First Shedding

[Polarthief]

So I've had my beardie almost a week (tomorrow will be night 7, day 6) and as soon as I got home from my night classes, I noticed he's about halfway through his tail shedding.

While I know a shedding can cause stress on a Beardie, I'd like to know if it's normal for a Beardie to not eat for 3 days prior to a shedding (as this would explain ALL unanswered questions I've had for awhile), as well as how long does a tail/hind-legs shedding usually take? Also, do I need to do anything for him after he finishes (or can I help him as he's shedding)? (I'd also like to add that I've yet to handle him. I've tried multiple times, but due to relocation and shedding stress, I'm assuming he was too afraid to let me get too close)


Finally, thanks everyone in my previous introduction and health threads. I greatly appreciate you guys doing your best to answer my questions and calm my paranoia. <3

 

[Brezzy99]

Some beardies get pretty grumpy when shedding. I can only speak from experience about them not eating. My almost 6 month old won't eat as much when he is shedding or is about to. My other beardie is 2 months old and nothing bothers her. She will dive in whenever she sees food. The best way to help them with shedding is bathing them. Just don't pull off any shed because it can damage the new scales. If there is stubborn shed that won't come off you can bath them and use a soft bristle toothbrush to gently help it come off. My 5 month old loves a bath when shedding. He just sits there and let's me drip water down his back and head. All beardies are different when it comes to how long it takes to shed. Keeping a journal with the dates they shed, how long it took, and eating habits will help you know what you might expect next time. A journal is also a good way to keep up with their growth.

-Sabrina

 

[Polarthief]

Alright, thank you so much Sabrina. I assume it won't take him too long because he's about 6 weeks old, and I left around 5PM today, came home around 10:30PM and his tail was already halfway done (plus I had my mother home around 8PM; she gave him a salad and didn't notice any shedding yet, so 2.5 hours for almost half of his tail seems pretty good). I was just curious if this was going to take him a couple days to finish, and if they're okay to not eat for up to 3 days. Thankfully, he DID eat a single cricket when I gave him a couple, so I know he's not ill or anything. Also, I would give him a bath, but, like I said, he hasn't let me handle him yet (literally relocation stress turned into shedding stress, so I picked a bad time to own poor Nozzy), and he has already shed part of his skin, so there's some stuck to his tail now. If I WERE to give him a bath, it might get ripped off, so I guess I'll just let him do his thing.

 

[Brezzy99]

He should be getting adjusted now. Have you tried to handle him inside his enclosure? You could try rubbing his beard and back. I have found that handling them closer to bedtime is easier. They are tired so less likely to go nuts. Mine are so spoiled now that they always have some stress marks while in their enclosures. As soon as I get them out they have their happy colors on with no stress marks. He should have his whole tail shed on no time! Let me know how handling him goes!

-Sabrina

 

[Polarthief]

I've tried to, but I only managed to pet his head a few times. Outside of that, no, no handling besides the day I saw him in the store and the night we brought him home. Thankfully, the big chunk of old scales just came off of him, so he's definitely making some progress, but he's still got another half of his tail to go, so I guess he'll finish that overnight/to morrow. He's also getting some colors showing (was NOT expecting the little guy to have some green on him!). His stress marks have also gotten significantly lighter from yesterday/earlier today. They were so dark but now they're only half there (probably from eating ONE cricket in 3 days and from the shedding). I'll try to see if he's up for me to hold him now before I turn off his lights (bedtime should be now), but if he doesn't, eh.

Thanks again for the help

Edit: No dice. It sucks being this big scary monster to little things

 

[Brezzy99]

Don't give up. Just dont reach over his head. Try putting your hand in the opposite side of where he is and approach him from the front. You can put a finger under his body and he may hug your finger. That would be an excellent start. Have you tried different live feeders? Phoenix worms and dubia are good for them and most beardies love them.

-Sabrina

 

[Polarthief]

A finger under his front? It's usually hard to do that because of how he lays on his tree (plus I'm guessing shed-stress will cause him to flee in terror), but I'll definitely give that a try when he wakes up tomorrow.

I actually have not yet tried other feeders. I don't think it's the crickets because he seems to enjoy them when he actually eats. I've also tried pellets (small tube-shaped ones) and salads, but he hasn't touched any of it yet except the crickets.

 

[Brezzy99]

I have never tried the pellets. Mine baby will eat salad if I take a piece and wiggle it in front of her. My older beardie (6months) loves salad! My baby used to flee from me but now she will slap at my finger for me to pick her up. Let me know how it goes in the morning.

-Sabrina

 

[Polarthief]

Alright and thanks again for the help! He's got a nice, long, 11 hours of rest ahead of him so hopefully he'll be more receptive now that he's halfway through the actual shedding

 

[Polarthief]

Sabrina, thanks again for all the help! Little Nozzy just finished shedding his tail last night and I even managed to get one of his claws (Hands? Feet? What DO you call a reptile "hand"?) onto my finger, but he was still a bit too scared so I put him back. Today though I'll be trying my best to get to finally handle him

Also more good news is that not only is he feeding once more, but I believe he's also taught me when he's hungry. He seems to get down from his basking spot and go to this flat rock in the center of his viv whenever he wants a meal, so hopefully that should lead to less wasted crickets and less paranoia about him being hungry!


I also just took a quick peek at him before hitting "Submit" and noticed his hind legs are finally starting to shed as well! I guess since they're so small, they don't affect him as much though.