorry if she is.

 

[chippy2001]

Some dragons can and do just die from hidden illness suddenly, but I hope that's not the case. She should respond by your picking her up or turning her over no matter if she's in brumation. If she does not respond, breathe, move when you put her on her back she may be gone. Of course you want to be sure, but for now it sounds like she may be. I'm really sorry if she is.

Wouldn't it be better just to leave her for at least a while though, just to make absolutely sure?

The best way to tell if a Beardie is alive imo is to put your fingers close to their nasal cavities and see if you feel air going in and out.

 

[AHBD]

Yes, .....best to be absolutely sure. Can you post a video of you moving her around ?

 

[Drache613]

Hello,

Oh that doesn't sound too good. Hopefully she is just brumating perhaps, but being that unresponsive isn't a good sign. If you do have any pictures, that would be helpful.
You do not see any signs of breathing?
I am so sorry about your dragon.

Tracie

 

[Rankins]

Doesn't sound good. A brumating dragon can still be woken up. Are the eyes sunken in?
Sorry if your dragon passed away. Kind of sounds that way though.

 

[JessPets]

Sorry to hear about your dragon Could you post some pics? Here's how: https://www.beardeddragon.org/useruploads/ m Then use the XIMG to attach pics to your post.

 

[Beardie0252]

I checked her again this morning. Still no movement. Can't feel any breathing. Can't see any movement. Flipped her over, nothing. Her beard has gone dark and black in places. She's got some moisture glistening over parts of her body. I think she's gone

 

[Beardie0252]

I don't really know what to do. Now that she's gone, my other female is now on her own. I as told they'd been together since birth by the lady I got them from and now she's on her own. Will she be sad or lonely?

 

[Gormagon]

I think she will do fine as they are normally solitary creatures. I am truly sorry for your loss, they have a special way of getting into our hearts.

 

[JessPets]

I am so sorry. The other beardie should be fine though.

 

[BruceLarryOzzie]

So sorry for your loss.

 

[XNoarmpitX]

If she's dead, she should turn stiff in about 6 hours but, if she's still not stiff after a while, she might be alive.

 

[Drache613]

Hello,

I am sorry for your loss, it is a horrible thing to go through.

Tracie