Do Bearded Dragons Drink Water? Bearded Dragon Water
Bearded dragons are a very interesting lizard, and they’re one of the more popular ones that are domesticated and turned into pets. They are used to the very dry deserts of Australia, so they don’t require a lot of water. So where do they normally get their water from? Do you just give them a bowl of water? Well, we’ll get into that soon, because in this guide we’re going to show you how to provide water for your bearded scaly friend, since things are a little bit different when it comes to keeping them in captivity.
Their Habitat Affects them Differently
Since bearded dragons are cold-blooded, they keep their bodies warm by their surroundings. They need sunlight, so in captivity, we normally have to have some sort of heat lamp for them or a heat rock in order for them in order to stay warm. They normally get their heat during the early mornings, and in the evening when the sun is warm but not too hot. Not only that but in the wild, they get their moisture from different sources than we can provide. Being true omnivores, bearded dragons are most prone to eating leafy vegetables, some flowers, and insects like grasshoppers and worms. Once in a while, you can actually give them tomato hornworms (Five-spotted hawk moth larvae) to give them a treat once in a while (about once every couple months).
In the wild, they normally get their water from plants and the insects they eat, so when you have one in captivity, you need to actually give them water since you’re not going to feed and water them non-stop. Give them a little water dish that looks like their natural habitat pools (such as the Exo Terra Water Dish) which you can buy online. A lot of people who have bearded dragons get freeze-dried insects for their bearded dragon to eat (like crickets, mealworms, and kingworms).
However, you can always go to a pet store, or order your bearded dragon live crickets and mealworms very easily because this will provide more water for your pet, as well as give them the exercise they need in order to survive well. In the later summer months, as long as you know your yard isn’t full of pesticides, they can even eat cicadas once in a while! Be creative, and if you have children, this is a great way to get them to stop being afraid of bugs while they are food for your beardie!
Don’t forget to give your bearded dragons fresh greens as well. Foods like kale, mustard greens, broccoli tops, turnip greens, parsley, and others, but you don’t have to spend a lot to get these things. If you want, you can actually get most of the food for your bearded dragons right out in your back yard. Every day pick a handful of clover, throw in some dandelion greens (and dandelion flowers when they’re yellow or blooming – before they turn into puff balls), plantain, romaine lettuce, maple leaves, and more.
If you’re going to feed your bearded dragon something like bananas or kiwis, you need to only give them about one thin slice of banana as a treat. Sometimes if they’re not going to eat their greens, you can chop up that banana in their greens as a way to get them eating when they want to be stubborn. Only use bananas about once or twice a month. Otherwise, your dragon can get sick.
When Using a Water Bowl
A lot of bearded dragons you get won’t immediately drink from a water bowl right off the bat. Therefore, you might have to train them to get their water. You can throw a drop or two of strawberry or papaya juice in the water and they might want to drink it more often. Once they get used to it, just start weaning them off of “the juice”.
You can normally get spring drinking water rather cheap and it’s recommended that you use that so it normally has some mineral content. However, you can mist them and bathe them normally with regular tap water. The main thing is that to be safe, or if you have hard water, you may want to use a water softener that’s quite popular called ReptiSafe. It gets rid of a lot of the chlorine. Of course, if you want to regularly spend the money on Fiji water for your pet be my guest.
Speaking of Misting
One other way dragons often get water is when they get rained on. Sure, it doesn’t happen that often in the desert, but it does happen more than one might think. The water just normally gets evaporated into a mist during the dryer seasons when it rains. Therefore, you’ll want to invest in a spray bottle, and fill it up with some of that good spring water. Spray your bearded dragon to mimic the rain and when it’s wet, it’ll start drinking the water dripping off of its nose. This is actually the highest recommendation that many veterinarians tell you to do more than anything, as it mimics a bearded dragon’s natural habitat.
Conclusion – Bearded Dragon Water
Bearded dragons can get dehydrated just like any other animal. The best way we’ve found to keep your bearded dragon hydrated and happy is to provide their natural habitat and bring it to them. If you’re going to feed them dehydrated foods, you need to mist them frequently and train them to drink from a water bowl regularly. This means you’re going to handle your bearded dragon more (which is actually good for bonding and them getting used to you).
Keep in mind though, that honestly, if you’re not willing to handle some live insects, then a bearded dragon definitely isn’t for you. Keep an eye out for severely wrinkled skin, lack of appetite, lethargic behavior, and sunken eyes. If your bearded dragon’s skin doesn’t “roll” back into place if you grab a little bit and lightly pinch it, then you may want to work on hydrating your scaly friend.
