Reptile & Amphibian Forums

One of my 8 inch beardie does the weirdest thing. It's been going on for a while, but since it would just go back to normal, i decided to see if it would get better. It hasn't yet, so I'm a little worried. Sometimes when she is basking she'll close her eyes and do this swallowing thing, then her eyes will get bigger, a lot bigger than they should be, then she stops, opens her eyes, and it's back to regular.

I feed her small crickets, and they are the right size, they fit between her eyes. She also eats her greens, carrots, escarole, rasberries, collard greens, and sometimes some blueberries or crookneck squash. She lives on all paper towels. Her basking temps are 110-115 degrees and she has a UVB bulb. Other then her swallowing and eye thing, she is completely normal. She eats like the rest of my beardies, and is active.

I'm calling the vet for a fecal, but I can't until Monday. Does anyone know what this could be. I really worried, thanks.
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~Julie~

As long as she's just doing it for a few minutes, it's very normal. I've heard many different theories as to what may cause it, but I think it's because the beardie may be getting ready to shed and it's loosening the skin around the eyes. Sometimes my beardies do this in the morning or just before bed. I think it relaxes them. Who knows. But it's prefectly normal, as long as the eyes go back to normal.

Veronica
Beautiful Dragons

>>As long as she's just doing it for a few minutes, it's very normal. I've heard many different theories as to what may cause it, but I think it's because the beardie may be getting ready to shed and it's loosening the skin around the eyes. Sometimes my beardies do this in the morning or just before bed. I think it relaxes them. Who knows. But it's prefectly normal, as long as the eyes go back to normal.
>>
>>Veronica
>>Beautiful Dragons
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reiko
photos

How long has she been doing this?
Two of ours will sort of blow out their beards and look like they're swallowing or trying to gag, as well as closing their eyes and bulging them out, a couple of days before they start to shed on their faces.
The eye-bugging thing is REALLY strange looking, and give my wife the creeps. lol
They continue doing this while they shed, but not as much as right beforehand.

Don't know if that's what is going on with yours, but that's how it's worked with ours so far...

Hope this helps.
D.A.

thanks, I've been so worried. I've only had her for about 2 weeks....so for maybe about a week, week and a half. Should I call the vet anyways for a fecal? Ya, it's like she's trying to swallow, not really gagging though, the eyes are weird though. But since it happens to both of yours, I'm sure its regular. Thanks again!!
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~Julie~

A fecal isn't a bad idea with a new dragon just "on account of how", from everything I've read or heard, but I have to agree with veronicag that what you're seeing is probably normal.
Ours have been to the vet for a check-up since the first time they did it, and although we didn't think to mention it to the Dr., he didn't find any problems with them.

Gagging is all I could think of to describe it... I guess it's actually like they are using their throat pouches to compress air in behand their eyes and bug 'em out...

My wife swears our largest one does it just to weird her out. lol

D.A.

It LOOKS LIKE they're using air from their throat pouches to bug out their eyes...
I have no idea of what the actual mechanics of the process really is. Haven't found a book or site on dragon anatomy that I like yet...

D.A.

Lol, it is gross. They're eyes are open just a little bit. I cant stand to waytch it. I'm glad she's OK though, I would have been worried all week.
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~Julie~