Bearded dragons are native to Australia’s desert regions and have adapted to survive with little water consumption, but they are frequently dehydrated. As a responsible reptile owner, you must provide your bearded dragon with adequate water to prevent dehydration. The skin, behaviors, and eyes of a dehydrated bearded dragon are often indicators of dehydration. This article will address the question, “What does a dehydrated bearded dragon’s eyes look like?”
What does a Dehydrated Bearded Dragon’s Eyes Look Like?
A dehydrated bearded dragon’s eyes will be lower than normal. They might also have an indention on the back of their eyelid.
Below is a picture of a dehydrated bearded dragon’s eyes.
A healthy bearded dragon’s eyes should be completely open and you should be able to see the whole eye ball, as seen in the picture below.
What to do if bearded dragon has sunken eyes?
The first thing to do if your bearded dragon has sunken eyes is to ensure it’s not due to dehydration. Sunken eyes can be caused by illness, parasites, low humidity, and various other factors. If your bearded dragon’s sunken eyes are accompanied by wrinkly and loose skin, it is likely due to dehydration.
For example, this can be caused by having a 20% humidity, instead of the recommended range of 30%-45%. You can help increase humidity with a bearded dragon humidifier.
My favorite is this reptile humidifier. It only costs around $50.
If you can’t get a humidifer, you can also try regularly spraying them with water.
Symptoms of a dehydrated bearded dragon
Bearded dragon dehydration symptoms include wrinkled and loose skin, a lack of appetite, lethargy, and sunken eyes. A dehydrated bearded dragon may also develop stress marks that won’t go away.
If you’re new to caring for a bearded dragon, these symptoms may lead you to believe that your reptile has a severe health problem, but the problem is easily fixed.
Dehydration occurs when bearded dragons do not get enough water from their diet, their environment is too dry, or they do not drink any water at all. While most bearded dragons drink from their bowl, some prefer to drink from moving water rather than stagnant, resulting in them not drinking any water.
While bearded dragons appear to be strong and easy to care for, they are actually quite fragile and prone to illness if not properly cared for. You can help maintain their health with a healthy diet. A balanced diet includes plenty of greens, vegetables, and live insects. However, you must exercise caution because most vegetables and fruits are too watery for bearded dragons. A good vegetable option is bok choy.
If you don’t feed the right diet, your bearded dragon could get metabolic bone disease.
How much water do bearded dragons need?
Bearded dragons, in fact, do not require a lot of water. They get the majority of their water from food. If you can have your bearded dragon eat greens, you should not experience any dehydration issues. You don’t have to force a bearded dragon to drink a certain amount of water, but you should provide water in its tank and, as a bonus, mist their food.
How to help a dehydrated bearded dragon?
If your bearded dragon is dehydrated, you can help it in three ways: misting, flavoring, and baths.
- Misting – It is acceptable to use misting to hydrate your pet if it is dehydrated. Typically, you wouldn’t do this because bearded dragons are adapted to a dry, desert environment. You’re attempting to simulate the rains that occasionally fall in the desert. This rain-like falling may arouse the bearded dragon’s thirst. Misting is a good option all around as long as you don’t spray too much. Begin by placing the bearded dragon in its tank near the water dish and spray it with a small spray bottle. This will alert the bearded dragon to the presence of water, creating the illusion of rain.
- Flavor the water – This trick is deceptive, but it works. Fill the water dish with small amounts of juice. The addition of sugar to the dish attracts their attention. They’ll smell the water, get hungry, and come over to investigate. It should also start drinking it at this point. They don’t mind the sugar because they like the taste. This isn’t a long-term solution, but it should be enough to get them to drink and hydrate a little. If the bearded dragon refuses to drink plain water, gradually reduce the amount of juice added to the water until none is added.
- Bath Time – Drinking and bathing are effective ways for bearded dragons to stay hydrated. Bearded dragons will frequently bathe and drink at the same time in the wild. When your pet is dehydrated, being near water provides the ideal opportunity for them to drink. Pick up the bearded dragon calmly and place it in its water dish. Its drinking instincts may be activated by immersing it in water. When using water dishes or baths, ensure the water does not reach the bearded dragon’s shoulders. Giving your bearded dragon a weekly bath gives it the best opportunity to stay hydrated.
Your job is complete once you provide these three primary methods of obtaining water. Just keep an eye on the bearded dragon’s hydration level.
Proper water dish for bearded dragon
You should also consider their water dish and diet to keep your bearded dragon hydrated. A water dish should always be kept in the bearded dragon’s tank. If necessary, the bearded dragon should be able to climb into this dish. You must ensure that your bearded dragon gets enough water through a varied diet.
The reptile will get more water from its food if fed a balanced diet of proteins and vegetables. Cucumbers, watermelons, mangoes, and broccoli are examples of water-rich foods. Bearded dragons get all their water from eating and drinking, so ensure they’re eating and drinking usually.
Conclusion
After you’ve completed all these steps, your bearded dragon’s sunken eyes and skin should heal. If the dehydration problem has not been resolved, it may be time to seek the assistance of a veterinarian. Dehydration is extremely common in bearded dragons, and you must be aware of the signs and symptoms of dehydration in bearded dragons as an owner.