How to bathe a bearded dragon may seem like a simple task, but there are some important things to know before going forward. One of the most fun and exciting activities you can do with your bearded dragon is giving it a bath. Most bearded dragons love a nice, warm bath every so often.
Giving your bearded dragon consistent baths is also very important for proper hygiene. Let’s go over how to bathe a bearded dragon properly.
Setting Up The Bath
The most important things to remember when bathing your bearded dragon is the depth and temperature of the water. You do not want to inadvertently drown or scold your bearded dragon while bathing!
The bath water should be no deeper than the joints (or “knees”) on its limbs. If you use water that is a little deeper then make sure to closely observe your bearded dragon at all times when in the water.
If you are bathing a baby or juvenile bearded dragon, a bathroom or kitchen sink may work best to prevent drowning. A sink works well for bathing a very small bearded dragon.
An adult bearded dragon can be bathed in a bathtub or even a Rubbermaid plastic storage box, or anything that will hold water.
Once you have a suitable bathing area, fill it with warm water. Make sure the water is not too hot. You don’t want to scald your bearded dragon. Using water that is between 85 to 92 degrees F is ideal. This will keep the bearded dragon warm while bathing, but not cause scalds or discomfort.
For baby and juvenile bearded dragons, fill the bath with about half an inch of water to one inch.
For adults, you can fill the bath with one to three inches of water, depending on its size. Remember, do not fill the bath up too deeply!
Bathing The Bearded Dragon
When bathing the bearded dragon never use any soaps or detergents. The bearded dragon will most likely take a few drinks of the water and you don’t want it drinking any suds. Just using fresh tap water that has been dechlorinated will suffice.
At this point, you can gently splash water on your bearded dragon. The best method is using a paper cup and easily pour the water up and down the bearded dragon’s back and tail. Avoid pouring water around its eyes and nose.
Allow the bearded dragon to splash around some itself. Most bearded dragons love water and will enjoy the nice dip.
Let the bearded dragon soak in the water for at least 15 to 20 minutes. This will give it a good soaking which will help the skin, especially when shedding.
When The Bath Is Finished
Once the bearded dragon’s bath is finished, you can use a soft cloth towel to gently pat it dry. This is very important if you are using a loose substrate like ReptiSand. The sand particles will stick to the wet bearded dragon if you do not dry it first.
It is also important to dry the bearded dragon and get him back under the basking lights so it can warm back up. This is especially needed if it’s during the cold winter months. Being without heat for an hour or two will not harm your bearded dragon, but getting it back in the heat as soon as possible is recommended.
Bath Your Bearded Dragon Frequently
It is recommended to let your bearded dragon splash around in warm water around once a week. Twice a week works even better in the summer months.
Bathing can help the overall hygiene of your bearded dragon by removing any old skin and scales. Bathing also helps to clean and remove any bacteria and germs build up on the feet and claws, and it can also by aid shedding.
Learning how to bathe a bearded dragon can be rewarding for you and your bearded dragon. Here’s a quick video that shows how to bathe a bearded dragon.