Curious: Why the color change?

[Ollie2]

My beardie is shedding and changing color. Before she came to us, she was on calcisand (sp?), which was pink in color. We've been taking her outside almost every day (as long as it wasn't raining) and now that she's shedding she's this great white color and no longer orange. Feet and hands and head are yellow. Any idea why? The change of environment?

This was yesterday morning:

 

[kingofnobbys]

Their colours are not as vivid when older , and the old skin that is coming off changes color to white because it is no longer getting a blood supply, and there is fresh skin under it that needs protection from the UV until the new skin falls off .

I hope you have ditched the calci-sand and no longer have any form of sand or other particulate substrates. If not, please do so as calci-sand in particular is lethal to lizards when ingested.

 

[Ollie2]

No worries, that calcisand was gone before she even set foot into our house (she was a rescue).

But the skin that is white/yellow is not the old skin, it's the new skin. Her previous color was completely orange. And now the new skin is yellow and white.

In the picture above, you can see the skin that's peeling off is orange but her new front is white and her feet (and the back of her head, which you can't see in this picture) are yellow. Her arms haven't shed yet and are still orange.

I was just curious if the substrate change or being outside in the sun could have caused that.
But maybe it's just that she's getting older.

 

[AHBD]

Is it just her underside that is that color ? Can't see the test of her body. There are stress marks [ normal, not a problem] that flare up visible in the pic, is it her back that's yellowish ? Once the calci sand stain sheds what you'll see is her natural color.

Post pics from above after she sheds to show off her natural beauty.

 

[Ollie2]

I'll post it once she's done shedding. Her back is one big skin flap right now.

 

[Reptilelady]

I dont think environment has anything to do with it. I had the similar interest in this because my beardie was really vibrant with orange and now hes becoming yellow color. I think it really depends on the parents hereditary genes so to speak.
http://www.thebeardeddragon.org/types-of-bearded-dragons.php
Its really interesting that each shed, they can change :lol: Only time will tell how they will really be when they are older though.

 

[kingofnobbys]

No worries, that calcisand was gone before she even set foot into our house (she was a rescue).

But the skin that is white/yellow is not the old skin, it's the new skin. Her previous color was completely orange. And now the new skin is yellow and white.

In the picture above, you can see the skin that's peeling off is orange but her new front is white and her feet (and the back of her head, which you can't see in this picture) are yellow. Her arms haven't shed yet and are still orange.

I was just curious if the substrate change or being outside in the sun could have caused that.
But maybe it's just that she's getting older.

Probably stained skin.
Some companies produce sands marketed as desert sand that are fake and simple calcisand or silica sand that have pigments mixed in them. Can take a several sheds for the stain to shed off.

Apart from intensity of the colours reducing as the beardie matures, and of cause the shedding, I've not seen a beardie change it's overall colouration.

 

[Ollie2]

Interesting! I didn't know they put a stain into their sand but that would make sense since it's such a dramatic color change.

Reptilelady, was yours on calcisand too at some point?

 

[Reptilelady]

Interesting! I didn't know they put a stain into their sand but that would make sense since it's such a dramatic color change.

Reptilelady, was yours on calcisand too at some point?

Its very possible that the sand stained their skin, yikes and just imagine that if they ingest that sand not only for impaction but the dyes or whatever they used to stain the sand :?

When i got my beardie from the petstore they were all on reptile carpet (thank goodness) at the time i was complete noob had no idea but least they offered "Get reptile carpet for your beardie" that was one employee.. then another said, you can use rep-cal sand or something like that, saying "in case" your beardie ingest it has calcium. I mean in theory sounds great (more calcium for beardie) but not mixing sand and calcium together :lol: So thankfully i just stuck to reptile carpet then to find out it was a pain to clean, such a hassle, then found out that ceramic tile is the way to go so now im using a combo some carpet to lay down first and then the tile on top, really helps a lot. I wonder if maybe the UVB vs natural lighting has anything to do with skin pigmentation? Like how humans get sunburned.. wonder if that changes BD's skin colors?

 

[AHBD]

Calcium sand comes in all different colors so the dragon can be stained whichever color the sand was. And a beardie's color can change quite a bit as they grow, exposing them to natural sun doesn't give them a " tan ' but it brings out their best color because it's the best lighting .

 

[Reptilelady]

Calcium sand comes in all different colors so the dragon can be stained whichever color the sand was. And a beardie's color can change quite a bit as they grow, exposing them to natural sun doesn't give them a " tan ' but it brings out their best color because it's the best lighting .

Interesting. Since sun is the best lighting for them, should i be bringing my beardie more outside. I have only a couple times but after i took him outside of his terrarium he enjoys it but also likes to run off especially that hes young. Since its summer and really hot outside maybe he will enjoy it more than being inside. I am just very skeptical of having him outside as i seen he will jump or run off if he seems something. I do not have a leash or a harness for him at the moment so im just worried i might have him in my hands and then next thing he flies off and runs away from me and i wont have a way to catch him :lol:

 

[AHBD]

Sun is the best but good uvb bulbs work fine, too and can bring out vivid color in your dragon [ according to the dragon's natural color of course ] But some people are using these outdoor playpens :


https://www.google.com/url?sa=t&rct=j&q=&esrc=s&source=web&cd=1&cad=rja&uact=8&ved=0ahUKEwjktZ7iifXUAhUk3IMKHRZLCZsQFgg2MAA&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.drsfostersmith.com%2Fproduct%2Fprod_display.cfm%3Fpcatid%3D22274&usg=AFQjCNH2MPnRk8GhEP82_Px-lUGRx7zMzg

 

[Reptilelady]

Sweet. I'll have to get that. That's a great idea!
I have the T5 Reptisun UVB linear bulb, i had the T8 one but i switched over and also noticed that my electricity bill isn't that expensive either.