Beard Shed

[IAmAMirage]

Hey y'all-

Mirage is currently shedding on his beard/lips/ear area. He seems to be really uncomfortable. Any tips on what to do to help him?
@Rocky2022 @xp29 @ChileanTaco @NickAVD

 

[xp29]

Hey y'all-

Mirage is currently shedding on his beard/lips/ear area. He seems to be really uncomfortable. Any tips on what to do to help him?
@Rocky2022 @xp29 @ChileanTaco @NickAVD

Mostly just give him something to rub against. That's a sensitive area, I would try to help him to much. Although my guys will take advantage of a finger as a rubbing post if it's offered

 

[IAmAMirage]

Mostly just give him something to rub against. That's a sensitive area, I would try to help him to much. Although my guys will take advantage of a finger as a rubbing post if it's offered

Thanks for the help. He has a couple of things in his tank he could rub against, but he doesn't seem to want to-

Can you use aloe on a beardie? I know that when our birds are molting we spray them with an aloe/water mixture. Could I do the same with him?

 

[NickAVD]

Can you use aloe on a beardie? I know that when our birds are molting we spray them with an aloe/water mixture. Could I do the same with him?

I think you may do it, moisturizing will do him good.

 

[NickAVD]

I usually help remove the scales, but only if there is air underneath and the scales are almost gone. In this case, Foxy will scratch himself with his back leg and I am just worried about him hurting his eye.

 

[AHBD]

They don't need any help, especially on their head. People read these things on the internet and sometimes end up pulling off or irritating the scales, the new scales coming underneath can end up damaged and raw. The shed comes off when it needs to, please don't mess with it !

 

[IAmAMirage]

They don't need any help, especially on their head. People read these things on the internet and sometimes end up pulling off or irritating the scales, the new scales coming underneath can end up damaged and raw. The shed comes off when it needs to, please don't mess with it !

Oh! I never pull his shed off! I just mean things to make him more comfortable! Like aloe or maybe giving him a bath? Anything like that. @AHBD

 

[AHBD]

No, they don't need anything. I never did anything to help a shed, even my oldest dragons have never needed any help. Nick ADV says he pulls if off once it lifts away. There's no need to do that and all it takes is for a new owner to think it's O.K to pull it off. A short soak is O.K now + then if your beardie enjoys it.

 

[NickAVD]

@AHBD said everything correctly and you should not interfere with the shedding process. @AHBD has a lot of experience in keeping bearded dragons. In my defense, I can only say that I only removed the scales that had come off and I did this because I had an unpleasant experience when Foxy was scratching his shedding beard by leg and touched his eye, it started to water and we applied compresses for some time.