How does a beardie shed?

[Pat B]

Does a beardie's entire body shed at one time? What if it doesn't....what should I do? Little Spike sheds a little here and a little there. When he sheds, like now, I give him warm baths to help him along and if he will let me....I take a very soft old toothbrush and very gently brush his tail! After he squirms a little and settles down he seems to like it. Is that a good thing to do?
AND....the little booger is finally eating greens!! Hallelujah! He is a stubborn little boy but I think he has figured out that greens are good for him. I tried cantaloupe....that was a no go so might try raspberries next because they are easy to cut up.
So....all in all....if he shedding then he is growing then I must be doing something right. He is a strange little boy with weird behaviors. He isn't very friendly but he is still small so hopefully that will change as he grows into 'manhood'!

 

[Noella]

Allie once shed all her body after antibiotics all at once.

Now, she doesn't. It takes longer. It could be a foot one day and her tail the next. Then her head after the tail, then her body, and underside.

 

[Katching]

Puff is just finishing his first shed since I adopted him. I have bathed him plenty. But found he likes to thrash around and peel it off in his viv. He was dragging his tummy along his favourite bit of branch. Has settled back to 'normal' now the majority is off. Regardless of his shedding routine though he still stops for a cuddle on my collar bone bless him. Does anyone else find theirs like to scratch and run themselves to shed. I have assumed it is just his way. But thought I would ask. And I did notice pat B that he has she'd in sections. X

 

[Germ]

Spike's shedding method is quite normal. He will shed the areas that have grown out of the old skin, sometimes the head, legs, tail, torso, parts of or whole body. I read about people using toothbrushes as you have described, I don't understand it or think it a good idea, unless there is the instance of a particularly stuck shed. Shedding is a natural process that will happen quite well without any help from us, other than the soaks & mistings. To me, helping a shed along by brushing is no better than peeling\pulling it off. Shed will come off very naturally on it's own without us trying to hurry it along in any way by irritating the fresh skin & removing the skin that may not be ready to come off on it's own, which is much more detrimental than it does good.

Spike is a not strange or weird, he is being a normal BD & not a cat, dog or other furry pet that so many try to turn their BDs into. Many BDs will 'Tolerate' handling well, but not all, most would be just as happy to be left alone. Continued extended handling is for the benefit of the keeper, more than for the health & well being of the BD. Some handle it much better than others.

They will also take to their greens when they are ready, the huge push to get them to eat greens asap, while not necessarily a bad thing, is unnecessary. Keep them available, they will get around to them. Be sure to keep them hydrated with regular mistings & warm soaks.

 

[Pat B]

Thank you all....I feel better knowing his shedding is normal.
@ Germ...I was using the very soft tooth brush gently on his tail because I don't remember it shedding last time. Also....I am hoping that when his tail sheds completely that the little 'stubby tail' will lose the little black dried up piece that is there because of you know what happened....

 

[Katching]

Has spike got a stump too? Puff does I think he probably has about a 1/4-1/3 missing and it has a black tip. Though it has reduced with this recent shed. I only adopted him at 14 months and was told he had been nipped as a baby. Think it gives him character. X

 

[Pat B]

Yes.....Spike has a 'stubby' tail. There are more beardies out there than I thought with stubbies so I don't feel so bad. Don't mess with the black tip. When it is all healed it will come off on it's own. I am hoping this shed gets rid of the black tip....will just have to be patient.
Was Puff full grown when you got him??

 

[Germ]

If the tip is still showing black, it was a recent amputation or injury, not a hatchling nip over a year old. Someone was really feeding it to you . The black is the area going necrotic & healing, the black will disappear with ongoing sheds. I also have one (Dinah) with a shortened tail.

 

[Pat B]

Yes....I agree with you. I think with this current shed it might come off. Almost looks like his tail is doing a double shed. Can beardies do that especially on the tail? He must be miserable....I am going to bathe him soon....nice and warm and NO brush!!

 

[Katching]

Oh no!!! He's not upset or in pain that I can tell. Even more glad I adopted him now. Poor mite. The temperature dropped here today. I got home from work and puff looked really cross. Black beard and back instead of yellow. I think the temp did it so I have upped the thermostat so he can bask back to yellow before bed. Will have to monitor the temp in cold end a bit closer while the weather is being a muppet eh?! X

 

[Pat B]

I don't know if he is pain or not....how do you tell?? He isn't moving very much I can tell you that! I gave him a long very warm bath this morning and some more tail shed is ready to come off but letting it go on his terms. I would say a black bearded beardie is very p'd off. LOL!!

 

[Aleena]

I don't know if he is pain or not....how do you tell?? He isn't moving very much I can tell you that! I gave him a long very warm bath this morning and some more tail shed is ready to come off but letting it go on his terms. I would say a black bearded beardie is very p'd off. LOL!!

They don't like shedding so it's pretty hard to determine from just that. Though it would seem he is very aggravated indeed! I'd imagine it as an itch they had to scratch kind of like when you get sun burnt and start peeling.