Out of all the popular reptiles commonly kept as pets, the bearded dragon is without a doubt the most popular by far.
Over the last couple of years it has managed to expand its lead over corn snakes, leopard geckos, and ball pythons with the popularity of bearded dragons continuing to increase.
We constantly see a wide range of questions being asked about keeping pet bearded dragons and although many of these questions are not due to potentially serious problems, some of them are.
This is why are have decided to publish this dedicated article going over why your pet bearded dragon is upside down after seeing a number of people reaching out for advice recently.
It can be difficult to correctly confirm the reason that your pet bearded dragon is upside down though and even experienced reptile keepers can have problems confirming the diagnosis and issues.
If possible, you should really be booking a video call with a veterinarian to have them assess your bearded dragon to confirm the problem and provide you with professional advice.
Still, we know that this is not possible for everyone so we have our list of the more common reasons that your pet bearded dragon may be upside down below to try and help you workout whats wrong.
Bacterial Infections
One of the most common reasons for a bearded dragon to suddenly start spending more time on its back is due to a bacterial infection.
The problem with diagnosing a bacterial infection in reptiles is that they are very good at masking them and can often look perfectly healthy on the outside despite being extremely unwell on the inside.
This is why we always stress the importance of regular check-ups with a reptile veterinarian as they will be able to identify these infections early and treat them before they cause any serious problems.
If your bearded dragon is upside down and you think that it may have a bacterial infection then we recommend seeking professional advice as soon as possible.
Fungal Infections
Fungal infections are another common reason that a bearded dragon may start spending more time on its back and is again something that can be very difficult to spot.
These infections are often caused by a dirty environment and if your bearded dragon is kept in a vivarium with poor ventilation then it is at a higher risk of developing a fungal infection.
Fungal infections can cause a number of different problems for bearded dragons and if left untreated can be fatal so it is important to get them checked out by a reptile veterinarian as soon as possible.
Impaction
Impaction is a problem that is seen quite frequently in captive reptiles and is something that all reptile owners should be aware of.
Impaction occurs when a reptile ingests something that it cannot digest and this can often be substrate, food, or even decorations from the vivarium.
If your bearded dragon is upside down and you think that it may be impacted then we recommend seeking professional advice as soon as possible.
Calcium Deficiency
A calcium deficiency is another common problem that can cause a bearded dragon to spend more time on its back and is something that all reptile owners should be aware of.
Calcium is an essential nutrient for all reptiles and a lack of it can lead to a number of problems including bone weakness, muscle spasms, and seizures.
If your bearded dragon is upside down and you think that it may be calcium deficient then we recommend seeking professional advice as soon as possible.
Head Trauma
Head trauma is something that unfortunately happens quite often in captive reptiles and can often be the result of a fall or being dropped.
Your bearded dragon may have just fallen off a branch within its vivarium and the trauma may not even be visible externally so keep that in mind.
If your bearded dragon is upside down and you think that it may have suffered head trauma then we recommend seeking professional advice as soon as possible.
Viral Infections
Viral infections are another common reason that a bearded dragon may start spending more time on its back and is something that all reptile owners should be aware of.
These infections can cause a number of different problems for bearded dragons and if left untreated can be fatal so it is important to get them checked out by a reptile veterinarian as soon as possible.
Metabolic Bone Disease (MBD)
Metabolic bone disease is a condition that can affect all reptiles and is something that all reptile owners should be aware of.
This condition is caused by a lack of calcium in the diet and can lead to a number of problems including muscle weakness, bone deformities, and even paralysis.
In extreme cases, MBD can also cause your bearded dragon to lay on its back but this is usually in the later stages of MBD and by this stage, there is often little that you are actually able to do to help your bearded dragon.
Dehydration
Dehydration is something that can affect all reptiles and is something that all reptile owners should be aware of.
Dehydration occurs when a reptile does not have enough water in its body and can lead to a number of problems including muscle weakness, kidney problems, and even death.
Although rare, some bearded dragons can lay on their back when dehydrated too.
High Basking Area
If your bearded dragon has access to a high basking area then this could be the reason that it is spending more time on its back.
Some bearded dragons will choose to spend more time on their back so that they can bask in the heat and this is perfectly normal behaviour.
As long as your bearded dragon is not displaying any other signs of illness then there is no need to be concerned.
Egg-Binding
Egg-binding is a condition that can affect female bearded dragons and is something that all reptile owners should be aware of.
This condition occurs when a female bearded dragon is unable to lay her eggs and can often be the result of a calcium deficiency or dehydration.
If your bearded dragon is female and you think that she may be egg-bound then we recommend seeking professional advice as soon as possible.
Pregnant
If your bearded dragon is female and you think that she may be pregnant then this could be the reason that she is spending more time on her back.
Some female bearded dragons will choose to spend more time on their back towards the end of their pregnancy in order to make it easier for them to lay their eggs.
As long as your bearded dragon is not displaying any other signs of illness then there is no need to be concerned.
Parasitic Infections!
While parasitic infections are not as common in bearded dragons as they are in other reptiles, they can still occur and can often be the reason that your bearded dragon is spending more time on its back.
These infections can cause a number of different problems for bearded dragons and if left untreated can be fatal so it is important to get them checked out by a reptile veterinarian as soon as possible.
Hypocalemia
Hypocalemia is a condition that can affect all reptiles and is something that all reptile owners should be aware of.
This condition occurs when there is a lack of calcium in the blood and can often be the result of a calcium deficiency or dehydration.
If your bearded dragon is hypocalcemic then we recommend seeking professional advice as soon as possible.
Kidney Problems
Kidney problems are relatively common in reptiles and can often be the reason that your bearded dragon is spending more time on its back.
These problems can be caused by a number of different things including dehydration, stress, and a lack of vitamin A in the diet.
If you think that your bearded dragon may have kidney problems then we recommend seeking professional advice as soon as possible.
Lack of Vitamin A
A lack of vitamin A in the diet is one of the most common causes of illness in reptiles and can often be the reason that your bearded dragon is spending more time on its back.
Vitamin A is essential for reptiles and a lack of it can lead to a number of problems including weight loss, muscle weakness, and even death.
If you think that your bearded dragon may be lacking in vitamin A then we recommend seeking professional advice as soon as possible.
Summary Of Why Your Bearded Dragon Is Upside Down!
- Bacterial Infections
- Calcium Deficiency
- Head Trauma
- Viral Infections
- Metabolic Bone Disease (mbd)
- Dehydration
- High Basking Area
- Parasitic Infections!
- Hypocalemia
Conclusion
There are a number of different reasons that your bearded dragon may start spending more time on its back and it is important to be aware of all of them.
If you are concerned that your bearded dragon may be ill then we recommend seeking professional advice as soon as possible.
