Coccidia in bearded dragons is challenging. Dealing with coccidiosis is no easy task, and the fact that you’re here shows just how much you care about your bearded dragon’s health and happiness.
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Why do Bearded Dragons get Coccidiosis?
Coccidia are tiny protozoan parasites that infect animals and humans.
It is quite normal for animals to be infected with coccidia in the wild and it doesn’t become an issue for them. Unfortunately, the conditions we offer in captivity seems to create the problem.
The conditions that make coccidia in bearded dragons become an issue as pets seem to center around stress and that their enclosures become quickly contaminated. Gerhold (2015) explained some of these conditions:
- We offer very little space compared to their wild counterparts, so they come into contact with their feces much more.
- The controlled temperatures and humidity levels create ideal conditions for coccidia oocysts to develop into their infectious form.
- Overcrowding (more than one bearded dragon in a small enclosure) exacerbates the problem.
- We can accidently create stress in our bearded dragons that makes it easier for coccidia to take hold.
We find that our bearded dragons have coccidia by:
- They show us some symptoms that we recognise or concern us enough to take them to the vet.
- We are already at the vets and some routine or recommended tests are done.
The Difference Between Coccidiasis and Coccidiosis
Fortunately, not every bearded dragon infected with coccidia is sick. To differentiate between when they are sick from the parasite or when it is present but not causing issues, we use different terms being coccidiosis and coccidiasis.
Greiner & Mader (2006), tell us that coccidiasis refers to an infection with coccidia where the parasite is present but isn’t causing disease. Essentially, they are just carrying the parasite. Whereas coccidiosis is actually sick with the parasite.
It’s common to find oocysts in the feces of otherwise healthy bearded dragons, and you wouldn’t normally expect these cases of coccidiasis to require treatment via drugs. Of course, keeping the environment clean will help to keep it that way.
On the other hand, coccidiosis in bearded dragons occurs when the infection causes harm, leading to symptoms like diarrhea or lethargy, and it requires medical attention.
Strains of Coccidia in Bearded Dragons
Coccidia in bearded dragons include several protozoan parasites. Features like size, shape, and internal structure help scientists tell species apart.
Isospora amphiboluri, one of the main coccidia strains that infects bearded dragons, was thought to be specific to beardies. Unfortunately, Isospora amphiboluri has now also been discovered in the central netted dragon (Ctenophorus nuchalis) and thorny devil, Moloch horridus (Adriaanse et al., 2024).
Isospora amphiboluri targets the intestinal lining of bearded dragons, potentially causing digestive upset and health issues (Walden & Mitchell, 2021).
Choleoeimeria sp. specifically affects the gallbladder and bile ducts, making it particularly concerning and difficult to treat.
Choleoeimeria sp is not as fussy about its host as Isospora amphiboluri seems to be. Choleoeimeria sp has been known to infect bearded dragons, collard lizards, monitors, horned tree lizard, bluetongues, geckos, chameleons and so on (Stöhr et al., 2021). Fortunately Choleoeimeria sp is not very common, with one German study finding only 1.5% of lizards tested being infected (Stöhr et al., 2021).
Cryptosporidium, originally classified as a coccidian parasite, was reclassified in 2016 as a gregarine within the subclass Cryptogregaria (Ryan et al., 2016). Even though it is no longer considered a coccidian, it remains a significant protozoan parasite in reptiles.
Lifecycle in a Nutshell
The life cycle of coccidia starts when protective structures called oocysts are produced inside an infected host and pass out of the body in their poop. These oocysts can’t infect right away—they need time to develop (sporulate) outside in the environment before they become infectious. To grow properly, they need enough moisture, air, and warmth.
Stage 1 – Getting infected:
Your bearded dragon eats or licks something contaminated with mature coccidia eggs (oocysts).
Stage 2 – Inside the body:
Once inside your bearded dragon, the oocysts shell is broken open by bile and digestive juices releasing sporozoites (tiny parasites) in the intestine or gallbladder. These sporozoites:
The oocysts break open inside your bearded dragon, releasing sporozoites (tiny parasites). From here they:
- Enter the intestinal cells (for gut coccidia) or gallbladder (for biliary coccidia).
- Grow and replicate producing more parasites.
- Burst the infected cells, spreading to nearby healthy cells.
- Some sporozoites continue infecting cells, while others form male and female gametes that join to create new oocysts.
The newly formed oocysts are eventually passed out in feces, continuing the cycle. The process takes about 15–22 days for intestinal coccidia (Walden and Mitchell, 2021) and 50–83 days for biliary coccidia.
