Bearded dragons are common pets, and their lifespan might be as much as 10 years. Nonetheless, it may be tough to inform the age of a bearded dragon with out some prior information. On this article, we are going to give you some tips about methods to inform the age of a bearded dragon as a way to higher care to your pet.
One of the crucial necessary issues to contemplate when attempting to find out the age of a bearded dragon is its measurement. Bearded dragons usually develop to be between 18 and 24 inches lengthy, and so they attain their full measurement by the point they’re 2 years outdated. Nonetheless, there might be some variation in measurement relying on the person dragon’s genetics and weight loss plan. In case you are uncertain about how outdated a bearded dragon is, it’s all the time finest to seek the advice of with a veterinarian.
One other strategy to inform the age of a bearded dragon is by taking a look at its scales. As bearded dragons develop, they shed their pores and skin a number of instances. The frequency of shedding decreases because the dragon will get older. A younger bearded dragon might shed its pores and skin each few weeks, whereas an grownup dragon might solely shed its pores and skin a few times a yr. The scales of a younger bearded dragon are additionally extra prone to be clean and glossy, whereas the scales of an older dragon could also be extra tough and uninteresting.
Analyzing Scale Texture and Coloration
Bearded dragons bear important bodily modifications as they age, and their scales present helpful clues in figuring out their age.
Scale Texture
As bearded dragons mature, their scales progressively change in texture. Juveniles have clean, shiny scales, whereas older dragons develop rougher, drier scales. That is because of the pure put on and tear that happens over time. Moreover, juvenile dragons typically have a velvety look because of the presence of small scales known as keeled scales. As dragons attain maturity, these keeled scales turn into much less pronounced, giving the scales a extra uniform look.
Coloration
The coloration of a bearded dragon’s scales additionally offers helpful age-related data. Juveniles are likely to have brilliant, vibrant colours, equivalent to yellow, orange, or purple. As they mature, their colours usually turn into extra subdued, with shades of brown, olive, or grey changing into extra widespread.
Analyzing the feel and coloration of a bearded dragon’s scales can present a normal estimate of its age. Nonetheless, it is necessary to notice that these components can range relying on particular person genetics, environmental situations, and well being standing.
Observing Nail Progress
As bearded dragons age, their nails will progressively develop longer and thicker. The speed of progress can range relying on the person dragon’s well being and surroundings. Nonetheless, there are some normal patterns that may enable you estimate your dragon’s age based mostly on its nail size.
Here’s a desk that reveals the common nail size for bearded dragons of various ages:
| Age | Nail Size |
|---|---|
| 0-6 months | Lower than 1/2 inch |
| 6-12 months | 1/2 to 1 inch |
| 1-2 years | 1 to 1 1/2 inches |
| 2+ years | 1 1/2 inches or longer |
You will need to notice that these are simply normal tips. The precise nail size of your bearded dragon might range relying on its particular person progress fee. In case you are uncertain about your dragon’s age, it’s all the time finest to seek the advice of with a veterinarian.
Along with nail size, you can too have a look at the form of your dragon’s nails to assist estimate its age. Youthful dragons can have nails which might be extra pointed and sharp. As they age, their nails will turn into extra rounded and blunt.
Assessing Eye Traits
Inspecting the eyes of a bearded dragon can present helpful clues about its age:
Bulging Eyes
In younger bearded dragons, the eyes are usually massive and bulging. As they age, the eyes are likely to turn into smaller and fewer outstanding.
Pupil Dimension
The pupils of younger bearded dragons are normally massive and darkish. As they mature, the pupils turn into smaller and extra oval in form.
Iris Coloration
The colour of the iris (the coloured a part of the attention) can even change with age. Younger bearded dragons typically have brilliant inexperienced irises, whereas older people might have irises which might be extra brown or golden in shade.
