Unlike most other pets, captive bearded dragons need special attention. So, if you are planning to get one, you must know all the basics, which includes their hydration requirement. That raises the question, how long can a bearded dragon go without water? Can they survive long?
Bearded dragons are capable of surviving for a couple of days to two weeks without water. This period depends on their overall health and age. Even so, you should not allow these reptiles to dehydrate as it will lead to severe health issues.
Now, how often should beaded dragons drink water? Also, what are the ways of making these reptiles stay hydrated? You will find all the answers below. So, keep on reading.
Do Bearded Dragons Need Water?
Yes, bearded dragons do need water to maintain their health and thrive throughout the day. In fact, a bearded dragon needs to drink 10 to 30 ml of water daily for each kilogram of body weight.
That means if your pet weighs 500 grams, you need to ensure that the reptile drinks 5 to 15 ml of water daily. On that note, you must ensure the tank has a bowl containing fresh and clean water.
If bearded dragons do not have constant access to clean and fresh water, they will dehydrate. And dehydration in bearded dragons can initiate lethargy and loss of appetite. These effects will be noticeable faster if the reptile has reduced scalation.
How Long Can a Bearded Dragon Go Without Water?
Bearded dragons are used to staying in hot and dry environments in wild settings. For that reason, they can go for a couple of days to two weeks without water. Want more specific info regarding this matter?
Adult bearded dragons can last for three to two weeks without water. On the other hand, juvenile bearded dragons can go for one week to two weeks without drinking water.
However, even if they can last for a few days without water, you should not let them. To keep their health in top-notch condition, you must ensure they stick to a proper diet and hydrate themselves.
And there’s no need to go through any hassles to ensure they remain hydrated. You can just fill up a bowl with tap water (although it is not entirely safe) and keep it inside the tank.
What Determines How Longer Bearded Dragons Can Stay Without Water?
The amount of time a bearded dragon can stay without water will depend on a couple of crucial factors. Let’s go through each of them to give you a fair idea about the topic:
Age
As hinted earlier, the age of the bearded dragons affects the time they can stay without water.
Juvelines are likely to go for a longer period than adults. In comparison, adults can go for three to two weeks, while juveniles can go for one to two weeks.
Size
The size of the bearded dragon is one of the biggest factors that determine how long bearded dragons can go without water. A juvenile smaller than usual may only be able to go two to three days, while large-sized juveniles can easily go for a week.
Temperature and Humidity
Another factor determining the time bearded dragons can last without water is the temperature and humidity of the tank. If these two are higher than usual, the reptiles will need to drink water frequently.
How to Keep Bearded Dragons Hydrated
There are several ways to keep bearded dragons hydrated. Some of the effective methods are described below:
Keep a Shallow Dish of Water Inside the Tank
The easiest way to keep the bearded dragons hydrated is to offer them a shallow dish of water. But make sure to keep clean and fresh water in it. And clean the container from time to time.
Give them Regular Baths
Bearded dragons can absorb water through their skin. That means you can hydrate them by giving them frequent baths. But make sure not to use cold water for their baths. Instead, use lukewarm or warm water.
Include More Leafy Greens and Fruits
You should include a good amount of leafy greens and fruits in the diet of the bearded dragons. Kale, sweet potatoes, and beets are good examples of these fruits and leafy greens.
How Often Do Bearded Dragons Drink Water?
The frequency of water intake generally depends on the age and size of the bearded dragons. In other words, bearded dragons that are smaller in size and are young will require more frequent water intake.
In general, if bearded dragons drink 10 to 30 ml of water for each kilogram of their body weight per day, they should be good. So, if you can ensure that, you really do not have much to worry about.
Final Words
Are you still asking yourself how long can a bearded dragon go without water? To recapitulate, bearded dragons can go for a couple of days to two weeks, depending on their age, size, and tank condition.
But no matter what, you must ensure they have access to clean and fresh water at all times.
