bathing

[Alexism]

Hi all.

We got our baby beardie last weekend and she is settling in nicely. She is very calm and never runs off when we open her viv and seems to really a little stroke on the head and back I have read about people bathing their lizards. Is this really important for their health or its more something they enjoy?

 

[CooperDragon]

Bathing is mainly to clean them off if they run around in their poop and it also offers them a chance to have a drink if they need water in addition to their primary diet (which usually provides them with adequate hydration). It can also be used for regulating pooping routines so they learn to go outside of their tank. This is usually done with older dragons though. If she's a baby, I wouldn't stress her out with baths for now unless one is needed. Some of them don't mind baths but it causes a lot of stress for others so it's not worth the risk of added stress unless really necessary. If you do provide a bath, you'll just want to use a bin full of shallow water up to about their elbows or so. The water should be just warm to the touch. I test it on the inside of my wrist the way you would with a baby's bath water. If you need a bit of extra cleaning power, you can add a mild soap like Dr Bronner's baby mild to the bath. Bath time shouldn't last more than 5-10 min or so because they'll get pretty cold. They need to be dried off and warmed back up under a basking light right after the bath.

 

[Alexism]

Ah ok thank you. She isn't dirty so I will probably leave it for a bit. I spray water gently on her a few times a day which she licks up and she enjoys her salads so she is probably hydrated enough. As she is taming so nicely I don't want to do anything to jeopardise that.

 

[CooperDragon]

OK that sounds good. You may want to replace spraying with water drops on her head/nose using a plastic syringe or dropper. That will be easier for her to lick up and will be less likely to cause respiratory issues.

 

[Smawg]

I give baths to my beardie in the bath tub, this way I can add more warm water when needed & she has plenty of room to move around, & it`s easier to clean up if they poop. I see people online putting there`s in little buckets or bowls & it seems the water would get cold to fast & if there beardie does like to be in the water, maybe they want to move around ya know. But they can`t. I had a issue going on with my beardie for a while with not pooping & baths would help her go. In the water that is. when she is in there I put water in my hand & drop it on her head & back softly & I have a soft tooth brush & I rub it down her a few times ( lightly ) she loves it rubbed next to her face & neck Then if she happens to poop, I`ll drain the water take the poop out & add clean water to rinse her off. I keep the bathroom door open so it does not get to humid in there for her too. I learned here too, to soak beardies for 20 min to a 1/2 hour if they are dehydrated for it will help them,