Further Traits
Along with the attention traits talked about above, there are a number of different bodily attributes that may assist decide a bearded dragon’s age:
| Attribute | Younger Dragons | Older Dragons |
|---|---|---|
| Dimension | Smaller | Bigger |
| Weight | Lighter | Heavier |
| Tail | Shorter and thinner | Longer and thicker |
| Head | Smaller and rounder | Bigger and extra angular |
| Beard | Shorter and fewer developed | Longer and extra outstanding |
Inspecting the Beard
One of the crucial noticeable traits of bearded dragons is their beard. As they age, the beard undergoes some modifications that may present clues to their age.
**Juvenile Bearded Dragons (0-6 months):** Younger bearded dragons have a clean, unwrinkled beard. The scales on the beard are small and tightly packed collectively.
**Subadult Bearded Dragons (6-12 months):** As bearded dragons enter adolescence, their beards start to develop wrinkles. The scales on the beard begin to turn into bigger and extra spaced out.
**Grownup Bearded Dragons (12 months+):** Grownup bearded dragons have a full, bushy beard with deep wrinkles. The scales on the beard are massive and extensively spaced.
| Age | Beard Look |
|---|---|
| Juvenile | Clean, unwrinkled |
| Subadult | Wrinkled, with bigger, extra spaced-out scales |
| Grownup | Full, bushy beard with deep wrinkles and huge, extensively spaced scales |
Studying Progress Bands on the Tail
Inspecting the tail of a bearded dragon can present helpful clues about its age. The tail incorporates progress bands, that are skinny, darkish traces that run perpendicular to the size of the tail. These bands are fashioned in periods of fast progress, just like the expansion rings on a tree trunk. Counting the variety of progress bands can provide you an approximate concept of the dragon’s age.
Process:
- Lay the bearded dragon on a flat floor, holding its tail firmly however gently.
- Begin counting the expansion bands closest to the physique and work your means in direction of the tip of the tail.
- Keep away from counting the very first band close to the physique, as it might be much less distinct or not seen in any respect.
- Rely every skinny, darkish line as a single band.
- Some bands could also be nearer collectively or overlap, making it tough to depend. On this case, divide the realm with overlapping bands into equal sections and depend every part as a band.
- After you have counted all the expansion bands to the tip of the tail, add one yr to the whole depend. It is because the primary yr of a bearded dragon’s life shouldn’t be normally marked by progress bands.
Bearded dragons usually develop about 12-13 progress bands per yr. Nonetheless, this will range relying on components equivalent to diet, temperature, and total well being. Due to this fact, the age estimate obtained from progress band counting is an approximation and is probably not actual.
X-ray or Bone Density Scan
X-rays or bone density scans can be utilized to find out the age of a bearded dragon by analyzing the ossification of their bones. As dragons age, their bones turn into extra dense and the epiphyseal progress plates, or the areas the place the bones develop, begin to shut. By analyzing the X-rays, a veterinarian can estimate the age of a dragon based mostly on the extent of ossification and the closure of the expansion plates.
Components that Have an effect on Bone Density
You will need to notice that the bone density of bearded dragons might be affected by varied components, together with:
- Vitamin: A nutritious diet is crucial for correct bone improvement and density.
- Exercise stage: Dragons which might be lively and have entry to applicable basking areas are likely to have stronger bones.
- Well being situations: Underlying well being points can have an effect on bone metabolism and density.
| Age Vary | X-ray Look |
|---|---|
| 0-6 months | Bones are skinny and translucent, with open epiphyseal progress plates. |
| 6-12 months | Bones seem denser, and the epiphyseal progress plates start to shut. |
| 12-18 months | Bones are absolutely ossified, and the epiphyseal progress plates are closed. |
| 18 months+ | Bones might present indicators of wear and tear and tear, equivalent to small fractures or spurs. |
Checking for Tooth Growth
Figuring out a bearded dragon’s age based mostly on tooth improvement requires analyzing its mouth. Child dragons initially have a small, pale pinkish bump on the roof of their mouths, generally known as an egg tooth. This tooth helps them get away of their eggs.
