Angry Bearded Dragon Stress Marks
Humans are not the only ones that go through stress. Bearded dragons go through stress also. However, unlike humans, bearded dragons can’t tell their owners when they are stressed. But they can exhibit various signs which can be an indication of how stressed they are.
This article contains signs of stress for the bearded dragon. Read on to find out.
Darker Coloration
Having a slightly darker color could mean various things for a bearded dragon. It could be a sign that it is about to shed. It could also be a sign that it is being stressed.
When you notice a darker coloration on your bearded dragon, to know what the exact cause is, you will have to watch it closely for a couple of days. If after some days of having a darker coloration, it still does not shed, you can be sure that it is suffering from stress. As soon as you confirm the cause of its discoloration to be stress, it is important to see your veterinarian.
A Loss of Appetite
A major sign of stress for bearded dragons is a sudden loss of appetite. If you offer your bearded dragon its food and it refuses to eat even after several attempts with various types of meals, the reason for this just might be stress. As soon as you notice that your bearded dragon is going through stress, to help it feel better, you can feed it some fruits, as well as insects. For a start, mangoes, pawpaw, waxworm, and hornworms will be ideal.
On some occasions, feeding your bearded dragon fruits or insects can help it eat even when it does not have an appetite for food. However, if it refuses to eat, you might need to check its temperature. After checking its temperature, if it has a perfect temperature but is still refusing to eat, you should contact your vet.
Not Spending Enough Time Basking
Basking is a part of the lifestyle of bearded dragons. This lifestyle, however, can be altered by stress. When a bearded dragon is stressed, it could spend quite a number of days without basking. If your bearded dragon does not bask for a long while, it might start getting unhealthy. To find out if it still has the right temperature, you will have to check its temperature with a thermometer.
A Reduction in Activity
Various bearded dragons have different levels of being active. A lot of times, the personality of a bearded dragon is responsible for how active it will be. Also, in addition to personality, stress can have a great effect on the activity level of your bearded dragon. If you notice your bearded dragon is not as active as it is naturally, it might be going through some stress.
As soon as you notice a reduction in the activity of your bearded dragon as a result of stress, the first thing you should do is ensure is it has the right level of heat being provided for it. Also, go through its diet to check if it is getting the right nutrition.
