Reptile & Amphibian Forums

Has anyone ever experienced their females changing their coloration after a successful copulation. I have witnessed copulation over the past week or so. Now my female has a blackened beard and black bars on her obliques. Successful copulation??? Thanks, Josh

Actually, a black beard in a female usually indicates great stress...a bad-tempered and very excitable female will also display a black beard, as well as a sick dragon or one in pain. Most of my females never display a black beard unless for one of the above-mentioned reasons, and that's in 15 years of seeing gravid females.

Thanks for your help on the subject. I don't really think she is overly stressed, or in pain, but I will definately look into it. Thanks, Josh

There is no documented indications bearded dragon females change color indicating they are gravid... However, a constantly dark beard and dark overall coloration is more a sign of illness, stress or other health issue.

If the male is in with her still, remove him. Reassess your husbandry (double check temperature, air and basking, cool side too) If the UVB bulb is old, replace it with a new one...Also, how long was the last copulation you observed? If you normally kept the male separate and only introduced them for mating..how long since you introduced the male?

It is possible she is close to egg laying and this is causing her to feel stressed...especially if there is no suitable egg laying bin accessible to her. Has she been digging alot? What is her current behavior, other than darker colors?
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PHLdyPayne

Forum Princess

Sometimes when a females body says it time to breed they will get all worked up and have a dark beard. This most likely happens when they are aware that males are around but they cannot get to them. I have a female that awoke from brumation in the last week or so and she often has a dark beard as she frantically claws at the glass trying to get out.

The female has no idea if the mating was successful or not. Just that it's time to mate.

I think beardeds also blacken up when they are stimulated too. Along the lines of what BDlvr has stated when a female knows a male is present, or nearby. We keepers have no way of concretely knowing that the black beard is due to stress, or stimulation. They could be either, depending on the situation. I took a little male dragon up to one of the adult cages yesterday for a peek, and he blackened up right away. Not sure if he was intimidated by the big girls or just excited to know that they are female dragons around.

Beardeds also produce dark striations on their bellies and limbs from time to time. I think these are also visual signs of stress/stimulation levels.

If a bearded is legarthic, gone off feeding, and has a tendency to bask too much or too little(off normal routine) something is wrong. These are times when you want to double check your husbandry, and take the animal to the vet if the problem persists

Actually, what P.HLdy mentioned in her reply are the things to look for and keep in mind...the dragon may be looking to lay already or possibly not feeling well.

Wasn't intending to dispute LdyPayne's suggestions, just expand. She is much smarter than me anyway.

Keeper didn't mention that the dragon has been doing anything different other than coloring up more. So I don't presume there is a problem until it's mentioned or signs are pointing to it. If the dragon shows tendency to dig and scrape the cage yes, get a laying bin in there. One week since mating seems much too soon though.

In my brief experience, the only time I see dragons coloring up more than usual is when they are taken outside for natural light, or they seem to be very stimulated by something. I have also seen them color up in an extreme manner, but care not to expand on that one.

Thanks for everybody weighing in. The husbandry is fine, and everybody is doing well healthwise. All behaviors are normal, everybody is eating great, stools look good, basking site is at the right temp, etc. Maybe I wasn't really clear before. Her whole beard is not completely black, just the lower portion, and definately not as black as a male's. She is a citrus (my first), so maybe this is something seen in them? I don't know. I just don't think it is stress or illness. Thanks for everybody's help,Josh