Your bearded dragon’s poop plays a role in monitoring its health. As a bearded dragon owner, keeping an eye on your pet’s poop is an essential part of care. Bearded dragon poop can reveal a lot about your pet’s overall well-being. From the frequency of bowel movements to the color and consistency of the poop, these factors can indicate whether your bearded dragon is:

• Happy and healthy, or
• If there might be underlying health issues like stress, parasites, or impaction.

By regularly monitoring and understanding your bearded dragon’s poop, you can catch potential problems early and take action to keep your pet thriving.

The Look of Normal Bearded Dragon Poop

Bearded dragon poop typically consists of two main components:

• Fecal matter: This is the dark poop created through the digestion of food. It should be a reasonably well-formed, brown log-like structure.
• Urate (bearded dragon pee): This is the bearded dragon’s way of excreting excess uric acid (the human equivalent of urine). Urates are a white or off-white chalky substance that typically comes from the cloaca alongside the fecal matter. The urate should be soft but not runny, indicating that your bearded dragon is appropriately hydrated.

Visual Indicators of Health in Poop Consistency and Color

Healthy bearded dragon poop should have a consistent texture, with the fecal matter being firm yet soft enough to pass easily. The fecal matter’s color is usually some brown shade, indicating that your bearded dragon’s digestive system is functioning correctly. The urate should be white, and its consistency should be firm but not too hard. If the urate is dry and chalky, it might be a sign that your bearded dragon is dehydrated, which can lead to constipation.

Common Poop Characteristics, Colors, and What They Mean

Feces may come in different colors depending on diet. Knowing what normal and abnormal look like makes judgments on your bearded dragon’s health easier. For example, brown, well-formed feces are normal. If the poop is green, orange, or black but still well-formed, and your bearded dragon appears healthy, then it’s likely that the diet is simply causing a change in the color of poop, such as from pellets, insects, or vegetables.

Brown and White: Normal, Healthy Firm Poop

The ideal bearded dragon poop is a combination of one part brown fecal matter and one part white urate that is formed, slightly firm. This suggests that everything is functioning normally and is well-balanced. The white urate signifies that they are excreting uric acid properly, and its consistency should be soft but not overly runny or hard.

Green Poop

Green poop can occur from time to time and is often linked to dietary factors. If your bearded dragon’s diet includes a lot of leafy greens, it’s not uncommon for their poop to take on a greenish hue. However, if a foul odor or runny consistency accompanies this green poop, it could indicate a more severe issue, such as parasites.

Red Poop

Red poop could indicate the presence of blood in the stool. There may be less concerning reasons for red in the poop, such as red fruits or beetroot that were fed. If you observe or suspect blood in a stool, it’s important to consult a veterinarian to determine the cause and appropriate treatment. Some causes of blood in the stool can be Coccidia and pinworms.

All White Poop

If your bearded dragon’s poop is entirely white, it is likely just a urate with no fecal matter present. Just white urate can happen occasionally and is not usually a cause for concern unless the feces do not appear in subsequent bowel movements.

Runny or Watery Poop

Runny or watery poop in bearded dragons can be caused by several factors, including:

• Dietary issues, such as changes in food, eating foods that can act as laxatives, or consuming the wrong types of food,
• parasites, or
• stress.

If the poop is consistently runny, it could indicate that your bearded dragon is not absorbing nutrients correctly or that there is an underlying health issue, such as a parasitic infection. It’s important to review your bearded dragon’s diet and environment, and if the problem persists, seek veterinary advice.

Liquid Pee in the Stool

If it looks like there is liquid, as if it were urinating with a stool, the bearded dragon is likely getting too much fluid.

Chunky Bits (Food) in Poop

Chunky particles in the stool is likely undigested foods. The first things to investigate with undigested foods are all around temperatures. Is the enclosure temperature too low, is the bearded dragon being fed when it is too cold with insufficient heat for digesting in the evening or perhaps being fed during brumation.

Hard or Lumpy Poop

Hard or lumpy poop can be a sign of dehydration, constipation, or impaction. If your bearded dragon’s poop is hard, it might be struggling to pass it. This can occur from dehydration and other causes of constipation and needs immediate attention.

Strong-Smelling Poop

Bearded dragon poop has a naturally strong and unappealing odor; however, if it smells even more foul than usual, it can be a sign of parasites. Parasites are common in bearded dragons and can cause their poop to smell particularly bad, often accompanied by other symptoms such as runny consistency or lethargy. If you notice a persistent strong odor from your bearded dragon’s poop, it’s wise to consult a veterinarian for testing and potential treatment.

Poop with Characteristics of Parasites

Bearded dragons with parasites may show minimal symptoms in stools other than a slightly loose stool. However, runny diarrhea with an obnoxious smell, potentially weight loss, vomiting or regurgitation, and/or blood in the feces is a likely indication of parasites. Sometimes parasite infestations can prevent pooping.

How Often Do Bearded Dragons Poop?

