Bathing a bearded dragon... Sincere question.

[p3ppit]

Please do enlighten me here :mrgreen: I have browsed a bit around on the board and I can see that many of you bathe your bearded dragons on a regular (if not daily) basis.

First of all let me state clearly that this is not a thread created to cause disputes, offend anyone, fob my views off on anybody or anything alike. I am simply curious from the inside to the outside. Why do you bathe them? It is very far from the way I am used to see beardie care, so I have to ask...

In the wild, they occupy a variety of habitats from deserts to dry forests and scrublands. Therefore they are adapted to a semi-arid to arid life, where liquid must be obtained mostly from leafy greens and drinking drops of water from rocks, branches and so on, e.g. when dew is present or when it rains occasionally.

I bathe mine if they are having problems defecating - occasionally they jump down into the 2/3 of a finger high water level in the sink of themselves, when I take them there to drink from my hand placed under the faucet. Other than that they have a water bowl, which these and all the dragons I've had in the past rarely drink/drank from. I observe their liquid depots of course... If they're getting "flat" I put 3-5 ml of water in a syringe, place it an inch above their mouths and drip...drip...drip - you get the picture... Other than that they get the liquid they need from the leafy greens.

Well to sum things up; I'm curious... Why give them a bath on a regular or daily basis?

 

[TheWolfmanTom]

To put it simply they absorb more water thru thier vents than they do from eating.
This was an adaptation in the wild for the occasional downpours that the enviroment would get.
They would sit in the puddles and absorb the water thru the vent and store it for the dry times.
In captavity its just healthier for them to be well hydrated.
Hope this answers your question a little.

 

[fez09]

I agree with Tom but also, for me anyway, it's our "bonding" time! They enjoy bathing and will swim which is great exercise for them and great entertainment for me!

 

[p3ppit]

Thanks for the reply. I would suspect mine jump into the sink for that same reason... I am aware that they can absorb liquids through other parts than the mouth and I see that it's good for them to be well hydrated (which is why I take mine to the sink and I am very much attentive that they always have filled liquid depots), but bathing them once/twice/three times a week?
As I wrote I'm curious, so I was wondering if anyone can cite any scientific info on the subject...? The literature I have does not state anything about it being better for them to be bathed often. Plus even though I don't bathe mine regularly I have (knock on wood) never up to this day had animals that were sick, poorly hydrated or anything alike (except for the few I've on occasion taken into momentary foster care for the local pet store, because of maltreatment or sickness, but that's another thing.)

 

[Bobdabearded]

I bathe my bob for sanitary reasons... usually I can't get to his poop the minute after he discharges it, so sometimes he'll end up getting a little on his foot or his tail. So then I gotta get him into a warm bath with his favorite scrub brush and goto town on the soiled appendages. Other than that I think he believes he's a water dragon... he'll actually roll around in the water.

 

[Gail]

I bath Basti almost daily but its more for him to go poo in then hydration. Honestly, I don't believe they absorb water through their vent. Even with daily baths, Basti still gets dehydrated if I don't make him drink. I've have a few dragons over the years and none seemed to stay hydrated from baths.

I'd really like to see documentation on the theory of absorbing water through the vent, some thing scientific because I just can't see it happening. I've also never heard of dragons sitting around in mudpuddles after a rain to absorb water. If they get thirsty, they will drink.

 

[spurlee01]

I bath Basti almost daily but its more for him to go poo in then hydration. Honestly, I don't believe they absorb water through their vent. Even with daily baths, Basti still gets dehydrated if I don't make him drink. I've have a few dragons over the years and none seemed to stay hydrated from baths.

I'd really like to see documentation on the theory of absorbing water through the vent, some thing scientific because I just can't see it happening. I've also never heard of dragons sitting around in mudpuddles after a rain to absorb water. If they get thirsty, they will drink.

Lilly never takes ANY oral fluids, and has never had problems with dehydration. I do attribute this to her baths, but don't have any scientific proof. She also loves her baths and will try to jump back in when I take her out. I prefer her poop there than in the tank so it's easier to clean up.

 

[remi1]

I'd really like to see documentation on the theory of absorbing water through the vent, some thing scientific because I just can't see it happening. I've also never heard of dragons sitting around in mudpuddles after a rain to absorb water. If they get thirsty, they will drink.

Mader's Reptile Medicine and Surgery, 2ed, states that the vent "plays an important role in the active absorption of electrolytes and the passive absorption of fluids" (148).

In addition, my little girl Remi underwent an exploratory surgery this past summer to try and find out why she wasn't defecating. The week or so prior to the surgery she was getting one to two 30-minute baths a day. It's important to note that she doesn't drink out of a dish or in the bath, and she's not a fan of a dropper. During the surgery they found that her intestines were greatly distended from fluid, i.e. water. The vet told me that it was related to her being bathed so frequently and absorbing water into the intestinal tract through the cloaca. Now this vet used to be a veterinarian at Sea World and is now employed at Colorado State University's Veterinary Teaching Hospital. His credentials and extensive knowledge of reptile medicine is actually the reason I chose to go to vet school at CSU, because of course my interest is reptile and exotic medicine. I hope this helps with the cloaca absorbing water question.

