Is my bearded dragon happy/healthy based on her color

[Aslagle914313]

She is typically always this color. Her head is getting a little lighter with each shed but not much. She seems to be happy, eating well, and likes being held. I just read that tgey should be much lighter colors and she is a darker color but not very many "stress marks" on her belly if any sometimes there is none at all but she is still this darker color on her back.

 

[traildrifterphalanx]

She looks like a happy little plump dragon!
They will darken in the enclosure or in sunlight to better absorb the light. This darkening can sometimes cause "stress marks" to appear, but these are just markings all young dragons have and do not always indicate stress or unhappiness.

 

[Aslagle914313]

Ok i was just worried about her always seeming dark on her back. She rarely has and marks on her belly/neck area. So i wasnt to worried about what people call stress marks just that she isnt very brightly colored. And always being tge dark brownish green.

 

[traildrifterphalanx]

No worries. She is super cute!
She likely has outgrown the "stress mark" phase and looks to be about maybe 4 or 5 months old? She may brighten up as she sheds, I see some hints of citrus in her face that could become enhanced

 

[Aslagle914313]

We got her in march and thought she was a boy but she does not had the two bumos under her tail that boys have . She has grown rapidly and is now about 13-14 inches. She has some orangong around her ears mouth and ears and a couple strips of orange on the front part of her shoulders on front two legs. I can tell when she is aggravated with me because she gets a much darker color almost black, if i feed her a little later than normal or if i put my hand on her cage and touch or move her when she dont want to me to, but when she does that i leave her alone or feed her which ever the circumstance is. Or if a bunch of people she isnt used to around her cage watching her when she is not being fed.

 

[traildrifterphalanx]

I have a new little girl that will probably look pretty similar to yours as far as features. She has the fat/stubby head, too, which I think is adorable

Your girl looks very happy and healthy so you should be proud
Keep us updated on her journey! Let us know if her colors pop

 

[Aslagle914313]

Sure thing. Thank you. It is my first time owning anything besides a dog cat or bird. She is my sons but because he is to little i am the one taking care of her and interacting with her. She us super cool!!!!! When i let someone hold her she comes right back to me, and always licks me before coming onto me, i guess to make sure it is me and not someone else. Its super cute! Jessi was a little lighter than yours when we got her but other than that pretty similar.

 

[traildrifterphalanx]

There have been so many cases on this forum where parents get the dragon for a child and slowly just take ownership of them :lol: I love it. They definitely need a lot of care as babies so I'm glad you're assisting and interacting with her like you are.

When I go to take either of my dragons out, I put my finger under their chin to lick to acknowledge it's me, then remove them from the enclosure afterward, just to be sure I don't frighten them. They're adorable. I also offer my oldest my phone to lick just because he'll predictably do it every time.

 

[Aslagle914313]

We got her based off the fact that i would be the caregiver. Lol. My son is only 6. I knew he wouldnt be able to care for her. As he gets older, depending on how long she lives, he will grow into some responsibilities. But he is mainly just a look at "my pet" type owner and he chose her name and decorations for her tank. Lol. Thank you for the re-assurances though!!!!!!!