Stage 3 – Pooping out oocysts:
The coccidia eggs (oocysts) pass out in the poop unsporulated and not yet infectious. While the oocysts are developing (sporulating), they are at their weakest, they are vulnerable.
From here they need three specific things to develop:
- Moisture
- Oxygen
- Warmth (ideal temperatures: 30–37°C or 86–98.6°F) (Mahrt as cited in Lindsay, 1997; Shah as cited in Lindsay, 1997)
During this vulnerable time the oocysts cannot become infectious if they:
- Dry out
- Are exposed to temperatures below 30°C or above 40°C
- Face other harsh conditions
After sporulation (12 to 16 hours in ideal conditions), they develop a thick, resistant shell and now they are infectious. Once fully developed (sporulated), these oocysts:
- Can survive in the environment for a year or more
- Are resistant to many common disinfectants
- Can be killed by high temperatures
These tough sporulated oocysts are the stage we assume we’re dealing with when cleaning our bearded dragon’s enclosure.
The Problem with Coccidiosis in Bearded Dragons
Coccidiosis is especially dangerous for young bearded dragons, where severe infections can lead to death (Pike et al., 2020). The severity of infection often depends on factors such as:
- Their age
- Immune system strength
- Stress level including changes to food, extreme temperatures and environment changes
- Environmental conditions like overcrowding or poor sanitation
- Overall health status
- Parasite load (number of organisms present)
QUOTE: Common clinical manifestations of coccidiosis in animals are sudden onset of bloody diarrhea with fever, followed by dehydration, emaciation, and occasional death, especially in severely infected young animals. (Kim et al., 2002)
Symptoms of Coccidiosis in Bearded Dragons
Symptoms of Coccidiosis in bearded dragons range from mild to severe:
| Category | Details |
| Symptoms | – Lack of appetite (partial or complete anorexia) |
| – Lethargy or dullness, not wanting to move -Restlessness | |
| – Weight loss or failure to thrive | |
| – Diarrhea (abnormal or runny feces) | |
| – Blood in stool -Depression | |
| – Dehydration (visible as wrinkled skin and sunken eyes) | |
| – Weakness (lying flat) | |
| – Poor body condition -Lack of appetite | |
| – General debilitation -Sore nose -Stunted growth | |
| Age-Related Factors | – Young bearded dragons and juveniles are more likely to show clinical signs |
| – Adult dragons may be asymptomatic carriers | |
| – Small or young lizards face a higher risk of death | |
| Notes | – Not all infected dragons show symptoms |
| – Stress can increase parasite levels and worsen symptoms | |
| – Symptoms may be more severe in bearded dragons with: – Weakened immune systems – Underlying health conditions – Poor husbandry conditions |
Severe cases of coccidiosis in bearded dragons (caused by Isospora amphiboluri) can lead to significant health issues, especially in juveniles. Symptoms include diarrhea, dehydration, and a weakened immune response. This leaves bearded dragons vulnerable to other infections.
Isospora causes intestinal damage as the parasite disrupts normal gut function. In turn they can’t absorb the nutrients from their food properly and they start to lose weight.
In severe cases, particularly among young bearded dragons, they can die (Walden et al., 2012).
Treatment of Coccidiosis in Bearded Dragons
Unfortunately, the coccidia is a tough little survivor. Coccidia produce oocysts (which are tiny, hard-shelled spores) that are shed in our bearded dragon’s poop. If these oocysts stick around, they can become infectious in as little as 12 hours under the right conditions (Walden & Mitchell, 2021).
There are three means to treat coccidiosis in bearded dragons and both are needed together to be effective. The first is through medication provided by our vets. The second is through cleaning, which is an arduous task for any of us given the effort required.
Stage 1: Once your vet has checked over your bearded dragon and taken samples they will run tests. The results of those tests will help your vet decided which medication to use, for how long and advise of any other supportive care you need to put in place.
Stage 2: The stage of the coccidia that we try to kill with cleaning is the oocysts stage where they are present in the environment having been expelled through our bearded dragons’ poop.
The coccidia oocysts are incredibly difficult to kill. Their outer shell acts like a suit of armor, protecting them from many regular cleaning products. This is why precise what disinfectant and cleaning method we use to kill coccidia is so important. The idea is that we want to break the lifecycle of these resilient oocysts and prevent reinfection.
The guide What Disinfectant Kills Coccidia goes into great detail on all the disinfectants that can, and some that can’t, be used to kill coccidia.
Stage 3: Your bearded dragon needs to stay as de-stressed as possible. Stress is a factor in the load of coccidia in bearded dragons.
