How To Trim Your Bearded Dragon's Nails
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- Опубліковано 30 вер 2024
- Good Morning! This video goes over how to trim a bearded dragon's nails. I only have to trim Ecco's nails maybe twice a year, so it isn't very common, but I have seem some dragons with some crazy over grown and curled nails and thought this video might help a few people! Let me know if you have questions, suggestions, or tips to share!
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I like how you physically proved that using human clippers are bad. Some people like to think they know best and like to argue when it comes to care for them. Straight up proving a point saves all that.
I agree! Unfortunately I've come across many people who, even when presented with evidence, just shrug say "whatever" and carry on what they were doing.
Be courageous, stay kind. Be brave, stay wild?
Haha yes! I love Coyote and his show and also love Cinderella so I kinda just mashed it together haha 😆
What do you mean by “loose?” Do his nails break or does the whole nail fall out? Nails falling out is definitely not normal and I would have your dragon checked by a vet. Could be signs of infection or metabolic bone disease?
Varalidaine 😄😄
Yessss
wolfblitz 4 lol I love brave wilderness too
I learned another great way of keeping them trim! The fine sandpaper that’s meant for basically smoothing is awesome. Cut a 8x8 sheet and place it where you feed your dragon. 😉🦖
I would only suggest this if you feed your dragon in bowl or on a plate. I would hate for them to miss their food and scrape their tongue on sandpaper. But yes, this is a totally fine method as long as the food is separated from the sand paper.
thanks for this video! i really needed to trim my dragon’s nails and didn’t know how on earth i was supposed to do it. your channel needs a lot more attention.
Aww, thank you! I really appreciate that and I'm glad I could help.
I just found your channel and you are flipping amazing I have a bearded dragon and I've been using your methods and me and him have been able to have a better Bond now so I just really want to thank you
Aww, thank you! This was so sweet, I'm glad I could help!
This is a fairly late comment, but I just did all this with my beardie in one sitting and he didn't have any problems or show any signs of struggle, It was his first time, and seeing how calm he was is quite surprising. Thanks for posting a video about it, I would've been too scared to clip his nails without reviewing this video beforehand.
That's great that he didn't mind and I'm really glad you found this video helpful. Thank you for watching!
does this work for baby bearded dragons as well?
I wouldn’t trim a Dragons nails until they are around 8 months old. Just like baby puppies have crazy sharp teeth, baby dragons have sharp little nails. You just have to grin and bear it for a little while! Their nails are too fragile too cut and likely have more blood supply since they are actively growing, quite quickly, to keep up with the growth of the dragon. Wait until they’re older to trim or file their nails.
Varalidaine oh okay, thank you
Wondering the same thing, thanks for comenting before me
Thanks for this! I've only trimmed a tiny bit off my dragon's talons and today I had to make a bigger trim because they've started to curl under. I think she'll be a whole lot happier and more comfortable with much shorter talons.
I'm so glad you found it helpful 😀
This was super helpful, thank you! My beardie, Om Nom, was super chill and trusted me to trim his claws in one go as he sat on my lap after a bath ❤️
I'm glad it was helpful! Om Nom is a super cute name.
TRIM MY NAILS HOOMAN!
He actually hates getting his nails trimmed!
@@EnchantedBug me, who successfully found a way to have my dragon to be calm while clipping its nails:
*pathetic* (the Simpsons meme format)
@@davon_phang2898 😂
Ceramic tile has been a godsend. Easy poop clean up, heat lamp keeps it warm for his belly, sanding with coarse grit helps file them down a bit and helps with slipping around.
I'm so glad you use tile! It's definitely the safest and most eco-friendly option 😁
Thanks for sharing this. I’m definitely clipping my iguanas nails today. I can’t pick them up without getting scratched🤦🏾♂️
Thanks for watching, I hope it helped!
thank you I cut my beards nails for the first time today and I needed this
I'm glad it was helpful!
Wait our dragons have the same name (I don't have mine yet but I'll get it in 3 more days) And I'm gonna name him/her Echo from Jurassic world
Edit: that or I have bad hearing
You heard correctly! His name is Ecco :) I spell it that way because his full name is Eccotulco, which is actually Quenya, the high form of Tolkein's Elven languages. Because I'm a nerd haha! But we call him Ecco for short.
I'm not sure if you saw my response above, so I'll post it again here to make sure! I wouldn’t trim a dragons nails until they are around 8 months old. Just like baby puppies have crazy sharp teeth, baby dragons have sharp little nails. You just have to grin and bear it for a little while! Their nails are too fragile too cut and likely have more blood supply since they are actively growing, quite quickly, to keep up with the growth of the dragon. Wait until they’re older to trim or file their nails.
