Why Bearded Dragons Eat Their Poop and What To Do

Why Bearded Dragons May Eat Their Poop

Bearded dragons are popular pet reptiles known for their calm and friendly personalities. However, some behaviors like eating their own poop can be confusing and concerning for bearded dragon owners. Though unappealing, poop eating, known scientifically as coprophagy, is actually normal and serves an evolutionary purpose.

Nutrient Deficiencies Lead Dragons to Eat Poop

In the wild, bearded dragons get nutrients from a varied insect-based diet. However, captive dragons don't always get all the nutrients they need from commercially available feeder insects and vegetables. This can lead to nutrient deficiencies that cause them to eat their own poop in an effort to gain missing nutrients like thiamin, protein, and B vitamins.

Baby Dragons Copy the Behavior

Another reason pet dragons eat poop is that babies watch adults do it and copy the behavior. This evolutionary tendency to mimic parents helps young reptiles identify food sources and avoid dangers in the wild. So even well-fed babies may eat poop if they observe adults engaging in coprophagy.

Risks of Your Bearded Dragon Eating Poop

Though eating poop serves an instinctual purpose, the practice does come with certain risks that bearded dragon keepers should be aware of.

Intestinal Parasites and Bacterial Infections

Consuming feces can introduce intestinal parasites, bacteria, and fungi into your dragon's digestive system. This causes illness, so proper hygiene and veterinary care are crucial for managing coprophagic dragons.

Nutritional Imbalances

Bearded dragons are insectivores, meaning they evolved to eat bugs, not plants. Their digestive system contains bacteria tailored to extract nutrients from animal matter. Eating a lot of plant-based poop can upset this delicate bacterial balance and prevent proper nutrient absorption over time.

Impaction Risk

Some substrates like sand carry an impaction risk for bearded dragons. Impaction is when ingested loose substrate gets stuck in the digestive tract, blocking the passage of food and causing life-threatening constipation. So dragons who eat poop with substrate in it have an elevated impaction danger.

How to Stop Your Bearded Dragon from Eating Poop

If you want to discourage coprophagic tendencies in your bearded dragon, try these tips:

Provide a Nutritious, Varied Diet

Feed commercial gut-loaded insects like dubia roaches along with nutrient-rich greens and veggies every day. This reduces the appeal of poop to fill nutritional voids. Dust food with calcium + vitamin D3 supplements as well for bone health.

Use Easy to Clean Substrates

Swap out loose substrates like sand or wood shavings for safer options that are easy to sanitize. Good choices include non-adhesive shelf liner, butcher paper, or tile. This lets you remove fresh poop promptly before it gets eaten.

Clean the Enclosure Frequently

Spot clean waste throughout the day. Then, completely disinfect the habitat 1-2 times per week. Thorough cleaning stops the spread of bacteria and sheds with poop that could get ingested.

Separate Baby Dragons

House babies alone until 4-6 months so they can't observe and mimic adults eating poop. Feeding them lots of healthy bugs also helps prevent nutrition based coprophagy.

When to See the Vet

Occasional coprophagy may not require medical intervention. But if your bearded dragon eats poop often, experiences appetite or weight loss, or shows other signs of illness, contact your exotic veterinarian right away for an exam and appropriate treatment.

With proper husbandry, most bearded dragons outgrow frequent poop eating behaviors as they mature. While the habit seems foreign to us, it comes instinctually to them. With care and patience, you can curb coprophagy and keep your pet dragon healthy.

FAQs

Why do some bearded dragons eat their poop?

Bearded dragons may eat poop to get more nutrients, especially if their diet is deficient. Babies also instinctively mimic the behavior after seeing adults do it.

Are there any health risks to my dragon eating poop?

Yes, possible intestinal parasites, bacterial infections, nutritional issues, and chance of impaction. So owners should try to prevent the habit where possible.

How can I get my bearded dragon to stop eating poop?

Feed a balanced diet with plenty of healthy bugs, use an easy to clean substrate, clean the tank fully 1-2 times a week, and separate baby dragons until more mature.

When should I take my bearded dragon to the vet because of eating poop?

Seek medical care if your bearded dragon eats poop frequently, shows signs of illness like weight/appetite changes, or displays lethargic or abnormal behavior.