Bearded dragons come from arid, desert areas of Australia, the place water is extremely scarce. However, like all residing animals, they want water to outlive. Within the wild, bearded dragons get a lot of the water they want from the vegetation and bugs they eat, fairly than instantly from water sources. Getting them to drink from a water bowl will be tough as a result of it’s so unnatural an exercise for them.
Getting a beardie to drink water is usually a problem, however, under, we have now highlighted six steps you’ll be able to take to maintain your dragon correctly hydrated and forestall them from getting sicknesses corresponding to constipation.
Needless to say in case your bearded dragon appears to want extra water than standard or is turning into dehydrated extra usually this is usually a signal of sickness or husbandry issues and it’s best to seek the advice of with an exotics veterinarian.
Bearded Dragons within the Wild
Bearded dragons come from Australia. Particularly, they arrive from deserts and different arid areas the place water may be very scarce. Most wouldn’t have entry to our bodies of water like lakes and rivers, and since it so not often rains, they don’t have entry to rain as a water provide. As such, wild Beardies get the vast majority of the water they require by their food plan, from the bugs and vegetation they eat.
As a result of bearded dragons get most of their water from the meals they eat, they don’t seem to be accustomed to lapping at water or getting it from standing water. Your bearded dragon may additionally get a lot moisture from the food plan however they need to at all times have entry to water.
The 6 Steps for Getting a Bearded Dragon to Drink Water
1. Strive a Bowl
Firstly, you do must put a water bowl in a bearded dragon’s enclosure. Even when you don’t see them ingesting from it, they might be having the occasional drink. The bowl needs to be shallow however large enough that the Beardie can climb in and soak if they want. Over time, your Beardie might study to drink from the bowl, however keep in mind that the excessive humidity within the tank signifies that the water stage will go down naturally over time. Humidity of the enclosure will likely be affected by the water bowl measurement and placement; ensure you are monitoring the humidity and make changes as wanted. Additionally, the hotter the situation of the water bowl, the extra the humidity will increase.
2. Spray Your Beardie
Sprinkle water on or mist your beardie’s face. have water on their noses, they might attempt to lick the droplets off, giving them much-needed hydration and inspiring ingesting. You’ll be able to attempt spraying the edges of the enclosure a couple of instances per week too. Once more, ensure you are usually not spraying sufficient to extend the humidity of the enclosure an excessive amount of.
3. Select Meals with Excessive Water Content material
As they get water from their meals sources within the wild, this needs to be one of many main sources of hydration for pet bearded dragons, too. In case your Beardie gained’t drink water, attempt swapping out a few of their current meals sources for these with increased water content material. Watercress, bell peppers, and mustard greens are all excessive in moisture content material and might type the premise of an excellent food plan.
4. Spray Their Meals
Failing that, you’ll be able to spray water on the meals you do feed. This is usually a great way of accelerating water content material. Spray the greens you feed, and when you do spray bugs, ensure it doesn’t kill them or inhibit their motion an excessive amount of. The reside meals you give wants to maneuver to be a magnet for your beardie so use a mist, fairly than a direct spray.
5. Bathe Your Beardie
It might be an choice to wash your bearded dragon, however whereas some tolerate it and a few adore it, others turn out to be fairly perturbed on the thought of being bathed. If it stresses your bearded dragon out, then this isn’t an choice, however bathing your Beardie in lukewarm water will naturally introduce them to water and they’ll seemingly attempt ingesting a minimum of a little bit of the water.
6. Contact a Veterinarian
In case your beardie is getting dehydrated there could also be extra at play than simply water consumption. Some ailments will trigger them to lose extra water than they will absorb. Get your pal examined by a veterinarian for evaluation and remedy.
How A lot Water Does a Beardie Want?
Bearded dragons don’t want giant volumes of water. They want roughly 20 milliliters per kilogram of physique weight, every day. And this does embrace water discovered of their meals.
How Can You Inform If a Bearded Dragon Is Dehydrated?
Dehydrated bearded dragons will poop much less usually than regular. Their eyes will seem sunken and their gums can really feel dry. Their saliva can look thick or stringy. A pores and skin tent take a look at can be finished which entails gently pinching a small quantity of pores and skin and letting go; in nicely hydrated beardie’s the pores and skin strikes again into place whereas if they’re dehydrated the pores and skin stays tented.
Can Bearded Dragons Swim?
Though they don’t usually want to take action within the wild, bearded dragons can naturally swim. They inhale air and use their inflated lungs as a way of floating on the floor. They then use their muscular legs to propel themselves ahead and direct their motion within the water.
Do Bearded Dragons Like Baths?
It is determined by the person bearded dragon. Some actually enjoy being bathed and can willingly hop within the water. For others, it may be a extremely aggravating expertise that needs to be prevented.
Conclusion
Bearded dragons are fascinating little pets. They’re enjoyable to observe, tolerate dealing with, and are simpler than a whole lot of different lizard and reptile species to take care of. Nonetheless, there are some challenges to proudly owning the sort of reptile. You do want to fulfill their temperature and humidity necessities, which might make organising an enclosure difficult, they usually do require reside feeding, which suggests having reside roaches and different bugs round.
It can be tough to get them to drink water however, above, we have now supplied six steps that will help you be certain that your bearded dragon is meeting its required daily water intake. Have in mind in case your beardie is needing extra water or getting dehydrated ceaselessly this needs to be addressed along with your veterinarian.
Featured Picture Credit score: ukmng, Shutterstock
