Reptile & Amphibian Forums

I just got two hatchlings from my local pet store, the breeder works there. They hatched Oct. 5 this year. I have found most answers I need on the internet but there is a couple I haven't been able to find out so I'm hoping someone can help me as the breeder is on vacation right now. How often do the younger beardies shed approximately? I know they grow quite fast so I''m figuring it will be quite often. Also is it safe to put a piece of material (the size of a face cloth) in the tank with them? When I have them out of the tank they sometimes find a blanket to curl up in or crawl under the edge of my clothing and quickly fall asleep there. I know I will need to make sure there are no lose threads as this would obviously cause a problem for them but I am not sure if this is safe at all. Thanks for any help.

Giving the way dragons and other lizards shed, growing babies can easily be shedding some part of their body all the time. From what i have observed, they tend to shed limbs and tail, then body, then head/neck, though not necessary in that order. A dragon who is eating well, getting all the food he can eat, with all other husbandry requirements met, could easily shed one part of their body once or twice a month, sometimes more.

Some shed alot for the first couple months then slow down to maybe one total body shed (that is, each body part sheds) once a month, others continue to shed once or twice a month till adult. It varies a fair bit among dragons.

As for leaving a piece of cloth in the cage, I don't think it would be any benefit to your dragons. Loose threads on the cloth isn't the only concern, toenails can get caught in any cloth that has loops in the stitching (ie like terry cloth (bathroom towels etc), fuzz like flanellete and other materials. To sleep most dragons are content to sleep in hides, underneath paper towel, their basking log (if they can get under it) or standing up in a corner or other odd position.

As long as it is dark and quiet, they will sleep well anywhere in the cage they are comfortable in.
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PHLdyPayne

Thanks for all your help. It was great. I really appreciate it. I wasn't sure at all about the cloth in the tank so that helped a great deal. I was glad to see you answered my question as I have been reading some of your responses and you seem to know a lot about beardies. I hope you'll be around to call on for advice in the future if I need any again.