Introduction
As bearded dragon owners, we should be aware that drinking water is very important to our pets. Since it is an essential factor of their overall health, we decided to do the research needed to ensure that our beardies get the correct amounts of water to keep them hydrated and healthy.
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How Often Do Bearded Dragons Need Water?
So, how often do bearded dragons need water? Of course, we need to offer freshwater to our little lizards daily. From a water bowl to having their food misted, we have plenty of ways to help our pets consume their required water intake.
However, we understand that many bearded dragons would not easily drink water from their bowl, making it a little disconcerting for first-time owners. Unlike cats and dogs, bearded dragons do not easily eat and drink from their bowls and feeders, especially in captivity.
Besides that, most of these scaly pets won’t drink anything without being prompted. Therefore, leaving a water bowl in their tanks is not enough to make them drink.
So, in this article, we decided to give you some ways to get your bearded dragons to drink and how often they should do it. We value the importance of being hydrated since dehydration can cause bearded dragons to suffer from several diseases, such as muscle weakness, gout, and decreased body weight. Please keep reading to learn more.
How Much Water Do Bearded Dragons Drink?
Well, bearded dragons require at least 10-30 mL of water every day. However, it still depends on their age and size. We should remember that it is not a one-size-fits-all amount since some beardies are bigger than others.
Providing a balanced diet isn’t enough to keep our bearded dragons healthy, so we still need to consider providing them with fresh and clean water. Also, a weekly and bi-weekly bath can help in increasing the level of hydration in their bodies. However, if you have an unhealthy beardie, your pet may need more water-based foods and water to rehydrate compared to a healthy one.
What Bearded Dragon Foods Have High-Water Content?
Here are some of the most suggested and healthiest foods for bearded dragons that can help boost their hydration.
- Raw and fresh watercress
- Raw zucchini inc skin
- Fresh lettuce romaine
- Endive
- Raw bell peppers
- Mustard greens
- Frozen turnip greens
- Raw cabbage
- Raw strawberry
- Raw and fresh rocket
How to Provide Water for Bearded Dragons?
A bearded dragon can go for longer periods without water in the wild, but unfortunately, their life expectancy is also shorter. It is usually because of diet-related issues and dehydration. Fortunately, in captivity, we, bearded dragon owners, have the opportunity to give them a better and more consistent diet containing high-quality food and clean water. As owners, we need to take advantage of this to ensure that our lizards will live a long and happy life.
We have plenty of ways to help your bearded dragon get the correct amount of water intake. Plus, we made sure that all recommendations were straightforward to ensure convenience to our readers.
- Water Bowl
Bearded dragons of all ages should have a bowl of fresh water every day. We recommend using a shallow size to prevent your pet from falling in and possibly drowning. Besides that, we should wash our pet’s water bowl thoroughly and replace it with fresh water every day. We found out that dong his in the morning is the best time to replace water. However, if you use tap water, ensure that it has no chlorine and other unwanted materials.
Moreover, since bearded dragons are free-roaming creatures and love dragging along food and substrate anywhere, it would be best to clean their water bowl several times daily, specifically two to three times per day.
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However, remember to keep the water bowl on the coolest side of the housing since warm, motionless water can become a breeding ground for parasites and pathogens.
- Misting Food
Another way to make your beardie drink water is to mist their foods, such as vegetables and fruits. This fantastic ay can increase the hydration without them even realizing it.
- Misting Your Bearded Dragon
In the wide, bearded dragons also receive water through rainfall. In case you didn’t know, these reptiles can lap up the raindrops that drip off their face during a rainy day.
Therefore, gently misting a light amount of water to your beardie can be a great idea to increase their water intake. After misting, you will notice your pet slowly lapping at the water dripping from its nose. What makes it more interesting is that most veterinarians recommend this trick.
Since most bearded dragons prefer moving water to still ones, try misting a tiny amount to its snout. You could also try misting directly into your pet’s water bowl.
What Will Happen if Bearded Dragons Don’t Get Enough Water?
Just like us, the bearded dragon needs to drink water to avoid dehydration. It can also help them digest food, eliminate waste, and regulate their body temperatures. Unfortunately, drinking not enough water could lead to a medical condition. So, if you have observed that your bearded dragon wasn’t drinking much, even if you tried to help him, make an appointment to see your vet.
If your bearded dragon continues to stay away from drinking water, he or she will become lethargic, irritable, weak, and disorientated. Here are some of the most familiar and visible signs that your bearded dragon is dehydrated.
- Sleepy eyes
- Wrinkles on the sides of the body
- Slime threads running down their mouth
If you notice any of these signs, it’s time to make an extra effort to give them more water. If you can plump their food, it would be great. Worms, such as mealworms and phoenix worms, are great for plumping since they absorb a decent amount of water. When your bearded dragon eats them, you can ensure that he can quickly increase his hydration level.
It is vital to notice these early signs to take the appropriate steps immediately and prevent possible serious health problems. In case you didn’t know, dehydrated bearded dragons usually suffer from kidney failure. This problem is very serious and can cause death in some cases.
Conclusion
Since bearded dragons originated from Australian deserts, they are very well adapted to dry weather conditions.
Tip: To monitor the temperature around your bearded dragon’s home, try this thermometer.
In case you didn’t know, these reptiles mostly derive water from plants and insects they eat. However, when in captivity, these little lizards need a clean, freshwater source. You can also give your pet some leafy vegetables, such as collards and kales, to provide a little moisture, as well. Some owners also mist vegetables and fruits with a little water before feeding them to their bearded dragons.
