Trimming nails confusion *illustration*

[glenCOCO]

Until today, I always thought that the white part of the nail was the quick. I was taking a close look at my beardies nails and I noticed something pink inside the white part. I can only assume that this is the actual quick, correct?

It looked like this:

Should I be trimming the nails near the quick(1) or at the black needle tip(2)?

I wish I had actual pictures to show you guys, but I don't think my camera would be able to take a clear shot of what I'm seeing

 

[Buggsy]

I only ever trim the black tip (2) as this is the needle sharp bit.

Ever since i switched to tile a year ago though, i have never had to trim them, as the tile wears it down, just a thought!

B

 

[glenCOCO]

I just recently switched over to tile too so I probably won't have to worry about her nails anymore. It's just that her previous owner kept her on sand and never trimmed her nails so they got really long. I just wanted to help her out a little and speed up the process.

Thanks! :mrgreen:

 

[Freeie]

Ive never been brave enough to cut them myself I have my daughter do it for me.

 

[diamc]

You should actually only cut off the very tip.

 

[Twobeardieguy]

I agree with Diane the tip is all you need. Then a few weeks cut it again.

 

[jortiz9758]

I just cut the very needle tip off. I just did it to Jasmine ,the new dragon I received today. They were really sharp and really long.
As suggested tile is great for keeping them trimmed...I also happen to take mine out often and the concrete outside files them down almost instantly.
Did you make that illustration BTW?..thats a pretty good rendering..simple and to the point.

 

[glenCOCO]

Thanks everyone! So the tip it is. I'm glad i switched over to tile, her nails don't leave bloody scratches all over my arms anymore :mrgreen: Yes, I made the drawing. i just wanted to make it clear what I was talking about and I'm sure if anyone else gets confused about where/how to trim nails it could be used as a good reference picture. Thanks, I'm glad you enjoyed my drawing! :laughing6:

 

[missnikki]

sorry but i have a question about trimming nails also. one of my dragons has a curly toe nail and i was wondering if there is any way that i can reverse that or to help him out in any way? it does not seem to bother him but he is constantly getting it caught around things. sorry for the hijack

 

[spyder79]

yeah only cut the tip and one run over an emory boards will help dull them down.

 

[glenCOCO]

sorry but i have a question about trimming nails also. one of my dragons has a curly toe nail and i was wondering if there is any way that i can reverse that or to help him out in any way? it does not seem to bother him but he is constantly getting it caught around things. sorry for the hijack

It's cool, no need for the apology. I'm sure you'd treat it the same way you would with regular over-grown nails. Just cut off the tips and do it again in a few weeks. You'll know when it's ready to cut again when you start to see the white part receding or getting shorter. Once you get to your desired length make sure you maintain it and you shouldn't have to worry about curled toe nails. What kind of substrate are you using?

 

[missnikki]

i have been using tiles for about 5 months now with him, he was on the repti bark stuff before so his nails could not file themselves down. it just seems like the more i let it go the more curly it gets.

 

[TheDragonKeepers]

Well spotted with the vein and nerve core - you certainly don't want to get closer than a millimetre to it when clipping - it would pinch. It's just like the nail bed in your finger. I clip my dragons once every couple of months using a pair of good nailclippers to cut it back. I have also taken to using a cheap battery operated manicure buffer to polish any rough edges off. It's a lot faster than an emery board, but be sure to only "tap" the claw repeatedly so you don't overheat it.

 

[sbattisti]

My beardie is just starting to get little "sharpies," so here's my stupid question of the day:

Khalil doesn't love to be handled (yet), and he's still little, and I don't want to handle him too tightly. How exactly does one get a beardie to sit still patiently for nail trimming??

 

[TheDragonKeepers]

Easy peasy. Put a blankie on a windowsill and put your dragon on the blankie. There's NOTHING dragons love more than staring out of windows.