Juvenile Bearded Dragons (4-18 months): Expected Frequency and What’s Normal

Juvenile bearded dragons, who are between 4 and 18 months old, generally poop more frequently due to their higher metabolism and greater food intake. It is common for these young bearded dragons to have a bowel movement every day or every other day. As they approach 18 months, you might notice a gradual decrease in the frequency of their poops, particularly as their diet begins to shift away from protein-rich insects to more vegetables.

Adult Bearded Dragons (18+ months): Expected Frequency and Variations Based on Diet

For adult bearded dragons, the frequency of pooping can vary widely depending on their diet and environmental conditions. Typically, adult dragons poop anywhere from 1 to 7 times a week. If your bearded dragon hasn’t pooped for a week, husbandry practices should be reviewed.

Bearded dragons with a diet high in insects, particularly those rich in calcium like silkworms, may poop more frequently, while those that primarily eat vegetables might poop less often. Any significant changes in the typical pattern for your bearded dragon could indicate a health issue that needs attention. Keep in mind that brumation, a hibernation-like state, will impact defecation since the bearded dragon is likely sleeping, slowed down, and not eating.

Impacts on How Often Bearded Dragons Poop

Outside of age, food, and health, another important factor that affects how often your bearded dragon poops is the environment it lives in. Proper basking temperatures and adequate UVB lighting are essential for efficient digestion. If the tank’s temperature is too low, your bearded dragon may struggle to digest food properly, leading to infrequent pooping.

Stress is another factor that can disrupt regular bowel movements. Changes in their habitat, such as the introduction of new tank mates or loud noises, can stress your bearded dragon and cause changes in their pooping habits. Ensuring a stable and comfortable environment is key to maintaining regular digestion.

When to Be Concerned About Pooping Frequency

Abnormal pooping patterns can be a sign of several health problems. Frequent pooping, especially if the poop is runny or smells particularly bad, might indicate the presence of parasites. Conversely, if your bearded dragon is pooping infrequently or appears to be straining, it could be suffering from constipation or impaction. Both conditions require prompt attention and may necessitate a visit to the vet to ensure your bearded dragon remains healthy and comfortable.

When Your Bearded Dragon is Pooping Too Much

Stress: Excessive pooping in your bearded dragon may be due to stress in its environment. This stress can result from changes in the surroundings, such as the introduction of new pets, loud noises, or modifications to the enclosure. Inadequate housing, improper temperature, and humidity levels can also lead to stress. To reduce stress, maintain a consistent and calm environment, and minimize disturbances. Provide a spacious, quiet tank, and ensure there are no uneaten feeder insects that could be stressors.

Parasites: One of the main reasons bearded dragons may poop excessively is the presence of parasites. Parasites can cause runny, foul-smelling poop and may lead to weight loss and lethargy. Most bearded dragons naturally carry some parasites, but if their immune system is compromised or the parasite load becomes too high, it can affect their digestion. If you notice abnormal poop (e.g., runny or extra smelly) and suspect parasites, it is helpful to collect a stool sample and visit a veterinarian who can conduct a fecal exam to determine the best course of treatment.

Overfeeding or Improper Diet: Feeding your bearded dragon too much protein or too many calcium-rich feeders can lead to more frequent pooping. Overfeeding, especially with protein-heavy diets like crickets or worms, can cause digestive upset and make your dragon poop more than usual. To prevent this, adjust your bearded dragon’s meal plan to ensure they eat the appropriate amount for their age and size. For adults, ensure that vegetables make up most of their diet and minimize insects.

What to Expect if Your Female Bearded Dragon is Gravid: If your female bearded dragon is gravid (pregnant), she may poop more frequently as her body prepares to lay eggs. This is because gravid bearded dragons often eat more food to support the development of their eggs, which can lead to more frequent bowel movements. Additionally, the physical pressure of the developing eggs on the digestive system can sometimes cause increased pooping.

How to Make a Bearded Dragon Poop

A bearded dragon is often easily stimulated to poop by bathing in warm water. Check the environment temperature and lighting are correct, and hydrate through fluids if necessary. To identify ways to help your bearded dragon poop use the checklist Bearded Dragon constipation assessment and action plan.

Many pet owners have been able to potty train their bearded dragon, often by pure accident.

Conclusion

Monitoring your bearded dragon’s poop is an essential aspect of ensuring their health and well-being. The frequency, appearance, and smell of their poop can provide valuable insights into their digestive health. Regular, well-formed brown fecal matter with white urates indicates that your bearded dragon is likely in good health. However, any significant changes, such as alterations in poop frequency, color, or consistency, should not be ignored as they may indicate underlying health issues such as dehydration, impaction, or parasites.

Bearded Dragons World on Facebook

FAQ’s

References

PetMD Editorial. (2008, September). Reptile Parasites | petMD. PetMD Editorial; PetMD.

Rich, G., Hess, L., & Axelson, R. (2009). Bearded Dragons – Diseases. VCA Animal Hospitals; VCA Animal Hospitals.