Reasons for Bearded Dragon Throwing Up:
1. Dehydration
Being native to Australian deserts, you’d not expect them to be prone to hydration. In fact, some owners assume they can go for pretty long periods without water.
You might be wrong, as beardies actually need water all the time to stay healthy.
As a bearded dragon owner, you need to bathe your bearded dragon, mist them, offer a water dish, and drip water on their snout for them to lick.
A lack of any of these or a combination can leave them dehydrated.
To keep your dragon rehydrated, we recommend a 10/15-minute bath about twice a week on their shoulders.
Make sure the water is about 80 degrees Fahrenheit, and you should supervise the pet to minimize the likelihood of drowning or your dragon drinking excess water.
Being in the bath will not only allow them to stay rehydrated, but it’s also a great way to encourage them to relieve themselves.
Like with many reptiles, baths stimulate bowel movements and allow them to defecate with ease. Don’t be surprised if your beardie has a habit of going to the bathroom for the bath as many find it satisfying.
This is not always the case, however. Some beardies hate baths. If yours happens to be like this, you can try misting them instead.
To do this, simply take any regular spray bottle, set it on mist settings, and mist them gently. You should notice tiny droplets collecting on their snout for them to lick off.
Avoid misting inside the cage to avoid raising the humidity levels too much, which could lead to other health issues.
2. Overhydration
As noted above, beardies thrive in dry areas, specifically the deserts of Australia. In other words, they do not need to drink too much to get hydrated.
They can quickly get enough through baths and misting as well as moisture from the foods they eat. However, you need to place a bowl of water in their cage at least a couple of hours daily.
Setting the water for too long can lead to overdrinking and hence throwing up.
One of the signs that your beard is dehydrated is when you see a transparent slimy vomit of mucus-like a regurgitation from the stomach.
It’s often the case when accompanied by tilting and rocking after drinking. You can address overhydration by laying your dragon flat after vomiting.
3. Salmonella disease
Salmonellosis is a gastrointestinal disease caused by a deadly bacteria known as Salmonella.
The zoonotic infection can be spread from animals to humans, which is the sole reason why you should wash your hands after handling a bearded dragon or the surface where it lives.
Most bearded dragons have these bacteria in their system, and it doesn’t affect them in smaller amounts.
However, when the bacteria count increases in their system, it can affect their immune system and trigger health issues like salmonellosis.
Symptoms of the illness may include diarrhea and vomiting. In severe instances, the infection can lead to septicemia.
It goes without saying that it’s unlikely that your bearded dragon is vomiting due to salmonella, but you can’t rule entirely.
4. Impaction
There have been cases among owners where the bearded dragon swallows something they should not have ingested.
Perhaps your beardies cage is decorated with a bunch of loose substrates, or they could have ingested a plant that’s toxic for them.
Bearded dragons are extremely curious and will nibble and lick anything they come across.
If you believe your dragon might have ingested a hard substance like an exoskeleton, you might need to monitor them and gauge the appetite levels.
They could get impacted by eating insects that are too big for them. To know whether insects are too big for your beardie, you can measure the distance between the eyes.
If your beardie is constipated, you can tell by their big round belly, and you can see them struggling to move around.
Another sign of constipation in beardies is when they have trouble pooping. You can gently massage the belly with your fingers or use a warm cloth.
If massages are warm baths don’t work, you should take them to the vet for further assistance.
If you believe the pet might have ingested toxic substances, you should alert the vet.
Activated charcoal has been found to be one of those miracle products that could help beardies recover by absorbing the toxins.
If there’s no activated charcoal at the time, you can also try a little bit of fresh cilantro. Although this may not work as well as activated charcoal, it’s certainly better than nothing.
5. Overfeeding
Just like humans, bearded dragons may start throwing up from pigging out on food. This is a common scenario, especially when you offer them their favorite food, such as crickets or phoenix worms, and they end up overindulging.
It’s common for babies to eat a lot in one sitting, which could be the cause of their sickness. To avoid this, ensure you know how much is too much for your dragon based on their age.
Bearded dragon babies up to 3 or 4 months need 2-3 meals per day, while those between 4-7 months old need one or two meals a day.
Adult bearded dragons require one meal per day and insects at least two times per week. Make sure you keep a bowl of salad in the cage at all times to familiarize the pet with greens as well.
To control their eating habits, feed the dragon as many insects as they can eat in 10-15 minutes. If you think the bearded dragon is overeating, reduce the feeding session to 10 minutes only.
Based on the size of crickets, a baby dragon will consume about 50 large crickets in a day if fed two times daily.
