Heidi Norton
Bearded dragons are sensitive to strong, unusual fragrances and smells. They can get anxious or frightened and exhibit behavioural changes when exposed to unfamiliar scents. This is because bearded dragons, unlike most other animals, smell through their mouths, using their tongues to bring odour particles into their mouths. While bearded dragons themselves do not typically emit a strong odour, their enclosures can develop unpleasant smells due to factors such as uneaten food, organic debris, and bacteria. Proper tank maintenance, including regular cleaning and good air circulation, is essential to minimise odours and provide a healthy environment for your pet. Additionally, certain fragrances or strong scents introduced into their environment may cause distress to your bearded dragon, so it is important to be mindful of their sensitive sense of smell.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Are bearded dragons sensitive to smells? | Yes, bearded dragons are sensitive to strong, unusual smells. |
| How do they smell? | Bearded dragons smell with their tongues. |
| What causes a bearded dragon's enclosure to smell? | Urates, feces, uneaten food, organic debris, bacteria, and moisture. |
| How to get rid of the smell? | Clean the enclosure regularly, remove organic matter, improve air circulation, and bathe the bearded dragon. |
| Can the smell indicate a health issue? | Yes, a persistent odor could indicate a fungal infection or other health issues. |
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What You'll Learn
Bearded dragons are sensitive to strong fragrances
To avoid this, it is important to maintain a clean enclosure for your bearded dragon. Spot-cleaning the tank daily and performing deeper cleans weekly or monthly can help minimise odours. Be sure to remove any uneaten food, as it can rot and produce an unpleasant stench. The type of substrate used can also impact the smell, with paper towels or loose substrates more likely to trap odours. Additionally, the tank's location and air circulation are important factors, as odours can become trapped if there is insufficient airflow.
The diet of a bearded dragon can also contribute to the smell of its enclosure. Crickets, for example, are known to have a strong odour, so some owners prefer to use Dubia Roaches as a food source instead. It is recommended to feed insects outside of the tank to avoid any additional smells from bugs crawling inside. Bearded dragons themselves may develop a fungal infection, which can cause a stinky odour. In this case, a visit to the vet is necessary, and a warm bath can help determine if there is an infection.
It is worth noting that scented candles, incense, and chemically-laden air fresheners are not suitable for covering up enclosure odours, as these strong fragrances can disturb and disorient your bearded dragon. Instead, natural solutions like vinegar and water or vet-recommended disinfectants are preferred. Overall, by maintaining a clean enclosure and being mindful of your bearded dragon's sensitive sense of smell, you can provide a pleasant and comfortable environment for your pet.
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How to keep your bearded dragon's cage odour-free
Bearded dragons are sensitive to strong or unusual smells, such as scented candles or air fresheners, which can cause them anxiety. While bearded dragons themselves do not usually have much of a smell, their enclosures can be a different story. Here are some tips to keep your bearded dragon's cage odour-free:
- Spot-clean daily: Remove any feces, shed skin, urates, and uneaten food from the cage daily. Bearded dragons' poop can be particularly smelly, and it can also contain parasites and bacteria, so it's important to clean it up right away. You can use a scoop to remove waste from sand or other particulate substrates, just like you would with cat litter. If you use a newspaper or other sheet-like substrate, be sure to change it daily.
- Perform regular deep cleans: In addition to daily spot-cleaning, it's important to thoroughly clean your bearded dragon's cage at least once a week, and sometimes even more frequently. This includes cleaning the substrate and all surfaces with a disinfectant that is safe for your lizard. Be sure to rinse the cage thoroughly and allow it to dry completely before returning your bearded dragon to its home.
- Keep moisture low: While it's important to mist your bearded dragon's cage to provide drinking water, be sure to allow the cage to dry between mistings. Bearded dragons are comfortable in low-humidity habitats, so keeping moisture levels low will also help prevent the growth of bacteria, which can cause odours.
- Keep the cage well-ventilated: Sometimes, odours can become trapped in the cage due to a lack of air circulation. Take out the screen for a few minutes every day, especially when you're handling your bearded dragon, to improve ventilation. Also, ensure that the cage is in an area with good air circulation.
- Remove uneaten food: Food that is left in the cage can start to rot and give off an unpleasant odour. Remove any uneaten food after 24 hours and avoid feeding live insects directly in the cage, as they can be difficult to catch and may end up hiding and rotting in the enclosure.
- Bathe your bearded dragon: If your bearded dragon has a strong odour, it could be due to a fungal infection. Give your pet a warm bath with no soap and gently scrub its body with a soft brush, paying special attention to the legs, tail, and belly. If you suspect a fungal infection, consult a veterinarian.
- Choose the right substrate: Some substrates, like paper towels or loose substrates, can trap odours and bacteria. Consider using a textured, non-grooved, non-adhesive shelf liner or a black mat, which can be cleaned with a 50/50 vinegar and water solution or a vet-approved disinfectant.
- Avoid scented products: Avoid using scented candles, incense, or chemically-laden air fresheners to mask odours. These strong scents can be disturbing and disorienting to bearded dragons.
- Keep your dragon healthy: A healthy bearded dragon is less likely to develop odours. Feed your pet a balanced diet of greens and insects (such as Dubia Roaches), and keep their tank clean to prevent fungal infections and other health issues.