Love your channel! How old was your dragon when this video was made and where did you get him? He's gorgeous!
Thank you so much! Ecco was 2 years old when this was filmed and I got him from Spice Dragons. They're located in Chino, CA but of course ship to anywhere. They have GORGEOUS dragons and keep them for 2 months to ensure they are healthy before sending them off to a new home. Most places sell 4 week old babies, which is exceptionally stressful and leads to higher mortality rates. I definitely recommend them! They have an Instagram, Facebook, and website. I recommend contacting through Facebook as that worked pretty well for me. They can be a bit slow to respond sometimes.
Varalidaine Thanks! I live in Palmdale, Ca so not too far. Did Ecco seem fairly well socialized when you got her?
He was incredibly well socialized. Dan (the owner of Spice Dragons) has children and they regularly play with the babies and adults to socialize them. Ecco came very well fed and was always very calm. I never had a problem handling him!
I am a first time beardy owner, I can afford the vet, so I am kinda scared to trim them by myself. Would it be crazy to go to the vet? Or is it actually easy.
You actually shouldn't trim a babies nails. How is your dragon doing?
maybe its just me, but i fell like 1 shot of the poop would have been more than enough
Haha sorry about that 🤣
Where can i find those stone flooring you use for your cage?
They are 12”x24” tiles I found at Lowe’s.
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Thank you!
Super informative, thank you
I'm so glad it was helpful! Thank you for watching 😀
I don't even own a Beardie and I would love one, but I just watch your videos because Ecco is cute as fuck and your info is still really good and cool to listen to
Aww, this was a really sweet comment, thank you! New video coming this month and Ecco makes an appearance 😄
Thank you for your Bearded Dragon video's! I am researching them because I want one and you video's really! Thank you so much :)
Thank you for watching! And I'm so glad you found it helpful and that you're doing a lot of research. Please feel free to reach out with any questions. beardeddragon.org is a great place to further your research.
Could you put things in their tank like wood so they would naturally file down their nails or would it not work.
You can definitely put wood in their tanks, it's a great climbing option and provides some natural texture. Wood won't file the nails down very much though as it's quite smooth and non-abrassive.
I have just learned how to hold my bearded dragon
Yay!
Beardies nails are still so sharp even when cut lol I love them
Yeah, they'll always be a bit long and pokey. Just a part of reptile ownership!
My bearded dragon is named Echo too but its a female
How sweet! 😁
And I just another and her name is Blu
@@jurassiczoo7167 I love that name! It makes me think of Jurassic World haha
@@EnchantedBug that’s where I got them from lol I told my husband that I need two more one for Charlie and delta
@@jurassiczoo7167 😂
what do you do if you clip to far I haven’t started to clip mines nails because I’m scared of hurting her and are you supposed to clip the front and back nails?
Never clip half way up the nail, that's too far. Just the bottom 1/4 of the nail. As you can see in the video, I only cut off the sharp bits. And yes, you can trim both front and back if they're both over grown.
Lucky my bearded dragon on his front foot he has 2 claws stuck together and he just lost on they were stuck I just got him he’s like 1 month old
Your dragon has two toes stuck together? Like a genetic defect?
Thanks! It was really helpful!!!
Thank you for watching! I'm glad it was helpful 😃
My bearded dragon thinks the nail clippers are food
Oh no! Haha I have never seen that before. You can let him lick the handle a few times so he realizes it isn't food.
the reason you have to clip his nails is because your substrate is wrong they love sand and clay sand thats what they live in and they are great earth movers and thats what you should give them, they also love to climb on and bask on sandstone rocks or any sandpaper like rocks that files their nails down a lot and so does all the digging and earth moving.
Hello, my substrate is not 'wrong.' Ecco is a special needs dragon, he is ADV positive as well as being blind in one eye. Using tile allows me to fully sanitize his environment to try and keep him as healthy as possible. ADV dragons are often prone to parasite overgrowth so having a sanitary environment is extremely important. Ecco actually used to have a sand pit, which you can even see in this video in the back corner, but he never dug in it so I eventually removed it. He had it for about a year and I tested him with different substrates in the bowl to see if he liked digging in one or the other and he never participated in his digging instincts.
I understand that in the wild their nails are filed down naturally but wild conditions are not necessarily the best to replicate for every animal. Ecco also does not have tall or complex climbing structures because of his blindness; it makes him unsteady and he frequently loses his balance even when just walking or shifting positions. He is currently 5 years old and I've only trimmed his nails twice so the semi-rough tile he is on does help file is nails a bit.
