Stuck sheds, also known as reverse molting, are caused when a bearded dragon doesn’t have enough calcium or vitamin D3. This can happen if they aren’t eating enough greens, bugs, and other foods that contain these essential nutrients.
Truthfully, it’s no big deal if your bearded dragon gets stuck sheds from time to time. In fact, it shows you’re taking good care of them! However, if your beardie is getting stuck shed repeatedly and you know there is something more going on than just bad luck, then you need to read on…
This article will cover exactly what stuck shed looks like on a bearded dragon and why it happens. Plus tips on how to prevent it from happening again!
What Is Stuck Shedding?
Stuck shedding is when a bearded dragon’s skin starts peeling off in big chunks. This is for the same reason that humans shed skin cells, but it can be more dramatic.
The peeling usually happens because of a lack of calcium or vitamin D3. This can happen if they aren’t eating enough greens, bugs, and other foods that contain these essential nutrients.
In most cases, stuck shedding only lasts for a few days and then their skin will grow back healthy and strong.
Why Does A Bearded Dragon Get Stuck Shedding?
Bearded dragons will usually shed their skin every 4-6 weeks. This is a natural process that helps them grow. The shedding process starts when the old skin starts to harden and gets pushed up to the head.
It’s important to know that bearded dragons don’t have eyelids, so they can’t close their eyes while they are shedding. However, if your beardie’s shedding is becoming more frequent or you notice a change in their behavior, it could be an indicator of something wrong.
Reasons why a bearded dragon may get stuck shedding:
1) They’re not getting enough calcium from greens or bugs
2) They’re not getting enough vitamin D3 from greens or bugs
3) They’re being mistreated by a human caretaker
4) Stressful event like new animals added to the home
5) New environment (different light patterns or temperature changes)
How do you tell if your bearded dragon has stuck shed?
Stuck sheds are a little hard to identify at first, but there are a few tell-tale signs your bearded dragon is going through this process. The most obvious sign of stuck shed is that the beardie has an all-over thin coat or patchy areas where they’re missing scales.
It’s important to remember that dragons don’t actively shed their skin like mammals do, so the scales grow back in reverse order. If you see your bearded dragon completely shedding off patches of its skin, this means it’s been getting stuck sheds for months and needs medical attention!
To prevent this from happening again, make sure you’re feeding them enough greens, bugs and other foods that contain these essential nutrients.
You may also want to consider consulting with your veterinarian about giving them supplements and vitamins if their diet isn’t providing enough calcium and vitamin D3.
When Should I Be Concerned About Stuck Shedding?
If your beardie is getting stuck sheds constantly, you need to start monitoring them.
Here are some signs that might indicate a bigger problem:
– Your beardie is losing weight rapidly
– They are constantly shedding and their skin doesn’t look healthy
– You see any bald spots on their skin. If you notice any of these problems, call your vet right away or go see them in person.
Stuck shed happens sometimes, but if it’s happening all the time there may be an underlying issue.
How can I help my bearded dragon with a stuck shed?
If your bearded dragon is getting stuck sheds, try these steps to help them out:
– Feed a nutritious diet
– Give them plenty of natural light
– Increase their humidity by misting the tank every day
– Add calcium supplements to their food twice a week
– Keep up on their vitamin D3 supplement once a week
Summing Up
If you notice any of these signs that your bearded dragon is in the process of shedding, it is important to help your bearded dragon shed properly. Some of the signs that your bearded dragon has a stuck shed is that their skin looks raised and bumpy or their skin looks like it is peeling off.
Your bearded dragon’s eyes may also look cloudy and their eyes may feel dry. If you see these symptoms, then it is important to help your bearded dragon shed properly.
You can help your bearded dragon shed properly by soaking them in warm water mixed with vinegar for a few minutes. You can also use a reptile shedding aid to assist your bearded dragon in shedding.
These remedies should help your bearded dragon with shedding and prevent any more stuck sheds.
My name is Brad and I am the main editor of BeardieZilla.com.
The only goal of this site is quite simply to be able to help you. To help you by the means of my experiment, of the relation which I maintain with my bearded dragon as well as some of my knowledge about beardies.
I hope that you will find answers to some of your most pressing questions here.
Thank you for stopping by and enjoy the blog!
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