Reptile & Amphibian Forums

I recieved 2 bearded dragons about 8 months ago, one was noticeably smaller then the other and even though she has grown she is still very small. She is very healthy and eats very well. She is very active and does not seem to have any other problems except she is very small in size. I was just wondering if there was such a thing as dwarfism in bearded dragons or if anyone knows anything about this subject? I have enclosed a picture so you can see the difference. Shes a cutie. Thanks in advance for your help.

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Remember, my posts are MY opinion only.
Jimmy (draybar)

Were they housed together when they were smaller? I've noticed that if two are, sometimes one eats fine, but remains smaller. If they are separated later, the smaller one sometimes makes up for the lack of growth, sometimes not.
If it were truly a "dwarf", would it not also have some other anomalies, differ in appearance some way?
I do know that for no reason, sometimes there are just smaller dragons or larger dragons..similar to that of other animals, including people.
I hope someone can give a more detailed reasoning behind the tinier dragon brethren and give examples of differences between a small dragon (horizontally challenged) and true dwarfism in dragons(if there is a difference).
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Photos

They were housed together they have always been buddies and I have always feed her seperately and made sure she had her fair share of the food. The two Thor & Valkarie(the little one) are in a 125 gallon tank with Dimmel another female that was a rescue. She had not been taken care of and has a missing lower portion of her front leg and her jaw is alittle disfigured from lack of proper diet. She is doing good now and is very sweet and the three get along really well. Maybe she is just a small dragon, I wasnt really worried since she is so healthy but just wondered why there was such a difference. Well anyway thanks alot for your insight.
Draybars Wife
Patti
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Remember, my posts are MY opinion only.
Jimmy (draybar)

the cage size could be intimidating for them. They, of course, could not tell you this. I keep my babies housed in much smaller tanks. They may be fed separately, but the proximity of a larger dragon could be detrimental nonetheless. It almost seems like the acknowledge the supremacy of the other dragon and don't allow themselves to grow as quickly, almost to assure themselves that they will not be seen as a threat by the larger dragon. Like a self-preservation act. This seems to be true even among babies. I do hope your 'rescue' was quarantined for a least a month to several months before being introduced to your others (or visa-versa).
Do, at least, consider what I have said - or typed, as the case may be.
Best of luck with them.
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Photos

The rescue was in her own tank for about 6 months before we got the two young dragons. They were in a 20 gal long up to about 1 month ago. Like I said shes very active and is not shy when it comes to food. Thanks for your advice and I will keep you posted .
Thanks
Draybars Wife
Patti
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Remember, my posts are MY opinion only.
Jimmy (draybar)

hey jimmy,

i have a beardie that is very small, too. in the picture, she was over 2 years old. i worried about her but she ate good and i fed her/housed her right and she was alone the whole time. she has a little bit of an underbite, but other then that and her size she is normal and healthy and happy!

that photo was taken a year ago and since then she has actually grown another inch. it is very strange, her growing.

sometimes i've heard that when a bearded dragon and a rankins dragon are bred the result is a rankins sized beardie. i was thinking that moltar might have been a result of this.

well, i got a male rankins and bred them, and so far i have not seen the results of an adult from their offspring. waiting patiently...

amanda

moltar and emilio