I SWEAR IM NOT KIDDING, MY BEARDED SUBSCRIBED WITH HIS TOUNGE THINKING IT WAS FOOD
Haha how cute! Tell him thank you!
I got walnut shells as sand in mine and he absolutely loves it he digs all in his sand and it's safe for them to eat because it's not real sand also it's gonna take them eating a diet of nothing but sand and greens to affect them
The walnut shell is not highly digestible so if they do eat it, it can build up in their system and cause a blockage just like sand. The shell can also be rather sharp and injure their eyes or mouth.
1,000th like
Thank you! 😁
any advice on what to do if my beardies nail does start to bleed abit?
There is a product you can have on hand called kwik stop or syptic powder. You can also use dab a little baking soda or cornstarch on it to help stop the bleeding. After it stops bleeding, keep the area clean and dry and it should heal on it's own.
Where did you get that hammock??????
My grandmother actually got it for him from a local reptile store. But it is the Penn Plax Lizard-Lounger, you can get it from Amazon: smile.amazon.com/Penn-Plax-Lounger-Seagrass-Rectangular/dp/B00XWWW4FC/ref=sr_1_6?dchild=1&keywords=reptile+hammock&qid=1616975255&sr=8-6
The dragon has a hammock
Yes he does and it was always his favorite place to be! He would often hang his arm or leg off the side; it was just so cute how comfortable he was on it.
My beardies nails are long and curl under but they aren’t sharp at all and have no pointy black part. Should I still trim them? I haven’t it over a year.
They may not have a pointy black part. How much do they curl under? If it's under a year old, they shouldn't have had enough time to start fully curling under. You can always send me a photo to my instagram @enchantedbug if that helps explain 😀
@@EnchantedBug idk what I even meant by the last sentence, but my beardie is almost 10 years old! I was able to clip them thanks to your video! No bleeding at all!! :)
@@TheHG12 Haha no worries, I'm so glad it helped!
HELP my crickets started breeding in my bearded dragons tank by accident there’s hundreds of them he has sand and I’m starting to worry that it won’t be very sanitary he’s 7 years old now and has had sand all his life but i won’t be able to change the sand because of the baby crickets I don’t want to kill I don’t know what to do. Should I get a new tank for my beardie and leave the crickets in the other? btw he’s 7 years old
I hope this situation was resolved. I would have just dumped the sand and tank outside. I do hope you changed his substrate to something safer. How is everything? Also, how did they breed in the tank? Were you leaving crickets in the tank with him?
yes we dumped out the sand and baby crickets and now he has fresh new sand all clean. He’s happy. I’m not sure how they started breeding one day we just noticed a bunch of tiny little crickets (at first we thought they were ants) but then they just kept on breeding and laying eggs under the sand i guess it was kind of crazy. There were so many of them we didn’t have to buy crickets for months.
@@tvdlover88 Another great example of the dangers of sand. I really recommend putting him on a safer substrate like tile or paper towel.
Do you recommend this for baby dragons because my dragon would sit on my hand and then there would be scratches and marks I’d rather get a vet to do for me then they could show me but I would be blowing tones of money so I’d rather buy the proper animal clippers
How old is a baby? I wouldn't cut a dragons nails under 1 year old. You can put their feed bowl on top of a piece of sand paper (the sand paper should extend a few inches past the bowl) so when they are eating, it helps file their nails. A babies nails and fingers are so delicate, it would be very easy to injure them so I wouldn't attempt cutting them.
Celestial Mei thanks I wasn’t sure of doing this to my little pepper.
@@metallibasscovers Yeah, I wouldn't recommend it on little ones 😀
Can I get nail trimmers for a 8 month old beardie? Hes pretty big now 14 inches and its hard to do his nails on a file now
That's up to you. I didn't need to trim Ecco's nails until he was 2 so it may be beneficial to look at your substrate. What did you end up using?
@@EnchantedBug i probably won't until hes 1! And I use small animal litter (kaytee) its shredded paper. When he was a baby he ate but and I tried it agian and he doesn't! Its the natural one so its not dyed. He also loves to dig and burrow on it. When I feed him crickets I use the puppy play pen hes been using since we first got him!
I tried Ecco in a similar paper bedding and I found it too dusty so just look out for that but nothing wrong it as long as they don't eat it. The play pen is a great idea! I do something similar for our hamster 😀
My baby definitely has daggers and it’s time for a trim. Is the climbing still going to be the same tho, cause I thought that’s how they latch on when they’re climbing upward?
