Baths

[Phoebe]

I read that Bearded Dragons love baths and especially during shedding to bath them more often. I've had Vegeta about a month, I think he's about 7/8 months (I don't know how old exactly he is) I've bathed him a total of 5 times so far, and every time he seems to not enjoy it. He's been shedding for the past 2 weeks (ish) and today he's shedding all his face and neck so I thought I'd give him a nice warm bath. I put him in and he sat there like normal (he doesn't really swim around yet) and then started swimming but into the bathtub as if he wanted to get out, so I put my hand in the water and dripped water on him, and he sat on my hand in the water, and stayed there so after a few minutes I removed my hand so he could soak better but then he started whipping his tail about, I don't know what that means but I presumed he was angry because he came back onto my hand and looked at me angrily so I got him out and wrapped him in his little towel and he went to sleep on me. I don't think he likes baths at all but I thought BD's loved them. Should I not bath him anymore or keep trying?

 

[Claudiusx]

Was the water cold, or warm?

Them moving there tails is a way for them to navigate through the water. Of course the first few times in the tub are going to be scary and they won't like it, but they get used to it.

-Brandon

 

[Phoebe]

The water was warm, I never put him in a cold bath. Thanks, so I guess I'll keep bathing him then?

 

[RockyPlusBen]

Yes, you should keep trying to bath them. A good thing to do is to take a small wash rag and place it where he is standing so that it has something to hold onto and will feel secure.

Another thing you could do is to put him on your hand and then move your hand around so he experiences movement in the water. I do not put him in the tub but a tall sink that we don't use and it's kinda small so not much room to swim around in.

So Rocky usually just sits in the tub while I move the water around and sprinkle water on him like a good little slave. lol

 

[jjh1]

My male hated having a bath but I just kept puting him in and I always use a bathmat or towel and now he likes having his bath.
He swims around but for the first couple of mins he looks at me as if to say "again"! Then when I put the water on a trickle he swims to it and watches it. When he has had enough of swiming he will stop poop and then out he comes.

My female she loves swiming she has a big drink in the tub then swims more I sprinkle water over her and splash alittle bit. then samething when she has enough she poops and then out she comes.
Usually they are in the tub for about 20 mins apiece and then cuddle time for 10 mins then next one in the tub and we do that all over again.

Joanne

 

[Eljay]

my female HATES baths. So much so that she pancakes her tummy whilst standing up to avoid touching the water! I get a proper stink eye every time. She tolerates it though.
My young 'un, Blaine seems to love baths. He swims round frantically and drinks bucket loads! he also likes his after bath cuddle I guess each beardie is going to be different when it comes to this because they each have their own personalities. its worth keeping to it though, especially if your beardie doesnt drink from a water dish.

 

[wckdbtch]

I guess, like with all other living beings, it comes down to personal likes and dislikes. Ours both react different to the water as well. Angie also used to try and climb the sides of the tub, but we persisted. I cannot honestly say she likes it now, but she definitely has gotten better. She still blows herself up like an overinflated balloon, and throws a proper tantrum if I take my hand out too early. After the first few minutes in the water, she gets of my hand by herself, sits for a few minutes, takes the occasional paddle around and observe everything. The days that she had a poo in her viv, she would swim right past my hand and around it, but when she has had enough, she will put every effort in to climb onto my arm to let me know it's time to get out.

Flippie, on the other hand, loves his bath (after getting used to the idea for a minute or two). He pretends to be a big, bad crocodile, swimming head-under-water, thrashing the water about with his tail. But, like Angie, he will climb on my hand once he is ready to get out (or pretend to poo and instead just fart )

With both of them, I keep my hand in the water as a "safety zone" and allow them to just sit on my hand if they want.

 

[JenFid]

Mine certainly doesn't love baths but he doesn't hate them either. 90% of the time he will just sit in one spot while looking around. Sometimes he will swim around but not very often, and I usually end up forcing him to swim a little to get him to poo. I try to keep him in for 10-15 mins now but when he was younger he would only tolerate about 5 minutes. Just keep trying!

 

[coastergirl946]

my female HATES baths. So much so that she pancakes her tummy whilst standing up to avoid touching the water! I get a proper stink eye every time. She tolerates it though.

Curt was the same way. I always made sure the water was warm and up to his shoulders. He'd stand up as far as he could on all 4 legs and flatten out so I had to add a little more water (he had impaction troubles at the same time he was shedding and NEEDED those warm baths, I wasn't sure what else to do.. usually he'd start swimming around and then he'd poo).. he'd bob his head and darken his beard at me no matter what I did. Some beardies just hate baths.

 

[valcash]

Keep offering warm bath time. Don't make the water too hot, too cold, or too high. Offer a towel in there for traction.

 

[Phoebe]

Thank you for all the replys everyone, I'm glad to know that not all beardies love their baths as Vegeta is probably going to be one of the one's that doesn't like them so much I'll keep bathing him and keep my hand in the water for safety zone and if he wants to swim about then he can too hopefully he'll get used to it because I want him to enjoy himself!