Reptile & Amphibian Forums

I have a beardie that I have yet to see drink water from his bowl. I drip water on to him and he will lick his lips. And he also puffs his neck out and some times makes cough sound. Any ideas on hwo to get him to drink from his water and what does it mean when he puffs out his neck? thank you

most dragons wont drink from a water dish i dont even keep 1 in the cage cause it can be dangerouse. i mist the cage and spray him and his veggies and give him a btah 2-3 times a week. most will never drink from a water dish they get there moister from the food they eat.

I don't believe that a water dish can be dangerous. I have on in every cage. You just need to clean and change it daily. I have never seen any of the dragons I have currently drink from their water bowls. But that doesn't mean they don't. I have had ones in the past that would drink from a bowl. I just feel it is better to have one there and available regardless of whether I've seen them drink or not.

Yes, as the last poster stated they do get most or all of the water they need from the food they eat. So I would spray the salads well and often if possible. I no longer spray my dragons adults directly, I offer water from an eyedropper but they rarely partake. I don't mist the cage because that can raise the humidity in the enclosure too much for a desert reptile and cause respiratory ailments. It's also not necessary to bath the dragons more than every few weeks or a month. Best after a shed to make sure the toes and tail shed completely.

I'm a little concerned about the "cough" sound. How often does he do that?

As far as the beard inflation, that's normal. They do it from time to time as if practicing or sometimes it looks like a big yawn. Generally, the beard is inflated when a beardie is threatened or during courting and mating.

When misting the cage, just spray one small section of the glass, not the entire cage. The ideal is to have water droplets rolling down the glass giving movement to encourage your dragon to run over and investigate. One or two 'squirts' from a misting bottle to a small section of the cage once or twice a day, won't raise the humidity sufficiently to cause problems. It is heavy regular misting all over the cage or over a good portion, that can really raise humidity and thus, increase risk of respiratory infections and other problems.

The cough your dragon is doing when he puffs up, is it more a forced exhale of air, to sound like a short hissy breath? Or is it a definitely cough? ALso, do you notice any mucus or bubbly liquid around his mouth or nostrals? (it is normal for clear bubbles to form in the saliva in the mouth but it should be very clear, if any color, it isn't good). If the cough is just a breathy hiss that is infrequent or only when he puffs out defensively when you are around without any of the other symtoms I mentioned, then it most likely is just him hissing at you and trying to scare you off. Dragons do this defensively, when large potentially dangerous creatures are around (ie you). He will grow out of it once he realizes you are not a predator out to get him. Slow steady movements work best when moving around the dragon.

If his cough is accompanied by any of the other symptoms mentioned above, your dragon may have an upper respiratory infection and will need to see a vet. If in doubt, see a vet. The $45-$100 vet fee for a checkup and some testing, is well worth it to ensure the health of your pet.
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PHLdyPayne

It is important to have a water dish in the tank to keep the humidity above 0.

Soaking your dragon, misting the sides of the cage and spraying or rinsing the greens are the best way to maintain good hydration. Some dragons do drink from standing water but they are few and far between
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0.1 Bearded dragon (Hannabil)
0.1 mexican Black kingsnake (Morticia)
2.1 Leopard Gecko's (Pogo,Jeffrey Nothing, Louise)
0.0.1 Tokay Gecko
0.0.1 Reverse Okeetee Corn (Autumn)
1.0 Blood Red Corn (Virus)
0.0.1 Mali Uromastyx (Scuttle)
0.1 Bullmastiff (Asha)
4.1 Cats (Poe, Tucker, Abhid, Felicity, Emmy)

No it's sounds like a forced exhale of air coming out. I just didn't know how to word it. I have been spraying half of his cage. THis is are first beardie and wasn't sure.thanks to every one.

Well beardies do have a behavior they do where they "huff" (or i call it huffing anyway) They sorta puff out a breath of air - particularly when they are surprised or upset. My girl is real huffy-puffy, when i pick her up she often makes a huffing noise at me.

If you are hearing this noise only sporadically, and not in conjunction with breathing difficulties, nasal or ocular discharge, open mouth breathing, mucous from the mouth, or general lethargy or other signs of poor health then probably it is just the normal huffing behavior.
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0.1 Bearded dragon (Hannabil)
0.1 mexican Black kingsnake (Morticia)
2.1 Leopard Gecko's (Pogo,Jeffrey Nothing, Louise)
0.0.1 Tokay Gecko
0.0.1 Reverse Okeetee Corn (Autumn)
1.0 Blood Red Corn (Virus)
0.0.1 Mali Uromastyx (Scuttle)
0.1 Bullmastiff (Asha)
4.1 Cats (Poe, Tucker, Abhid, Felicity, Emmy)

i have a beared dragon that drank from her water dish ..
i use a surenge and give water that way but when they get there soaks the gulp the water down / i also mist them

as what everyone else said makes sence

good luck

I will spray the sides of the tank to get her attention and then i will give her a little water in a shallow dish usually a lid from like a kfc mash potatoe bowl and she will drink a little bit everyday. Other then that i do not keep a water dish supplied at all times. If you do supply one make sure it is shallow as dragons are not the smartest and can drown in them.

In reading back, apparently not all dragons drink from standing water, although mine does. I really enjoy watching her drink, it's cute Usually I put her down with a foot in the water dish, or right next to the water dish after I'm done holding her, and she'll either drink or run thru the water and splash it everywhere!
Does your beardie drink when you give it a bath? I mist mine every few weeks, too. She will drink the droplets that accumulate on her head and fall down her face.
And usually her salad is wet when I give it to her, cuz I've just washed it.
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0.2 cats (Pandora & Journey)
0.1 bearded dragon (Kleio)
0.0.1 green tree frog (Squishy)
0.0.3 fishes (namoli, Asana, Adagio)

The reason is for if he doesnt like the water and wants you to stop, then this will be his defence mode. that is why they are called "bearded dragon". named after hw they puff out their neck. im sorry but thats all i can help with. idk how to get him/her to drink...sorry.

~Aaron