It should be fine since their nails should still be relatively long. You can see in the video I'm really just trimming the sharp tip. The nail is still long enough to catch on things for climbing.
My Dragon has sand BUT he spends the majority of his time on a large rock. So he doesn't need trimming right?
I will always suggest people to get their animals off of sand as it has no benefits and so many dangers. Sand will likely keep your animals nails worn down, though you can achieve similar results with natural stone or ceramic flooring.
Can u use a nail file I seen someone else do this I was just wondering is it safe to use a nail file on a bearded dragon
It is, you just have to be careful because their little toes are very delicate, so don't saw back and forth with the file. Hold the toe gently and only file in one direction at a time.
My mom got us a bearded dragon and she doesn’t even care about Him no more so I asked her to buy one and she said he doesn’t need one but I know he does! I’m honestly thinking about giving him away because then maybe he will have a better home 😭😭😭😭
You mean you asked her to buy another one? Bearded Dragons are not social, particularly males, and should never be housed with other dragons. If you are unable to provide your animal with proper care, it would be best to rehome them to someone who can.
I have a question?! Do i just clip the black part?
Not all dragons black part will grow past the clear, so you can trim the clear as well, but it should only ever be just the tip, like the lower 1/4 of the nail. Never trim half-way up as you will injure them. Just the very tip.
Is using those throwaway Emery boards ok though? It's what I used for Madesi to just smooth out the tips so I didn't accidentally get the blood vessels. Least till the first time I got sandstone for his tank floor
Of course it is! A great idea.
My beardie is is a hypo so she has clear nails and no black part. Is it possible that I can accidentally cut the quick?
All dragons have a quick in their nails so it is possible. Just always only snip off just the tip, really. Their nails will still be long even after trimming and that's how it should be. You just want to trim the pointed part.
I am trying to trim my beardies nails for the first time, im not having much of a problem with my beardie getting stressed during trimming but whenever i bring out the nail clippers they try to consume the clippers.
Haha oh no! I think Ecco tried to lick them a few times. Hopefully he stops 😂
Where can you get those nail clippers? I am getting a berded dragon soon.
You can get them at pet stores or online. These specific ones were Kaytee brand. I recommend beardeddragon.org as a great place to research proper care. And you can always ask any questions here or on Instagram @celestial.mei
Omg my bearded dragons name is Echo. I named her because I saw an ad for an echo dot lol
Haha 😂 It's a great name though!
I didnt know that you were meant to cut their nails and I think that his toes many be a little bit twisted. I'm so upset, I love him so much I cant believe that I've hurt him
He's probably totally fine! It's really only a worry when the nail begins to curl/spiral. I only need to trim Ecco's nails every 2 years so they grow very slowly and rarely need it done.
What if you have a bearded dragon that's 7 or 8 months old
You shouldn't need to clip such a young animals nails. I don't recommend trimming until they're over 1 year old.
I am very concerned with my beardi i trimed her nails when she was about 6 months she is now one year and her naild haven't grown back this is hard for her because she cannot grip on things very well do you have any advice
I swear I responded to this. How short had you trimmed them? I wouldn't trim a dragons nails that's younger than a year, and the trim should only be a tiny amount, like I show in my video. How is she doing now?
ive heard a semi-coarse nail file works too if youre afraid of cutting to short.
It does! I did try that on Ecco and he hated how it made his delicate little finger twist back and forth and he wouldn't really let me hold it still, so the clippers worked better for us but you can definitely try a nail file or some sand paper.
would like clippers for cats and dogs work too
It depends on the type of clippers. I would never use drills on a small reptile but if they are round-cutting clippers, it should be fine. Just sanitize them before and after clipping with an animal safe disinfectant do you don't cross-contaminate your animals.
can you tell me what type of material you used for the floor?
It's tile from Lowe's Hardware.
I thought that you weren't supposed to cut the white part of their nails
In this video I'm only cutting the black part that over hangs the white, I'm not cutting the white.
Or ypu could put sand paper on the ground every once and a while
Yes, you could put sand paper down on a portion of the tank for a period of time. You just want to monitor your animal and make sure it's not abrading the bottom of their feet.
Question not related to the video - where did you get the tile? or is there a video i can watch in regards to that?
I think I mention it my video about his enclosure but they're from Lowe's.
What if the clear part is super long?
You can clip the clear part as every dragons nails can be different but I recommend never cutting more than 1/4 of the total nail length. NEVER cut the nail in half.