Round 2-3 weeks of age, the egg tooth begins to shed and is changed by the primary set of enamel, generally known as the first enamel. These enamel are small, sharp, and barely curved. The first enamel are progressively changed by everlasting enamel beginning round 6-8 weeks of age.
Everlasting enamel are bigger, flatter, and fewer sharp than main enamel. The event of everlasting enamel continues all through the dragon’s life, with the final everlasting enamel rising round 12-18 months of age.
The desk beneath summarizes the levels of tooth improvement in bearded dragons:
| Age | Tooth |
|---|---|
| Hatchling | Egg tooth |
| 2-3 weeks | Major enamel |
| 6-8 weeks | Everlasting enamel (starting) |
| 12-18 months | Everlasting enamel (full) |
It is necessary to notice that tooth improvement can range barely relying on the person dragon’s progress fee and environmental components.
Consulting a Veterinarian
Consulting a good and skilled veterinarian is essentially the most exact and dependable technique of figuring out your bearded dragon’s age. Veterinarians have specialised information and entry to instruments to precisely assess the dragon’s bodily attributes, equivalent to joint flexibility, bone density, and tooth put on.
Listed here are some particular components {that a} veterinarian would possibly think about when estimating a bearded dragon’s age:
| **Attribute** | **Age Vary** |
| Weight | < 50 grams: 0-3 months 50-200 grams: 3-6 months 200-400 grams: 6-12 months 400+ grams: 12+ months |
| Snout-vent size (SVL) | < 5 inches: 0-3 months 5-8 inches: 3-6 months 8-11 inches: 6-12 months 11+ inches: 12+ months |
| Femoral pore improvement | Current in males: 6-12 months |
| Toe size | Shorter toes: youthful dragons Longer toes: older dragons |
| Head measurement | Smaller head: youthful dragons Bigger head: older dragons |
| Tooth | Sharp, white enamel: youthful dragons Worn, yellowish enamel: older dragons |
| Joint flexibility | Extra versatile joints: youthful dragons Much less versatile joints: older dragons |
| Bone density | Much less dense bones: youthful dragons Extra dense bones: older dragons |
| General well being and demeanor | Energetic, alert, and responsive: youthful dragons Much less lively, extra sedentary, and presumably exhibiting indicators of well being points: older dragons |
It is necessary to notice that these are normal tips, and particular person bearded dragons might range in improvement. Consulting a veterinarian for an correct age evaluation is all the time really helpful.
How To Inform A Bearded Dragons Age
Bearded dragons are common pets, and one of the vital widespread questions folks have about them is methods to inform their age. There are a number of methods to do that, and essentially the most correct technique will range relying on the age of the dragon.
For younger bearded dragons, the easiest way to inform their age is by their measurement. Child bearded dragons are usually round 4-6 inches lengthy, and they’re going to develop about 1 inch per thirty days till they attain maturity. By the point they’re 6 months outdated, they are going to be round 12 inches lengthy.
As soon as a bearded dragon reaches maturity, it is going to be harder to inform their age. Nonetheless, there are some things you may search for. Grownup bearded dragons can have a full set of enamel, and their claws can be lengthy and sharp. They can even have a extra outlined beard, and their pores and skin can be much less wrinkled than after they have been youthful.
Folks Additionally Ask
How are you going to inform the age of a bearded dragon by its tail?
You can’t inform the age of a bearded dragon by its tail.
How are you going to inform the age of a bearded dragon by its measurement?
Child bearded dragons are usually round 4-6 inches lengthy, and they’re going to develop about 1 inch per thirty days till they attain maturity. By the point they’re 6 months outdated, they are going to be round 12 inches lengthy.
How are you going to inform the age of a bearded dragon by its enamel?
Grownup bearded dragons can have a full set of enamel.