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The impact of moisture on the cage's smell
Bearded dragons are sensitive to smells and can get anxious or experience behavioural changes when exposed to strong or unusual fragrances. They have a unique way of smelling, as they do so through their tongues, which can make unfamiliar scents particularly startling.
Moisture is a critical factor in maintaining the ideal environment for your bearded dragon. Hailing from the arid deserts of Australia, these lizards are adapted to low-humidity habitats. However, this does not mean that they require completely dry conditions. Maintaining optimal humidity levels in their enclosure is crucial for their health and comfort.
Excessive moisture in the air can lead to several issues. Firstly, it can promote the growth of bacteria, which not only poses health risks to your bearded dragon but also contributes to unpleasant odours in the cage. Moisture can also cause skin problems and respiratory issues in your pet, making them uncomfortable and lethargic.
To prevent these problems, it is essential to maintain proper ventilation in the enclosure. Ensure there is adequate airflow around the hide box and basking area to prevent stagnant, humid air. A heavy-duty mesh wire screen cover can help achieve this. Additionally, avoid using substrates that retain moisture, such as bark, coconut fibre, or sand, as they can increase humidity levels and trap odours. Instead, consider using ceramic tiles or other moisture-resistant materials.
Maintaining the right balance of humidity is crucial. Aim for an average humidity level between 30% and 60%. Regular cleaning of the enclosure, including removing any faeces, shed skin, and uneaten food, will also help reduce odours and maintain a healthy environment for your bearded dragon.
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Why bearded dragons smell with their tongues
Bearded dragons are sensitive to smells and rely on their sense of smell for protection and survival. They have a strong sense of smell, but unlike humans, they cannot smell a lot of things at once. They need to stick their tongue out at very specific things to smell them. This is because they use their tongues to bring odour particles into their mouths, which are then smelled.
Bearded dragons have a scent organ called the Jacobson's organ or the vomeronasal organ, located in the top of their mouths. They stick their tongues out to force particles through this organ, which is like a combination of taste and smell. This helps them identify objects they don't recognise, such as whether something is edible or not. The Jacobson's organ is also useful for communicating chemical messages, such as readiness for sexual activity, and detecting chemical signals related to territoriality and aggression.
The strong sense of smell of bearded dragons means that they can be disturbed and disoriented by unfamiliar and strong scents, such as scented candles or air fresheners. These unusual smells can cause them to become anxious or frightened and may even lead to behavioural changes. For example, some bearded dragons have been known to bite their owner's hand if it smells like food or rodents.
In addition to their sense of smell, bearded dragons also produce odours themselves. While reptiles should be odour-free pets due to their low waste production and infrequent shedding, bearded dragon cages can often emit highly objectionable odours. These odours are typically caused by organic debris and bacteria in the cage, as well as the food they eat, such as crickets, mealworms, roaches and superworms, which are notoriously smelly. Proper husbandry, cleanliness, and regular cleaning of the cage and feeder insects' cage can help reduce these odours and maintain the health of the bearded dragon.
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How to identify if your bearded dragon has a fungal infection
Bearded dragons are sensitive to smells as they have adapted their senses for protection. They smell with their tongues, which means they need to stick their tongues out at very specific things to smell them.
Strong, unusual smells such as scented candles or air fresheners might be disturbing and disorienting to a bearded dragon. They can get anxious or have different changes in behaviour when they are around such scents.
Bearded dragons can also develop fungal infections, which cause them to smell. This fungus often causes granulomatous dermatitis, which can extend into the underlying muscle and bone, causing myositis and osteomyelitis. It can also progress to a lethal systemic infection, affecting internal organs.
The classical appearance of a fungal infection is a crusty yellow lesion, and it is sometimes called “yellow fungus disease”. However, the lesions are not always yellow and can also be dark in colour. The disease can affect bearded dragons at any age and may involve both males and females. It is typified by thickened yellow plaques on the face, back, sides, or legs. These plaques will crack, peel, and bleed if not treated early on.
To identify a fungal infection, a skin biopsy and culture are required. However, this fungus can be difficult to identify as it may be mistaken for other infections. Therefore, it is important to inform the lab of any suspicion of a Chrysosporium infection when submitting a biopsy for culture.
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Frequently asked questions
Yes, bearded dragons are sensitive to strong and unusual smells, such as scented candles or air fresheners. They can get anxious and exhibit different changes in behavior when exposed to such fragrances. It is best to avoid using scented products around them and maintain a clean and odor-free environment for your pet.
Bearded dragons themselves do not usually have a strong odor, but their enclosures can develop unpleasant smells due to various factors. The most common cause is their poop, which can be quite smelly, especially if left uncleaned for a long time. Other causes include uneaten food, decaying organic matter, and the type of substrate used.
To minimize odors in your bearded dragon's enclosure, regular cleaning and proper husbandry are essential. Spot-clean the tank once or twice a day, removing waste, uneaten food, and any organic debris. Perform a thorough cleaning of the entire enclosure, including all surfaces and items inside, at least once a week or every few weeks. Additionally, choose the right type of substrate that doesn't trap odors, ensure good air circulation in the tank, and maintain a dry environment to prevent bacterial growth.
