In this post, we will discuss reasons why your bearded dragon might be turning white and pale. You will find out why your bearded dragon might be turning white around its mouth, head, tail, nose as well as why your bearded dragon is turning white and not eating.
Bearded dragon is turning white because it’s shedding
One of the main reasons why your bearded dragon is turning white is because it’s shedding. Young bearded dragons which are actively growing will be shedding very often – as often as every few weeks.
Adult bearded dragons don’t shed too often – up to few times a year. However, your bearded dragon might shed more often if it has any skin infections or damage to the skin.
The actual shedding can take 1-2 weeks to finish. During the shedding period, your bearded dragon is likely to be irritated and can refuse food and not want you to handle it. Allow your bearded dragon to shed naturally, by misting it once a day and having the humidity of the tank at 30-40%.
Right before your bearded dragon starts shedding, its skin will turn slightly dull, and the top skin layer will look white and pale. Your bearded dragon will shed in patches and not in a single layer.
Your bearded dragon’s body is likely to turn white in stages – its head can turn white, then legs, tail and more. Don’t worry about it because bearded dragon shed in patches.
Don’t interfere with shedding and let your dragon shed naturally. If after a week you can see any stuck skin, you can help remove it by bathing your dragon and removing the skin with a toothbrush or tweezers.
Allow your dragon to soak for 25-30 minutes before rubbing the skin. You can also use an emollient shedding aid like this to hydrate the skin and promote healthy shedding.
Bearded dragon turning white because it’s hot
As you probably know, bearded dragons can turn darker or brighter depending on temperatures and even mood. Many bearded dragons turn darker when they are cold, in order to soak in more heat.
If your bearded dragon is hot, it can turn whiter to absorb less heat. This can especially happen at night or when it gets very hot.
Bearded dragon turning white and not eating
If your bearded dragon is turning white or pale and not eating, this can be a bad sign. Turning white or very pale, not eating and being lethargic can be a symptom of dying. Another symptom of a dying bearded dragon is when it’s beard turns black, but limbs, face and tail turn pale.
Has your bearded dragon eaten anything that could cause impaction? Is your bearded dragon old (over 7-8 years old)? Sudden changes in behavior, coloration and well-being can indicate impaction with large objects, live feeders or substrate.
Could your bearded dragon be infected with parasites? Symptoms of parasites can be runny and especially smelly poop, blood in the poop, weight loss. Please request a full fecal check at a vet to rule out any parasites.
Tests to find out what is wrong with your bearded dragon
Old bearded dragons especially can start developing internal organ issues, for example with kidneys or a liver. Please take your bearded dragon to the vet for a full blood work. Blood test will show AST, ALT and ALP liver enzyme levels that will indicate if your bearded dragon has any issues with the liver.
Uric acid levels, blood urea nitrogen levels and creatinine (muscle waste) levels will all show renal (kidney) function and if there are any problems. With higher levels, you can suspect kidney issues such as gout, dehydration or even gastrointestinal or liver damage.
Full blood count will also show red and white blood cell levels which can rule out any infections. Total protein level (especially detailed albumin and globulin levels or A:G ratio) also show any infections (if levels are high). Or, liver or kidney issues, malnutrition and other disorders with low levels.
Calcium levels are also important to see if your dragon might be suffering from Metabolic bone disease. There are tests for blood calcium levels and free ionized calcium levels, which are more accurate to diagnose MBD. Do you have UVB in the tank and do you gut-load and supplement live food?
Summary:
If your bearded dragon has turned pale/white/pinkish white – it’s most probably shedding. This can also happen if only one part has turned white – bearded dragons shed in pieces and other parts will shed too. Let your bearded dragon shed for 1-2 weeks, and then make sure there is no stuck skin.
However, if your dragon looks sick, is refusing to eat and is lethargic, take it to the vet for a blood test to see if anything is wrong.
Also review temperatures in the tank as your dragon might turn pale if temperatures are very high. Overheating can be dangerous, causing dehydration, dizziness and even stroke. Read a full lighting and heating setup guide in this post.