Reptile & Amphibian Forums

My beardie just finished what seems like the longest shed in history. His head shed, then his body and feet, then his tail base to the tip. What a MESS!! How soon is this going to occur again. Maybe Ill get a break from cleaning shed skin everyday. His head was the first and I didnt know he was shedding there until it happen. Then his body clouded up and it took a while to come off. Now his tail is shedding. Does it usually take this long. He didnt have any trouble getting it off once it started. Sorry for the long post.

Bearded dragons can shed alot, especially when young and growing. Constant shedding is a good sign your dragon is growing and healthy. My bearded dragon was in shed almost constantly for the first 8 months or so since I bought her. She was three months old when I bought her. They do slow down after reaching a year to 18 months. Then they may shed only once a year or if female maybe more often if they are gravid. Iffy on how often gravid females shed, I know snakes shed just before laying eggs or is it just after coming out or brumation? Not sure haven't been paying attention as I don't breed snakes.

Anyway, you will seen shedding almost constantly for the first year with maybe a week or two between sheddings. Once a month is typical I believe. I always seem to have bits and pieces of shed skin in my dragon's cage the first year I had her. She's giving a full body shed now and this is her first full shed since she came out or brumation in March. She shed her head and legs a couple times since then but not her whole body.

One of my favorite sheds was when Thorn's whole head popped open leaving her looking like she was wearing a flower around her head. Shedding is a sign that your BD is growing, so it means you are doing a good job with your pet.

K.