If you feed this amount, but the pet still seems complete, it could be that the digestion is not taking place properly due to inadequate heat and heat.
Only cut down the number of crickets if your juvenile dragon is consuming too many over 120 small ones per day. Keep in mind that this is just an approximation and will be affected by other variables.
Also, super worms and mealworms are not recommended for juvenile bearded dragons under seven months because it’s high in chitin content, making them difficult to digest.
Adult beardies will only eat 30-40 feeder insects per week. Good options to try are silkworms and phoenix worms.
If you go for fatty options like wax worms and super worms, you should reduce this amount by half.
Adult bearded dragons can consume no more than ten super worms in one sitting. Anything above that, more than twice a week can put your pet at a risk of obesity.
6. High Coccidia Numbers
Common in kittens and puppies, coccidia is known to afflict beardies as well, causing throwing up. The good news is your dragon will have little to no problem when this parasite is under control.
Coccidia is a tiny parasite that lives within a bearded dragon’s intestines.
Bearded dragons with healthy immune systems can keep these parasite levels under control, but when the parasite is abnormally high in numbers, it can cause sickness.
Additionally, the presence of other parasites can help coccidia flourish and raise this number to a point where the immune system can no longer regulate them.
Like other parasites in the bearded dragon’s habitat, coccidia takes away vital nutrients your bearded dragon needs, which could, in turn, make them sickly and anemic.
Signs to look for in case of parasite infection include weight loss, diarrhea, a lack of appetite, lethargy, and stunted growth.
If you think that this parasite is plaguing your bearded dragon, you might need to consult a vet as soon as possible as it could turn fatal if ignored.
Make sure you safely collect their vomit and fecal matter and keep them in a foam cooler or cold bag with an ice pack.
These can be used by the vet for some testing to know precisely the parasite that’s plaguing your pet.
7. Bad Food
Ever ingested something wrong like stale food or one that was not correctly prepared? We sometimes throw up to get rid of the harmful stuff.
The bearded dragons aren’t any different. When it vomits, it could be a result of lousy food like mealworms or a toxic plant.
It could be a mealworm with a hard shell they might have ingested.
But kindly, stop feeding beardies mealworms not only for the hard exoskeleton but also because they contain a lot of fats and more minor proteins.
Overfeeding these will make your dragon appear like a chubby reptile. A fat bearded dragon is prone to liver and kidney failure and won’t even move as much. We highly advise you to steer away from these mealworms.
If you think the throwing up is a result of a potential bad food, there are a few steps you can take to get him up and feeling better again.
First, take a look at the vomit, and it has chunks of exoskeletons, and your beardie looks much like himself; it might not be anything to worry about after all.
If you think that the pet might have consumed a toxic substance, then you need to look for the vet ASAP! While at it, offer some activated charcoal or a little fresh cilantro as well as lots of clean, warm water.
Toxic plants that hurt bearded dragons include:
- Avocado
- Azalea
- Buttercup
- Cherry
- Daffodil
- Clematis
- Crocus
- Hyacinth
- Holly
- Peach
- Morning glory
- Lily of the valley
- Taro
- Poppy
- Poinsettia
- Skunk cabbage
- Wisteria
8. Dirty Cage
It’s crucial that your beardie’s tank be clean. Every day you should clean the tank, spot cleaning any poop as soon you see it.
Have a scoop and a plastic bag to remove any waste and keep your dragon’s habitat instantly better. Additionally, make it a weekly routine to clean the glass, wash the water and food dishes with soap, and clear the substrate.
Consider using a safe cleaning spray and vacuum the tank. Be sure to clean your hands properly after touching the cage and avoid eating near the surfaces of the tank.
Failure to clean the cage on a regular basis will leave your dragon ill and with internal parasites that will affect its growth and appetite.
Don’t forget to change the water regularly because it can be blamed. Dragons also find fluoride toxic, so you could switch to filter water to be safe.
9. Wrong parameters in the cage
One of the reasons why bearded dragons throw up is having digestion issues due to the wrong parameters in the cage.
The dragon won’t be able to digest food if the temperatures in the tank are too low, leaving large amounts of food undigested.
The ideal habitat of a bearded dragon should have a hot spot at 92-1100F and a cold spot at 75-850F.
The humidity should be between 30 to 40% and not anything over 45%. Too much moisture promotes fungus and bacteria growth which could endanger your dragon’s health.
If you can’t keep the humidity low, include plants that reduce humidity inside the cage. You can ensure sufficient ventilation by using screen lids made of mesh.