- It is likely that your bearded dragon isn’t eating well and unless your vet tells you otherwise, don’t force it. However, do make sure your bearded dragon is hydrated.
- Keep any noise or other disruption to a minimum.
- Make sure your bearded dragon has a hide, preferably cardboard at this stage as you can dispose of that rather than clean it. Just a little less work on you.
- If you can give your bearded dragon time in the sun, it would be even better than just the usual UV lights in its enclosure.
Do Probiotics Aid in Coccidiosis in Bearded Dragons?
Walden et al. (2012) looked into whether probiotics could potentially be used to treat coccidia infections in bearded dragons. Probiotics are thought to improve gut health by supporting the intestinal microbiome, which could theoretically help reduce the impact of parasites like Isospora amphiboluri which attack the gut.
Unfortunately, Walden et al. (2012) found that probiotics did not significantly reduce oocyst shedding compared to the untreated control group. Perhaps probiotics may still offer some benefits for overall gut health but they do not show any useful qualities in controlling or eliminating coccidiosis in bearded dragons.
Does Oregano Essential Oil Aid in Coccidiosis in Bearded Dragons?
The busy team of Walden et al., (2012) also tested whether oregano essential oil, which contains active compounds like carvacrol and thymol, as an aid in coccidiosis in bearded dragons.
Oregano oil was tested for its potential anticoccidial properties because the compounds carvacrol and thymol are known for their antimicrobial and anti-inflammatory effects. Theoretically the oregano oil could reduce coccidia’s impact on the gut.
However, Walden et al. (2012) found that oregano essential oil did not lead to a significant reduction in oocyst shedding compared to the control group. Like probiotics, perhaps oregano oil may contribute to overall gut health or act as a supportive supplement, but it was not effective as a standalone solution for treating coccidia in bearded dragons.
Quarantining Bearded Dragons with Coccidiosis
If your bearded dragon is infected with coccidiosis then you are likely feeling a bit upset and overwhelmed at the moment. Take the right steps now to stop the spread. Outside of medication and cleaning, you also need to quarantine your bearded dragon if you have any other reptiles.
Quarantine is one of the most important measures to manage coccidia and stop its spread.
- Separate housing: Move your bearded dragon to a separate enclosure, ideally in a different room. This stops oocysts from accidentally being carried back to other pets.
- Minimal setup: Use easy-to-clean materials like paper towels as substrate.
- Daily cleaning: Remove poop immediately and disinfect the enclosure daily as per the related article on disinfecting for coccidia.
- Stop cross contamination: Wear disposable gloves and apron when tending to your infected bearded dragon. Wash your hands thoroughly afterwards to avoid spreading the infection.
Quarantine should last at least 25 days with regular fecal testing during this time. Coccidia has a prepatent period of 15–22 days, meaning your dragon might shed oocysts during this period, even if they seem healthy. Extending quarantine ensures you catch all shedding phases.
The Story of Grumpy the Bearded Dragon who got Sick with Coccidiosis
Let me tell you the story of Grumpy the bearded dragon who got sick with coccidiosis.
Grumpy, our bearded dragon is going about his day in his enclosure. He pops down to the floor and licks something interesting, looked like a bit of food but who knows?
Unbeknown to Grumpy, that very spot had sporulated coccidia oocysts (mature coccidia eggs), and they are now in his mouth.
Grumpy goes back to basking and while he is busy doing that, the oocysts being their journey to his intestine. The bile and digestive enzymes crack open the oocysts, releasing the parasites.
Imagine Grumpy’s intestine as a long tube lined with healthy cells, all working together to absorb nutrients and water from food.
The coccidia quickly finds a spot to invade along Mojo’s intestinal lining. Once inside the cells, these tiny parasites begin to multiply rapidly, spreading through different sections of the intestine as the infection progresses. They go through several stages of reproduction, creating more and more parasites. Eventually, the infected cells burst open, releasing new parasites that invade nearby healthy cells. The chain reaction has begun, leaving Grumpy’s intestine increasingly damaged with each cycle of infection.
Over the next two to three weeks, the infection slowly moves through Grumpy’s intestines. More and more cells become damaged as the parasites continue their lifecycle. Grumpy’s immune system tries to fight back, causing inflammation that makes his intestinal wall become swollen and thickened.
Grumpy starts to feel unwell now. His owner notices he’s becoming less active and spends most of his time lying flat, not even wanting to climb his favorite branch. When his owner checks on him, Grumpy seems dull and unaware of his surroundings.