Help! I hit the vessel.what do I do!!
There is a product called "kwik stop" that is a powder to help stop the bleeding when you cut too far. Please don't cut as high next time as it's very painful for them. Cutting only about 1/4 or less of the nail should be enough.
Where did you get the mat in your tank?
I'm not sure what you mean by mat? The gray is porcelain tiles I got from Lowe's.
Where did you get the tile for your beardie's tank?!!
It was from Lowe's 😁
@@EnchantedBug thank you!!!!❣
Sorry I had a hard time understanding the poop situation. So when you get a bearded dragon, you want to have a smooth, slick floor so the poop is easy to clean? Or a hard, rough floor so they can file their nails? Or both idk 😅
Apologies for the confusion! You want something in between. Something slick, like glazed tile, will be too slippery and they'll slide around. But you don't want "rough." Anything with a natural finish, like slate, flagstone, or unglazed ceramic tile is great. I use unglazed ceramic tile. It feels smooth but it's not glossy and slippery, if that makes sense? You just don't want loose substrate, like sand or walnut shell, as these can be dangerous.
@@EnchantedBug WOW. That's honestly scary how you responded only before I finally get a bearded dragon on Saturday.. the timing was beyond anything lmaoo but okay I think I understand, thank you a bunch & keep up the great content!
@@MrFunch Apologies for the late reply, I'm quite behind on comments with almost 100 to go through! Enjoy your new family member and feel free to ask me any questions. I always recommend beardeddragon.org as well for great information and a helpful forum.
Lose poops equals stressed.
Not always. Certain types of greens, vegetables, and fruits can cause a loose stool as well as parasites. You can see his stool is quite green so he had recently been enjoying salads. Ecco also suffers from Adenovirus which leads to pretty frequent parasite overgrowth for him so it is possible he also had parasites at this time.
i just trimmed my beardies nails and it was fine until the last foot and as i went to cut he moved his foot quickly and it made it bleed. the nail hasn’t been cut yet but its bleeding so what should i do?
Did the nail tear? How is he doing now?
Celestial Mei its got a tiny cut mark on the nail but it hasn’t actually been cut into. he’s fine for now, walking and running on it so i don’t think it has effected him
@@spencerconio3497 Just be watchful of it, it may break later or as it grows out.
@@EnchantedBug i'll keep an eye on it. thank you for your response!
@@spencerconio3497 How is your dragon doing, still okay?
I’m still learning this is my first dragon but She’s a healthy baby. It’s time for a clipping because I noticed her toes are starting to twist and that’s a nono
How old is she? I would never clip a baby dragons nails. Instead you can gently file them or put some sand paper down around her food or water bowls to trim her nails while she walks over it. That should only be used temporarily though and should not be a permanent feature of her enclosure.
Celestial Mei not so baby anymore. About 6 months
@@sirg6465 That's still a bit young in my opinion. I would opt for the sand paper option to help file as she walks across it. You can do it for a few days and that should help 😀
What about the trans dragons? ( lol forgot the whole word only abbreviation but the lighter colored dragons with clear nails) it would be hard to see where to cut because they are both clear! I'm pretty sure the beardie im adopting has clear nails i just don't want to hurt him!
Translucent 😀 The general rule is to cut just the teeny tiny tip, like less than 1/4 of the nail. And I wouldn't cut a babies nails, instead you place their food bowl on a large piece of sand paper so when they walk over to get their food, they file their nails a bit. I would only do this about a week before removing it.
@@EnchantedBug thanks my bearded dragons nails are wicked tiny so I haven't cut them i have looked into using sandpaper but hes kinda lazy and only gets off the hammock or branch (his basking spot) to eat his worms/crickets so that might work!
@@bookworm28427 I would definitely recommend the sandpaper first, it should help take that razor edge off.
@@EnchantedBug would my 8 month old, 14 inch long male be big enough for the clippers now? It seems like the sand paper doesn't work as well anymore and hes pretty big now (and still growing!)
@@bookworm28427 How much does he weigh? Do you have a kitchen scale to weigh him?
My bearded dragon has never had her nails cut and she just turned two. Her black and clear part both end in the same spot and they're quite sharp and long so I know I need to cut them. If I have no over hanging part of the nail how do I know where to cut them up to?
You can just be really conservative. You can see how little I trim off in the video. You should NEVER trim the nail in half. I would say maybe just cutting 1/4 would be the max.
Celestial Mei thank you!!
@@gmarie_wk07 Good luck!
Celestial Mei i’m gonna need it!