Bearded Dragon Throwing Up Blood
Before discussing the reasons why your bearded dragon could be throwing up blood, you need to know one thing. Bearded dragon owners can mistake dark-colored stool for a blood vomit.
In fact, it’s very common for a beardie owner to panic at the sight of a red stool. Unless you saw the bearded dragon vomiting, the waste you see could be just poop.
A vomit appears flung while poop will sit in a neat pile. Knowing the difference is essential.
If you are still convinced that your bearded dragon is vomiting blood, you might be right. It happens. A common culprit is often the liver, but there are several other reasons.
Bearded dragons with a fatty liver have been known to throw up blood. If this is accompanied by a loss of appetite and lethargy, you might want to get them to the vet right away.
Another reason for throwing up blood is cancer. Of course, you’ll need a vet to perform an X-ray to rule this out.
Bearded Dragon Throwing Up Mucus
If your bearded dragon is throwing up mucus, it could be a result of a few things.
10. Upper respiratory infection
URI or an upper respiratory infection is the most common cause of this. It’s caused by a bacterial infection resulting from taking in too much moisture.
Bearded dragons suffering from URI are likely to have mucus running from the mouth and nose. keep in mind that these should not be taken lightly because they can turn up to be deadly.
11. Dirty water
Although not entirely necessary, having a water dish in the cage could help keep your bearded dragon hydrated if they might want to have a sip.
However, a water dish will undoubtedly raise the humidity of the enclosure. Most of the time, it does not present it as much.
Now, how often do you clean the bowl and replace the water? If you answered “not daily,” it might be possible that your beardie is throwing up due to that.
Bearded Dragon Throwing Up Water
Assuming the water is clean and they didn’t drink any dirty water, then it’s probably not something to worry about.
Oftentimes, bearded dragons will not wholly swallow the water and will instead hold it under the beard. So, when they open their mouths, the water pours out.
Also, a beardie that just-drinks some water can regurgitate when in an upright position.
How To Help A Bearded Dragon When Throw Up?
To begin with, if your dragon is throwing up regularly, whether mucus, food, or blood, you need to get them to a vet asap.
Moreover, you need to collect the vomit in a Tupperware container to take it to the vet with you.
Regardless of whether you’ll be able to get your dragon to the vet immediately, or it might take time, use these tips to help them feel better.
1. Bath them when sick
Vomiting dehydrates your dragon. Due to this, you can keep them replenished by providing a bath.
Simply have a tub and fill it with warm water, then place your dragon inside.
During bath time, a tip you could use for more safety and fun is to offer something your bearded dragon can stand on to be steady. Items like wash clothes and rubber duckies work great.
Make sure to keep an eye on them for about 20 minutes and ensure they don’t breathe in water.
Not only can taking in too much water cause them to drown, but it can also cause an upper respiratory infection. Do not overhydrate!
2. Feed them baby food
Whenever you notice that your bearded dragon is having a hard time eating and keeping food down, probably, they aren’t getting enough nutrients to stay healthy.
That’s why you might want to feed them baby food like butternut squash via syringe or spoon.
Additionally, baby food is gentle on your beardie’s stomach and might be what they need while having issues with hard insects.
Try giving them canned pumpkin or warm applesauce as these act as gentle laxatives and could encourage bowel movements in case of impaction.
3. Double-check cage temperatures
As said earlier, beardies are likely to have trouble digesting food if the cage is too cold. Also, too much humidity can leave your bearded dragon with upper respiratory infections.
That said, you should have a digital thermometer on both hot and cold spots to monitor the temperature. Additionally, have a hygrometer to track the humidity of the tank.
4. Clean the cage
Keeping your bearded dragon’s environment nice and clean is a sure way to get rid of any bacteria and parasites that might be causing them to throw.
Remove all fecal matter from the cage before cleaning it with a solution of water and red vinegar in a nine to one ratio.
This is because red vinegar is more efficient at eliminating bacteria than bleach. This will prevent reinfection from occurring later on.
During the cleanup process, remember to disinfect all toys and decoration plants in the bearded dragon’s terrarium and use paper towels to clean them before reintroducing them into the cage.
Wrap Up
As you can see, there are many reasons why your bearded dragon might be vomiting. Whether the cause is more severe or easy to correct, the main takeaways are:
- Do not overfeed your dragon
- Keep the enclosure clean
- Ensure you don’t feed hard-to-digest food
- Keep them hydrated (not overhydrated)
- Avoid toxic plants
- Keep the parameters in the cage right
We hope the tips above will help you make the necessary changes. If you have this problem, make sure to collect the vomit and fecal matter to take it with you to the vet. Carry any previous blood tests.
Your beardie will be fine!