 

[Jasper's Mom]

Mader's Reptile Medicine and Surgery, 2ed, states that the vent "plays an important role in the active absorption of electrolytes and the passive absorption of fluids" (148).

I'm glad I'm not the only one who has this book! :mrgreen:

I bathed my first dragon, Jasper, so that he could get the exercise he needed to rebuild his muscles after a period of severe neglect by his previous owners. Initially he was too weak to walk, but swimming was an excellent alternative and played a large role in his recovery.

I bathed my second dragon, Campbell Jane, to try and encourage her to poop. She had severe GI problems and pooping was always an issue for her. It also helped to keep her hydrated which helped a bit with her GI problems.

The three I have now get baths so that they can drink, swim, and be cleaned. Phin is chronically dehydrated because of his mouth deformity, Chloe is currently not eating greens and so usually does not get enough water, and Bob is a messy boy who needs to be (gently) scrubbed often or he will coat himself in his own poop. All three seem to benefit from the exercise of swimming, and Phin especially just seems to enjoy it!

 

[p3ppit]

Ah... So I may conclude that you guys bathe them for a sanitary purpose...?

(Other than the bonding part, which I will not comment, as we have very different views on beardie relations and what they are capable of showing - like emotions and such.)

Aha...

In relation to the absorption I have found zip-zero-nada the last couple of hours neither in my own literature nor in any databases (like SpringerLink and those alike) nor via Google. Maybe it's a load of gibberish, but I do remember reading something about the subject a while back or maybe it was adsorption instead... I don't remember it being that particular part of the body or even a body opening.

Anyway... In relation to the bathing I've come up with the same amount of valid data as with the absorption/adsorption... I'd like to see scientific research on both subjects by the way... This is quite exciting...

You know, that's the problem with this hobby; I can postulate something and believe it to be true - you can postulate something else and believe it to be true... Bah...

Of course one builds up some experience and acquires some knowledge along the way but...

Edit:

I'd really like to see documentation on the theory of absorbing water through the vent, some thing scientific because I just can't see it happening. I've also never heard of dragons sitting around in mudpuddles after a rain to absorb water. If they get thirsty, they will drink.

Mader's Reptile Medicine and Surgery, 2ed, states that the vent "plays an important role in the active absorption of electrolytes and the passive absorption of fluids" (148).

In addition, my little girl Remi underwent an exploratory surgery this past summer to try and find out why she wasn't defecating. The week or so prior to the surgery she was getting one to two 30-minute baths a day. It's important to note that she doesn't drink out of a dish or in the bath, and she's not a fan of a dropper. During the surgery they found that her intestines were greatly distended from fluid, i.e. water. The vet told me that it was related to her being bathed so frequently and absorbing water into the intestinal tract through the cloaca. Now this vet used to be a veterinarian at Sea World and is now employed at Colorado State University's Veterinary Teaching Hospital. His credentials and extensive knowledge of reptile medicine is actually the reason I chose to go to vet school at CSU, because of course my interest is reptile and exotic medicine. I hope this helps with the cloaca absorbing water question.

Interesting read... Thank you... (Another book I gotta find... :roll: sigh...)

 

[Sangster]

mine gets a bath every day simply because within 5 minutes of putting him in the water....he poops. As soon as he poops, out he comes, rinse him off, dry him off and back in his tank.

Haven't had a poop in his tank in months! :

 

[biohazard330]

Quick question,Im new to the hobby and was wondering what temp the water should be,how deep should it be,and how long should i let him bath for.
How often should i bath him,he dosent seem to have a problem pooping.

I feed him crickets,mixed greens...and boy he loves to eat!

Any help would be greatly thankfull!

Thanks,
Kenny

 

[spurlee01]

Hi and welcome!
Bath temperature should be the same as what you would put a baby in. It should be to your dragon's arm pits. I leave Lilly in for 10-20 minutes unless she poops first. I bathe anywhere from every day to every third day.

 

[biohazard330]

Thank you much!!!

I think tonight i give him his first swim. Im really glad to find this site,a ton of great info,cool people,and the love of a great lizard!

So again id like to thank you for the info,soon ill be posting pics of spike,well once i get a new cam for xmas.

Take care,
Kenny.

 

[biohazard330]

Well i gave spike his first bath tonight,Made the water luke warm up to his arm pits and set him it. He seem not to like it too much,just wanted climb out of the sink. I sprnkled water over him and he licked it up,and after a few minutes he droped a duce,so i pulled him out dried him off and let him bask on his log.

Thanks again for all the sweet info here on bearded dragon.org

Kenny.