@@gmarie_wk07 Don't be too worried! Just be conservative when you cut and it'll be fine. I do one hand a day to give Ecco a break because it usually stresses them out and I can't do all his feet at once.
I keep my bearded dragon in a sand enclosure. she seems to enjoy it and she has had no problems with it. the owner I got my beardie from says that it is completely fine to keep them in sand enclosures as long as I change the sand monthly. although I was thinking of changing it, can you recommend an easy substance for a beardie that is found at pet shops?
I, personally, do not recommend sand. You can not properly sanitize sand and the bacteria can continue to grow in the loose substrate as tank temperatures are warm and often a good environment for bacteria and fungus to grow. Sand is a great sink for bacteria and bearded dragons have poor immune systems due to a common virus that many of them have, so the sand can lead to various infections or parasite overgrowth as even dust from feces can carry coccidia eggs and constantly infect your animal.
Vita-Sand is a "vitamin fortified" calcium carbonate sand. Calcium carbonate is an antacid (the main ingredient in many human antacids like Tums). So the more sand an animal eats, the more it suppresses stomach acids, leading to slowed digestion. Because the animal is digesting slowly and not getting the vitamins and calcium from the sand, it will eat more sand to compensate. And so begins the vicious cycle. They eat more sand to get more calcium, the calcium carbonate slows digestion, so they eat more, eventually leading to impaction (their stomach or intestines becoming filled with sand). Sand impaction is the leading cause of premature death in various reptile species. Most animals we keep in captivity do not come from a loose sand area. Pogona vitticeps, the Central Bearded Dragon, occurs in arid to semiarid regions of Australia. They can be found in semiarid woodland, arid woodland, and rocky deserts (rocky being the key phrase) and are considered to be a semi-arboreal species, often being found on fallen trees and fence posts. If you look at pictures of where they come from (central Australia), you'll find greenery, trees, shrubs, lakes, and soil along with hard packed red clay and rock. The sand sold in pet stores mimics sand found in deserts like the Sahara desert, where not many animal can even survive. Sand is not natural for them. And while yes, they like to dig, many people will give their females a "dig box" during laying seasons. It's a box filled with a loose substrate like vermiculite and soil that allows them to dig and lay eggs. Other people will keep dig boxes in their animals habitat to allow them to dig at any time, but these are often filled with alfalfa pellets, millet seed, eco earth, or soil. Things that are either safe to eat or do not encourage the animal to eat it.
I never recommend any pet store substrate as it's expensive and unnecessary. The safest bedding options, like tile and non-stick linoleum, can be found at hard ware stores. I chose tile because I only had to buy it once and it will last far beyond the life of my dragon. This makes it very economical as it saves me from ever having to buy substrate again, and it's also environmentally friendly as it doesn't require any more resources be purchased during the animals life. Its the safest substrate since it can be easily sanitized via an oven or disinfectant, and it's impossible to ingest. I would recommend switching to a large tile substrate (they cut it for you at the hardware store) and then providing your animal with a dig box if it enjoys digging.
@Star Bright Thank you! I agree entirely. Most of these animals live despite their poor environment, not because of it! And people think 3 years in a long time when things like leopard geckos can live 30+ years. Show me a leopard gecko kept on calcium for 30 years and lived and I'll show you a pegasus 🤣
I would not trim them 🌝
They'll need trimming if they get so long that they cause the animal pain by twisting their digits or curling and growing back into the skin.
Hi please respond I need to know how many times a week do you clip his nails?
You should NOT be clipping their nails multiple times a week or even multiple times a month. Their nails grow VERY slowly and only need clipping maybe once a year depending on your substrate. What do you currently keep your dragon on in his enclosure?
Celestial Mei I’m getting him or her soon I just wanted to be prepared but I’m keeping IT on repti carpet
@@alfawolf5533 I don't recommend carpet. Their nails are long and can easily get caught in the fibers of the carpet. The worst though, is cleaning. Dragons have large and messy, wet poops so the carpets are incredibly unsanitary unless you have multiples and change it every time they poop. They also have stiff scales and the scales can get caught on the carpet which is uncomfortable for them. The best flooring options are tile or paper towel. Most people prefer tile as it looks nice and is the most eco friendly option. If you go for tile, pick one with a natural finish like slate, unglazed ceramic/porcelain, flagstone, etc; nothing shiny or glossy. These items can easily be sanitized by baking them in the oven. It's important to get a substrate that you can easily sanitize because dragons are very prone to parasite overgrowth and even particles from feces can carry coccidia eggs which they can re-ingest. The tile will also help keep your dragons nails filed.