His appetite has changed dramatically – he used to be such a big eater, but now he barely touches his favorite foods. But even when he is eating he seems to be losing weight. Even when he does eat, his damaged intestines can’t absorb nutrients properly anymore. His owner weighs him weekly and keeps a log book. This has been so useful for Grumpy’s vet in the past. This weeks weighing definately confirms he is dropping condition.
His owner also notices his skin looking wrinkled and his eyes appearing sunken, signs that he’s becoming dehydrated. His owner drips a bit of water on Grumpy’s nose and he reaches a lazy tongue out to take it.
Grumpy does a poop. The stool is runny, this one has a hint of blood tinge and my gosh it stinks!
The parasites have been multiplying so much that they have now turned into millions.
Without treatment, Grumpy would continue to get sicker as this cycle repeats, with new parasites continuing to damage more cells. Young bearded dragons like Grumpy are especially vulnerable to severe infection.
Fortunately Grumpy’s owner noticed the changes and took him to the vet. At the vet, Grumpy’s fecal test confirmed coccidia. The vet explained that treatment would take several weeks and that it included some medication along with an intense cleaning routine at home.
The cleaning routine was intense! But, Grumpy’s owners did what it took to keep up with it, give him his medication and give him as little stress as possible. With lots of love and care from Mojo’s beardie parents, the parasites were eliminated.
Grumpy started showing improvement. His intestines healed and returned to normal. His energy came back first – he started climbing his branch again. Then his appetite returned, and he began devouring his greens and bugs like before. Before we knew it, Grumpy was back to glaring and just being grumpy.
The tricky thing about coccidia in bearded dragons is that these parasites don’t show up in every poop sample because they shed intermittently. Sometimes you need multiple tests over several days to catch them.
The End: Overcoming Coccidiosis in Bearded Dragons
Coccidia in bearded dragons can feel like an overwhelming challenge, but your care and commitment makes all the difference.
Dealing with coccidiosis takes time, patience, and effort. It involves working closely with your vet, maintaining a thorough cleaning routine, and ensuring your bearded dragon has a calm, stress-free environment to recover.
Grumpy’s story highlights the importance of acting quickly and compassionately when something feels off. By staying vigilant and partnering with your vet, you can tackle the challenges of coccidiosis and help your bearded dragon get back to their usual self.
If your bearded dragon is battling coccidiosis, know that this is a difficult time, but your dedication and effort is giving them the best chance to heal. Hang in there, you got this.
References
- Adriaanse, K., Morgan, T., Gasser, R. B., & Koehler, A. V. (2024). First record of Isospora amphiboluri in the thorny devil, Moloch horridus. International Journal for Parasitology Parasites and Wildlife, 25, 100983–100983.
- Ashley, R. (2022, August 23). Coccidia in Bearded Dragons. Parasitevet.co.uk.
- Gerhold, R. (2015, April 1). All about coccidian (Proceedings). DVM 360.
- Greiner, E. C., & Mader, D. R. (2006). Reptile Medicine and Surgery (in Mader, pp. 337–344). Elsevier.
- Kim, D. Y., Mitchell, M. A., Bauer, R. W., Poston, R., & Cho, D.-Y. (2002). An Outbreak of Adenoviral Infection in Inland Bearded Dragons (Pogona Vitticeps) Coinfected with Dependovirus and Coccidial Protozoa (Isospora Sp.). Journal of Veterinary Diagnostic Investigation, 14(4), 332–334.
- Lindsay, D. S., Dubey, J. P., & Blagburn, B. L. (1997). Biology of Isospora spp. from humans, nonhuman primates, and domestic animals. Clinical Microbiology Reviews, 10(1), 19–34.
- Lock, B. (2023). Coccidia Parasites Infect Reptiles. Vin.com.
- Naguib, M., & Vetstream Ltd. (2024, July 12). Coccidiosis. Vetlexicon.
- Ryan, U., Paparini, A., Monis, P., & Hijjawi, N. (2016). It’s official – Cryptosporidium is a gregarine: What are the implications for the water industry? Water Research, 105, 305–313.
- Stöhr, A. C., Globokar-Vrhovec, M., & Pantchev, N. (2021). Choleoeimeria spp. Prevalence in Captive Reptiles in Germany and a New Treatment Option in a Lawson’s Dragon (Pogona henrylawsoni). Journal of Herpetological Medicine and Surgery, 30(4).
- Walden, M., & Mitchell, M. A. (2012). Evaluation of Three Treatment Modalities against Isospora amphiboluri in Inland Bearded Dragons (Pogona vitticeps). Journal of Exotic Pet Medicine, 21(3), 213–218.
