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As a bearded dragon owner – you may have thought to yourself – Do bearded dragons change color?
Over the years, bearded dragon breeders have been able to produce a wide variety of morphs and color variations. Some bearded dragons are yellow, some are white, while others are red or orange.
Plus, if you’re familiar with chameleons, you would know that certain reptiles possess the ability to change colors to blend in with their surroundings.
But – does the same apply to bearded dragons? Do Bearded Dragons change color as well?
Research has found that bearded dragons can change color for a variety of reasons. Some of these reasons include changes in season, social signals, thermoregulation, camouflage, shedding, and age. However, their shift in color is usually subtle compared to a chameleon, for instance.
So, now that you know that bearded dragons can change color, let’s dive a little deeper into the reasons why they exhibit this strange yet fascinating behavior.
Additionally, we’re going to show you some images of bearded dragons that have changed colors.
Jump to..
Meaning Behind Bearded Dragons Changing Color
It’s no secret that we all have pigment-containing cells called melanocytes. These cells are responsible for the color of our skin and hair.
However, humans are not the only species that have these pigment-determining cells. Other animals, including our beloved beardies – also possess these cells.
In animals, they’re responsible for generating different colors of skin, scales, and feathers and enabling them to change their eye pattern, skin color, and more!
Some animals with chromatophores include reptiles such as bearded dragons, iguanas, and chameleons. However, other animals such as birds and certain species of fish also possess these cells.
The bearded dragon is a fascinating creature in the sense that it can change color rather quickly – although it’s usually fairly subtle.
In some cases, the change will target certain areas of the body such as their head, neck, or tail, while for others, it may affect the entirety of their body.
Why Do Bearded Dragon’s Turn Darker or Lighter?
Oftentimes, bearded dragon owners notice their reptiles skin appears darker or lighter than usual. In most cases, these changes are completely natural and can happen on a frequent basis.
Typically, when a bearded dragon appears darker or lighter it is due to the shedding process.
A lighter bearded dragon is typically a sign that it is about to shed. On the other hand, a darker bearded dragon may appear darker because it recently shed its skin.
However, there are cases where this is abnormal. For instance, if your bearded dragons belly appears to have dark and light spots – or their scales look dry and cracked – it may be a sign of scale rot. Although this is fairly uncommon, it is something to keep an eye out for.
Next, we’re going to go over additional reasons why your bearded dragon may appear lighter or darker. We’re also going to discuss reasons why bearded dragons change color.
#1. Light and Darkness
Research by ecologist Fan M, Stuart-Fox D has found that light or darkness may be responsible for sudden color changes.
These correspond to photoperiods and not just a response to this reptile’s cardigan rhythm. Typically, when an animal’s dorsal skin is exposed to light such as heat lamps or direct sunlight, it will darken.
At night, the skin will be more likely to lighten. If, for instance, a bearded dragon was not exposed to any form of light for extended periods of time, it could start to appear translucent.
Therefore, if you notice your bearded dragon is darker during the day and lighter at night – this is a natural response to their environment.
#2. Thermoregulation
Temperature is one variable that may affect change in coloration for bearded dragons. According to research by the University of Melbourne, this appears to be influenced by their dorsal reflectivity.
However, more evidence is needed before coming to any conclusions about what could cause these changes. It could a response to light intensity alone, or something else – such as age.
Additionally, seasons may play a major role in color changes in bearded dragons. For instance, when it gets cold, their dorsal turns a darker shade to help them absorb warmth from their surroundings.
During this time of year, they may hide under rocks or plants and enter a state of brumation. Brumation is basically hibernation – but for reptiles.
Brumation allows them to slow their bodily functions and conserve energy. Some captive bearded dragons will go into brumation while other won’t. it’s something that we don’t yet fully understand and we’re continuing to do research.
As a bearded dragon owner, the best thing you can do is provide them with a large enclosure (55+ gallons), a good calcium supplement, proper basking temperatures, a UVB/UVA bulb, and a hide on both sides of your enclosure.
#3. Bearded Dragons Change Color as They Grow
The most significant color change your bearded dragon will experience is due to growth.
Hatchlings tend to be extremely vibrant colors such as bright yellow, dark red, and orange.