This helped so much with my own dragon Cliffhanger! Thank you!
Glad it was helpful! 💖
Varalidaine hi
@@greggales Hello 😀
The loose substrate can be harmful for young dragons but for adults it’s fine. And when they poop on it, it will coat the wet poop and make it easier to scoop up like cat litter. I’m specially referring to the Vita-Sand which is made of mainly vitamins in case they eat it also it’s easy to digest.
I had a hard substrate but I realized in nature they are diggers especially the females they really enjoy digging and the feeling of the cool sand in a hot inclosure.
The age of an animal does not impact how dangerous sand and other loose substrates are. You even mention yourself one of the reasons it's dangerous; it's like cat litter. Would you ever trap your cat in it's litter box? No, because even when you scoop out the feces, it still smells. And that's because you can not properly sanitize sand and the bacteria continues to grow in the sand particles that get left behind. Sand is a great sink for bacteria and bearded dragons have poor immune systems due to a common virus that many of them have, so the sand can lead to various infections or parasite overgrowth as even dust from feces can carry coccidia eggs and constantly infect your animal.
Vita-Sand is a "vitamin fortified" calcium carbonate sand. Calcium carbonate is an antacid (the main ingredient in many human antacids like Tums). So the more sand an animal eats, the more it suppresses stomach acids, leading to slowed digestion. Because the animal is digesting slowly and not getting the vitamins and calcium from the sand, it will eat more sand to compensate. And so begins the vicious cycle. They eat more sand to get more calcium, the calcium carbonate slows digestion, so they eat more, eventually leading to impaction (their stomach or intestines becoming filled with sand). Sand impaction is the leading cause of premature death in various reptile species. Most animals we keep in captivity do not come from a loose sand area. Pogona vitticeps, the Central Bearded Dragon, occurs in arid to semiarid regions of Australia. They can be found in semiarid woodland, arid woodland, and rocky deserts (rocky being the key phrase) and are considered to be a semi-arboreal species, often being found on fallen trees and fence posts. If you look at pictures of where they come from (central Australia), you'll find greenery, trees, shrubs, lakes, and soil along with hard packed red clay and rock. The sand sold in pet stores mimics sand found in deserts like the Sahara desert, where not many animal can even survive. Sand is not natural for them. And while yes, they like to dig, many people will give their females a "dig box" during laying seasons. It's a box filled with a loose substrate like vermiculite and soil that allows them to dig and lay eggs. Other people will keep dig boxes in their animals habitat to allow them to dig at any time, but these are filled with children's play sand, alfalfa pellets, millet seed, eco earth, or soil. Things that are either safe to eat or do not encourage the animal to eat it.
My dragon, Ecco, loves to lay flat on his cool tile when he gets too warm from basking.
Varalidaine I’ve never once had a problem such as impaction or any unhealthy dragon. After successfully breeding dozens of bearded dragons I’d like to think I know some of what I’m talking about lol. And yes age matters in the sense that a younger dragon is more likely to ingest the sand as opposed to the older matured dragon that knows not to eat it. Just like they don’t eat the plastic fake leaves/shrubs in the inclosure. And referring to the “cat litter” as long as you scoop all of the feces spray safe disinfectant on any hard surfaces and replace the sand every couple of months it’s fine.
Most of the safety precautions are for young dragons as adults they are very resilient. It’s not that serious lol all that jibber jabber is like reading the long list of warning advertisements that *may* happen so beware. During Brumation they enjoy to dig themselves in their hiding spot and slumber away.
Oh and also I hand fed most of my dragons and they still as adults run around and hunt their food when I don’t, they’re not lazy and very active.
Everyone has their own experiences and opinions. Ecco is ADV positive, so he has a weakened immune system and is very prone to parasites. It also makes him, in general, a poor doer and a bit sluggish, so I keep him in the way that's best for him.
