Prolonged Black Beard on 9 yr Female?

[Ranger87]

Hey everyone, it's been awhile since I've had to post anything.

For at least the past two weeks Riza's had a never-ending black beard. Nothing has changed in her setup since I've had her.
Setup details anyway:
~40 gal. breeder
~tile substrate
~a cave to bask on and hide in
~artificial branch to climb and get near UVB
~Temps between 95-100 degrees on the hot side
~75 watt lightbulb for heat lamp (they don't seem to sell 100w anymore in housewares, but I'm able to get the temps high enough and have been using these ones for the last few years)
~Reptisun 10.0 UVB bulb

The only thing that's really changed is I adopted a three year old female December 26, 2015. She lived in my room in a separate 40 gal across from Riza for about a year (the two had a love/hate relationship for awhile until it's settled on Riza wanted to kill Piper). I moved Piper into our newly emptied spare room recently, hoping that would help Riza chillax. It hasn't. Last night her beard seemed to be relatively normal, settling on just a light grey, but today it's been back to black. The rest of her colouring is normal. Her appetite/behaviour is normal. The only thing is this black beard.

So, my questions are: has anyone dealt with this before and should I take her for a vet visit?

It's been a long time since she's had a fecal done. She had a very high count of coccidea when I got her back in 2011 and as she was nursed back to health from poor living conditions and the parasites, she still had a high count, but since she'd been on treatment and was getting better, the vet said we could stop treating as some dragons have a naturally high count. Last year I took both girls to the vet for a checkup and they were both fine (only Piper had a fecal as she was new and she is the stinkiest dragon in the world!).

But with this beard, should I try another fecal for Riza before a vet trip or after a vet trip?

Any help or insight would be welcomed! She is my first experience with a getting up there in years dragon.
She was a few years old (age unknown) when I got her in 2011, so she's maybe 9 years old.

 

[Ranger87]

She also recently had a clutch of infertile eggs (she had them just after Christmas). I don't know if that has anything to do with this beard, but I forgot to add that in the above post.

 

[AHBD]

Hi there, poor little Riza. Is she eating normally ? Is she well hydrated, esp. after laying eggs ? It may be a couple of things....you might want to get an X-ray done to see if she has any more eggs in her, either leftover or newly developing.

And just in case it MIGHT be related to stress from the move, put her back in the other room and move Piper out.

 

[Ranger87]

She's eating normal, I always make sure to give her baths and water after her egg laying. Riza didn't change rooms, I moved Piper out so Riza could remain queen of my room.

She just pooped last night during her bath. Normally if she has left over eggs she poops 'em out. But I don't think she has any left. Should I have concern over infirtile eggs possibly getting eggbound?

 

[AHBD]

Oh, sorry about the mix up on who stayed in the room. If she's eating, drinking + pooing normally I doubt that it's an egg problem, but I guess you can't totally rule it out. And if you think she needs to have a fecal done you might as well do so. If you want to opt for an X-ray then you could see if there's anything amiss inside.

 

[Ranger87]

Thanks for your input! =)

I know it might be risky, but I'm still waiting and watching her to see if this beard is indictive of a problem or if she's just a grumpy old lady.

Maybe she's just as sick and tired of the clutter in my room as I am. XD

 

[AHBD]

Oh yes, a cluttered room may be highly irritating to a neat freak beardie.

 

[Ranger87]

I think she's just getting extra grumpy in her old age.

Her beard was nice and normal yesterday when I fed her bugs. After the bugs, she turned it pitch black as if complaining because I cut her off.

^^ I think she's just taking to extreme tantrum throwing...

 

[Varalidaine]

Many dragons will go into breeding season mode after brumation. My male dragon for two weeks threw a black beard all day and ran frantically around his tank looking for SOMETHING to do the deed with lol. Maybe she's just throwing a black beard and letting the men come to her haha!

On a side note, I would recommend a fecal. I get mine tested every 3-6 months since its non invasive and dragons have such poor immune systems, it's an easy way to make sure they're healthy and happy on that front.