Needless to say, the color of your bearded dragon is dependent on the morph it is.
As your bearded dragon becomes a juvenile, its colors will likely become even more vibrant for a period of time. During this time, your baby bearded dragon will be shedding frequently.
As your bearded dragon enters adulthood (12-18 months), its colors will begin to fade slightly.
Of course, this is highly dependent on the morph of your bearded dragon. Certain morphs tend to maintain their colors (or become even more vibrant) with age while others tend to lose their color with age.
Notably, because this is over the course of many months, you probably won’t even notice a shift in color. However, once your bearded dragon becomes an adult, you can look back at pictures of your bearded dragon when they were a juvenile and see if they’ve changed color over time!
#4. Shedding
As we mentioned previously, shedding will likely be the most notable shift in the color of your bearded dragon.
Interestingly, a bearded dragon’s color will slowly fade over the course of several weeks prior to shedding. They may even lose their color completely and look a grayish brown color.
However, when your bearded dragon finally sheds, they will look extremely bright and vibrant – similar to how they looked as juveniles.
It’s always exciting to witness your bearded dragon right after they’ve experienced a shed.
#5. Bearded Dragons Change Color for Camouflage
Bearded dragon species have a variety of colors, and their color can change according to their environment.
Chameleons also possess this trait – although they are much better at it than bearded dragons.
The reason bearded dragons do this is for camouflage. In the wild, bearded dragons have a variety of different predators including larger reptiles, birds, feral cats, foxes, dingo, and more.
Therefore, it’s important that they’re able to blend in with their surroundings to avoid being eaten by one of these predators.
As a result, wild bearded dragons located in Australia are generally brown & grey in color. These colors help them blend in their surroundings and allow them to stay low-key.
The only reason captive bearded dragons are so many different colors is because breeders have been breeding bearded dragons for decades to create morphs that are more appealing. They can sell these morphs for higher prices than a typical brown or grey bearded dragon.
#6. Stress, Mood, and Communication
Bearded dragons have a fascinating way of showing us when they feel happy or stressed.
For instance, their colors may change depending on their emotion at any given time! They could be sporting vivid hues like oranges and yellows during happy moments.
Alternatively, giving off dark shades such as deep browns or grays – things may not be going quite so well for them emotionally. They may even be suffering from stress or depression.
Bearded dragons are social creatures, and it’s widely speculated that they use their color-changing abilities to communicate with other Bearded dragons.
Additionally, an agitated bearded dragon will likely turn black in its beard and neck area. This is a defense mechanism as it makes the bearded dragon appear more threatening.
#7. Your Bearded Dragon is Ill
In rare circumstances, a bearded dragon may change color when they’re sick.
For instance, when bearded dragons’ color appears green or yellow, it can indicate that they’re experiencing a fungus disease. The patches of these fungi are usually brown and gray in appearance as well.
Fungus diseases usually happen if your bearded dragons enclosure is too moist – or the humidity levels are too high. Additionally, they can become sick if you’re not providing the proper UVB lighting that beardies require.
Some other signs of illness include:
- Throwing up
- Diarrhea
- Lethargic
- Loss of appetite
- Hiding out a lot
If you’re worried your bearded dragon is sick or you simply want to take preventative measures to keep them from getting sick, it may be a good idea to administer antibiotics and other supplements to keep your bearded dragon healthy.
REPTAID Immune Support is an herbal blend of vitamins and antioxidants that assist in digestive health, skin health, vision health, and can help fight foreign contaminants and other illnesses in bearded dragons. I’ve personally had great success with this product and have used it on my bearded dragon for several years now.
Even if your bearded dragon isn’t sick, it’s strongly advised that you provide them supplements and antioxidants to ensure they live and long and happy life!
So, Do Bearded Dragons Change Color? (Final Thoughts)
Some of the most common reasons include camouflage, communication, stress, shedding, growth, thermoregulation, changes in season, or illness.
It’s always important to keep a close eye on your beardie and if you ever suspect they are sick – it’s crucial that you consult a veterinarian.
We hope you enjoyed reading this article and gained value from it. If you have any questions or concerns, feel free to leave us a comment below.
As always – Happy Herping!