Ecco is a cutie 🤗 and you seem like a good mom 🙂
I like your set up and I understand where your coming from with the level of care you provide for your pets. 👍🏻
He is pretty cute haha thank you. I appreciate the opportunity to have a discussion! 😀❤
I use sand but i use the sand that thay can eat an i change it every weck soooo im pretty good and i use this vid
Pogona vitticeps, the Central Bearded Dragon, occurs in arid to semiarid regions of Australia. They can be found in semiarid woodland, arid woodland, and rocky deserts (rocky being the key phrase) and are considered to be a semi-arboreal species, often being found on fallen trees and fence posts. If you look at pictures of where they come from (central Australia), you'll find greenery, trees, shrubs, lakes, and soil along with hard packed red clay and rock. The type of sand sold in pet stores is pure calcium carbonate and mimics loose sand found somewhere like the Sahara desert. Not many creatures can survive in the Sahara desert because of how nutrient lacking the sand is and how dry the environment is. And as stated, Bearded Dragons come from ROCKY deserts and woodlands, they do not live anywhere near sand dunes. Sand is not natural for them and the "edible" sand is made from pure calcium carbonate, which is an antacid (think Tums). While small amounts may technically be edible, the calcium carbonate will slow their digestion, which can lead to digestive issues. Sand impaction (an animal getting full of sand from accidental or purposeful ingestion) is the number one leading cause of premature death in various reptile species. The dryness of the sand can also create problems with shedding which could lead to digit amputations from stuck shed. And since you change it every week, it's very wasteful and expensive. I would definitely recommend switching to a safer substrate like tile, newspaper, or paper towel. If you want a natural look, you can use coconut fiber substrates like Eco Earth, though loose substrates are not typically recommended for Bearded Dragons.
Dragons live in a desert environment, of course you can keep them in sand to 20mm with no hassle ¡Stop telling people that sand is bad when it isn't.
Pogona vitticeps, the Central Bearded Dragon, occurs in arid to semiarid regions of Australia. They can be found in semiarid woodland, arid woodland, and rocky deserts (rocky being the key phrase) and are considered to be a semi-arboreal species, often being found on fallen trees and fence posts. If you look at pictures of where they come from (central Australia), you'll find greenery, trees, shrubs, lakes, and soil along with hard packed red clay and rock. The type of sand sold in pet stores is pure calcium carbonate and mimics loose sand found somewhere like the Sahara desert. Not many creatures can survive in the Sahara desert because of how nutrient lacking the sand is and how dry the environment is. And as stated, Bearded Dragons come from ROCKY deserts and woodlands, they do not live anywhere near sand dunes. A bearded dragons diet, as an adult, is 80% vegetation, so they couldn't survive if they lived in a sandy environment since no plants would grow. Sand is not natural for them, a more appropriate substrate, if you want to mimic their natural environment, would be Excavator Clay since it is hard packed and forms a rocky texture. Beyond it not being natural for them, sand is also a good host for bacteria, and since being made of calcium carbonate, acts as an antacid if they were to ingest it, which can cause fatal impactions. The dryness of the sand can also create problems with shedding which could lead to digit amputations from stuck shed.
@Star Bright I have always disliked how the pet care community is so formed on "opinions." Pet care should be based on facts from scientific studies, not on "experts" who have had a dragon for two years and managed to keep it alive despite a poor environment. I'm glad you commented with your experience ❤
That tiled environment is cruel and looks like your abusing your animal threw how you feel looks nice but not what your animal needs,have a correct environment means you won't need to trim it's nails they will warn down naturally.
Ecco is a special needs bearded dragon, he has Adenovirus (Atadenovirus) which negatively affects his immune system. The virus also attacks healthy liver, kidney, and brain cells as well as causing damage to his various digestive organs. Luckily Ecco is doing exceptionally well and has yet to be too negatively impacted from this virus. Unfortunately, because of his immune system suppression, he frequently battles parasites as his own immune system and gut flora are not healthy enough to keep levels low. Because of this, his cage needs to be easy to be sanitized on a weekly basis as even particles from feces can carry coccidia eggs. This is the main reason he has tile as it keeps him healthiest and is also more environmentally friendly than using disposable substrates like paper towel. He has a large bowl of sand that he can dig in should he ever want to partake in that behavior, but he never has. And he was 2 years old at the time of filming this and it was the first time I ever had to cut his nails, so trimming his nails once every 2 years is pretty successful. It's also not fair to judge an animals habitat by nail growth; dogs and cats need regular nail trims even if they are let outside. And horses hooves need constant trimming even when kept in rocky pastures. Small animals like rabbits, guinea pigs, and hamsters also need occasional nail trims.
@Star Bright This was a really sweet comment, thank you! He is doing okay! Poor thing mysteriously developed a cataract in one eye shortly after having surgery to remove a growth in his mouth so my theory is his eye suffered trauma during surgery. Of course the vet that performed it says no but it's unlikely to be caused by diet or environment considering it's only affected one eye. It could have also been a defect he was born with or caused by his ADV, it's hard to tell with cataracts. He still seems mostly himself, definitely a little more grumpy. I hope he does well in life though and lives long with us. He will definitely receive your pets 😀🧡