If you look online at bearded dragon forums, you will notice that one of the most common questions is whether these lizards can drink through their skin.
Now this may sound crazy at first but when you learn that there are a lot of reptiles and amphibians that have this ability, it doesn’t seem to much of a stretch of the imagination that a bearded dragon could do the same thing.
Bearded dragons cannot absorb water through their skin but that is not to say that water is not good for their skin; it can help to keep it in good condition. Furthermore, beard dragons have vents and they can take water in through these.
With all of this in mind, it pays for pet owners to be familiar with how their bearded dragon functions so that they can provide the best care. Let’s take a look at this in a little more detail.
Can Bearded Dragons Absorb Water Through Their Skin?
If you have ever seen a bearded dragon submerged in water, you may have noticed that it appears as though the animal is literally soaking up water through its skin – what is this trickery?
In truth, the illusion is not as mind-boggling as it initially seems. The bearded dragon is not absorbing water through her skin as much as she is using her vents to take in water. We will look at this a little more closely later on.
However, just because bearded dragons don’t drink this way, that is not to say that they don’t take many benefits from sitting in water or being sprayed with it.
How Is Water Good For A Bearded Dragon?
One of the first things that we should point out is that when a bearded dragon is able to soak in water, he will have a much easier time shedding his skin.
This is because the water can help to soften the skin which means that when it comes to shedding, your pet will find the process quicker and less painful.
Moreover, plenty of water is a great way to keep your bearded dragon’s skin hydrated. This is important for maintaining healthy skin which will also have a much nicer appearance.
How Do Bearded Dragons Use Their Vent?
One of the most fascinating things about the bearded dragon is that they are able to ‘drink’ water through their vents.
When we talk about the vent, we are not referred to some sort of airflow device but rather the opening through which the bearded dragon poops and pees.
In humans, these openings serve one purpose so it can be difficult to believe that bearded dragons can also drink through them.
This isn’t typically their first method of hydration but it is certainly a viable back up that they use frequently when it is needed.
If you have a pet who doesn’t seem to be drinking a lot in the ‘normal’ way then you might try giving them twenty minutes in the bath where they can use this incredible method of rehydrating themselves!
Misting Your Bearded Dragon
It is a good idea to mist your bearded dragon as this is a great way of providing his skin with the moisture it so desperately needs.
However, this is also a viable way of providing your pet with a drink and even though he won’t absorb it through his skin, he will drink when you mist him.
Primarily, this is done by lapping water directly from the face. As the water droplets move down his skin, he is able to stick out his tongue and drink them this way.
What’s not to love, your pet gets to stay hydrated without moving from the spot!
But it is almost as if the bearded dragon was designed to drink this way. If you watch your pet as you mist him, you will notice that as soon as the water touches his head he will instinctively lower his head so that the droplets can roll down towards his mouth.
But you should also make sure to spray the water onto your pet’s back since this is another clever way that they can get a drink.
Bearded dragons have a series of ridges and bumps along their back and these are the perfect place to store water, because, why not?
This water will remain here until your bearded dragon wants a drink. At this point, he will tilt his body so that the water comes to him and he can take his fill.
What Is The Best Way For A Bearded Dragon To Drink?
Bearded dragons will do well with a water bowl and this is something that they should always have in their enclosure, even if they don’t seem to take too much of an interest in it.
A common reason that a bearded dragon may not drink from a bowl is merely because he cannot see it.
When they are in the wild, these lizards tend to take a drink from flowing water sources such as streams so locating a still water source can be tricky for them.
However, there is a solution to this problem. There are several ‘dripping’ bowls which can be used to draw the bearded dragon’s attention to the water making it easier for him to spot.
Conclusion
A lot of pet owners are under the illusion that their bearded dragon can drink through its skin. This is not a ridiculous idea because there are many animals that can do this, however, the bearded dragon is not one of them.
That being said, while they can drink in the normal way, these amazing creatures can drink in some rather unique ways such as through their vent.
But even so, this doesn’t mean that you should omit keeping a water bowl in your pets cage.
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