I just read the question below and some of the responses about how to get a dragon to be more colorful. The original question was about a beardie that was colorful at night while sleeping but dark during the day.
Some of the responses though were about color feeding; this is the first I have ever heard of color feeding bearded dragons. Is there any evidence that this is true? I know with birds (warm blooded reptiles) that some get red when fed beticarotine (spelling?) in their food (canaries) but others, like parrots and parakeets, could be fed “color food” everyday for years with no effect. I doubt snakes would be affected by color food, but it never occurred to me that beardies might.
I personally think if you want colorful dragons, get one that has a good background for the color you want. A dragon that is naturally colorful would be much better than an artificially created one. The thought is kind of scary, too many scammers out there.
On the original question, I will eco what a few others have said; the dragon is dark because something is not right. If they go without proper lighting too long they will look dark, florescent UVB bulbs have a set life that they produce proper amounts of UVB, after about 9 months most are shot, after 12 months for sure, replace them. We tried the mercury vapor lights with mixed results, many of the dragons took on the dark look. I think they put out more heat than a same watt incandescent bulb. We use fluorescents and the dragons seem happier. Also, a little natural sunlight works wonders on both a dragons color and appetite. A few minutes, once or twice a week will do wonders for them.
A happy dragon is a colorful dragon (if they were colorful to start with). To feed them something special to force color does not address the fact that something was not right to start with or your beardie would be colorful. If your dragon has good color at night, something is wrong with your day time set-up. Temperature is important, too hot and they get dark and hide, too cold and they get dark too. Our dragons seem happiest with a hot spot between 100 to 103 and a cool area around 80 to 85. Cage mates may be bullying a less dominate dragon causing them to hide and be dark too.
They need good care too, water, food, and a clean cage. Dragons need sprayed with water, only a few learn to drink from a bowl (they like to be sprayed too), make sure the water is not too cold! Young dragons need sprayed at least everyday. Adults every other day or so if they are eating veggies daily to get moisture. Take care of your crickets too, they need fed or they have no food value (we use oat baby cereal, and cricket quencher – the blue stuff, plus they get some kind of veggie piece at night). Young dragons should be fed 3 times a day, less as they become adults, less than that will cause stress and you will have a dark dragon.
If your colorful bearded dragon is dark it is because it is stressed in some way or another. Don’t blame the dragon.
Pic is one year old female, Ginger, never been “fed” to make her look like this, she’s just fat and happy.
