Not sure if these are normal signs in a bearded Dragon or if I should be concerned

[serabahmad]

Dear Reader,

I took in my bearded dragon about two months ago, and ever since I took her in, her beard never goes completely white. I know they can't regulate their stress marks till they turn 1, but is this normal? also does the tip of her tail too black?

also when she wakes up she is very stressed, with marks all over her body, it generally takes for an hour to calm down after turning on her basking light. she has never bitten or even puffed up her beard. she is extremely sweet.

another thing im worried about, because I over worry, is if her beard or head is swollen? I've read a few things and became a little paranoid.
Thank you in advance to any person who respond, I truly do appreciate it.

To summarize, in the pictures help me address her:
1. black tail
2. portion of beard that stays black and whether that's normal.
3. is her beard swollen, or am I just paranoid.

 

[ChileanTaco]

This looks normal to me.
The beard as it is counts as "white". It will never be pure white like a sheet of paper. There is darker skin in the folds and most dragons also have a bit of orange or yellow in the beard. (You can think of the "white" regarding the underside and beard of other descriptions of animal colors. Like a "red" cat never will be as red as a pure red color, the "white" beard never will be as white as a sheet of paper.)
Various body parts can have a different color. The tail has a bit darker shade of brown, and this is totally okay. You only need to be concerned if the tail would look shriveled, or otherwise deformed and then turning darker than the surrounding skin.
Also the beard as it is looks normal and not swollen. It is normal that the skin is a bit loose and "wobbly" and that they sometimes let it hang a bit more, a bit less.
Your dragon looks healthy and has a beautiful coloration! I guess you can even expect that the beard will become more orange over time as your dragon matures. Mine did.

 

[ChileanTaco]

Regarding regulating the stress marks:
The thing with "1 year" is some rule of thumb but not overly correct.
Bearded dragons can show their emotions from an early age on through the coloration of their beard and underside.
What is the case is that indeed a young dragon tends to show stress marks more often, as of not being able to regulate their emotions so well (just like it is in humans: think about what things toddlers upset and how they show it in contrast to older kids or adults), not knowing so well what to do (e.g.: how to deal with shedding) and many things are still new and thus upsetting (when I just think of my dragon: in the beginning afraid of many things he sees in a household with humans).

So the coloration of your dragon shows "feeling well"

 

[Drache613]

Hello,

Your dragon is very cute! As suggested, they often turn their beards dark when they are excited, mad, distressed or during mating season due to a higher hormonal level.
He looks normal in color. Adults can turn their beards darker than youngsters though.
The tail looks fine, they can have varying coloration on their tails, also.

Tracie

 

[serabahmad]

Hello,

Your dragon is very cute! As suggested, they often turn their beards dark when they are excited, mad, distressed or during mating season due to a higher hormonal level.
He looks normal in color. Adults can turn their beards darker than youngsters though.
The tail looks fine, they can have varying coloration on their tails, also.

Tracie

Aww thank you so much I appreciate it !!1

 

[serabahmad]

Hello,

Your dragon is very cute! As suggested, they often turn their beards dark when they are excited, mad, distressed or during mating season due to a higher hormonal level.
He looks normal in color. Adults can turn their beards darker than youngsters though.
The tail looks fine, they can have varying coloration on their tails, also.

Tracie

Regarding regulating the stress marks:
The thing with "1 year" is some rule of thumb but not overly correct.
Bearded dragons can show their emotions from an early age on through the coloration of their beard and underside.
What is the case is that indeed a young dragon tends to show stress marks more often, as of not being able to regulate their emotions so well (just like it is in humans: think about what things toddlers upset and how they show it in contrast to older kids or adults), not knowing so well what to do (e.g.: how to deal with shedding) and many things are still new and thus upsetting (when I just think of my dragon: in the beginning afraid of many things he sees in a household with humans).

So the coloration of your dragon shows "feeling well"

you are so kind for giving me a thorough response and putting my heart at ease!! Thank you so much !!

 

[serabahmad]

Regarding regulating the stress marks:
The thing with "1 year" is some rule of thumb but not overly correct.
Bearded dragons can show their emotions from an early age on through the coloration of their beard and underside.
What is the case is that indeed a young dragon tends to show stress marks more often, as of not being able to regulate their emotions so well (just like it is in humans: think about what things toddlers upset and how they show it in contrast to older kids or adults), not knowing so well what to do (e.g.: how to deal with shedding) and many things are still new and thus upsetting (when I just think of my dragon: in the beginning afraid of many things he sees in a household with humans).

So the coloration of your dragon shows "feeling well"

Ahhhhh never thought of it that way !! thank you so so much !!

 

[Drache613]

Hello,

How is your sweet dragon doing today?
Let us know if you have more questions, we are always here to help out!

Tracie

 

[matojack]

Ahhhhh never thought of it that way !! thank you so so much !!

Regarding regulating the stress marks:
The thing with "1 year" is some rule of thumb but not overly correct.
Bearded dragons can show their emotions from an early age on through the coloration of their beard and underside.
What is the case is that indeed a young dragon tends to show stress marks more often, as of not being able to regulate their emotions so well (just like it is in humans: think about what things toddlers upset and how they show it in contrast to older kids or adults), not knowing so well what to do (e.g.: how to deal with shedding) and many things are still new and thus upsetting (when I just think of my dragon: in the beginning afraid of many things he sees in a household with humans).

So the coloration of your dragon shows "feeling well"

This is a great explanation. My beardie is on shed #3 with us at almost four months old (we got her at two months). She's been going into her hide an hour or so earlier than the lights shut off and was all puffed up this morning. She may have puffed because we have a cat that likes to hang out in her room.

As for the original poster, your dragon looks a lot like mine. Her tail is a little dark on the end and her beard looks like yours. She's super health though. She's grown 5.25" in the past month and gained 57g. Let us know how your little one is doing.