if a beardie is dark is he stressed?

[Dr.Oviparous]

ok, there's no stupid questions right, so if a bearded dragon is really dark, is that usually an indicator that he's stressed? I was told that earlier today by a petstore personel..... but you know how reliable those guys are. -Juggalo

_________________
"Well, it didn't look like a one horse town, but try finding a decent hair jelly!" -Eulisses E McGill

[bensnacks]

Is he still acting 'normal' ,Juggs, eating , lively etc.???
[addsig]

[Dr.Oviparous]

Oh yeah, he seems great! eats a lot, drinks a lot, pretty active (when he's not basking lol), and always very alert, and strong. I've never had a beardie before, this one is not mine either, it's April's actully. Yarray (the beardie) just lives with me, hehe. he has always been very dark though. he seems fine, I don't know what to think...... do they get stressed out by too much "cluter" in the cage? like plants, and rocks and stuff? do they prefeer lots of open space? ben, do you see beardies outside in the nature often? -Juggalo
[addsig]

[bensnacks]

I used to see many but I'm living in the tropics now
and they don't seem as common .
I don't think the clutter would stress him ,he might
like a vertical perch above the clutter so he can survey
his kingdom,hehe.In the wild the are often seen on the top
of fence posts watching out for predators & prey.
I think it might be a natural colouring he sounds very happy!! [img]modules/Forum/images/smiles/icon_biggrin.gif[/img]
[addsig]

[Dr.Oviparous]

he's got an artificial plant that he spends a lot of time on, it's pretty high up, he likes it there. -Juggalo
[addsig]

[amErika]

When Killian is stressed or feels threatened he puffs up his beard and it gets really dark. Sometimes his coloring is darker than usual but he is calm as can be when that happens.

Maybe your beardie just has darker coloring. Has it always been the same, does it change?
[addsig]

[Dragon]

He could just be a bit cool. I've noticed that our BD's will darken in colour in the morning when their heat lights kick on, so as to absorb the heat as fast as possible. When they get "up to temperature" later on, they lighten considerably.

What are his temps like?
[addsig]

	Bearded Dragon Bearded Dragon is the common name for any agamid lizard in the genus Pogona.

[NYCSpeedcore]

I have noticed the same thing. If my beardie was out of his cage for awhile he would darken from being cooler, but it is also an indication that he is stressed. Has he pooped in awhile? If not soak him, that could be causing him some discomfort.
[addsig]

[Dr.Oviparous]

Sorry this took so long to get back!

the temps are 80 cool side 88 ambient 90 warmside 100 basking daytime, 78-83 nighttime. what do you think of these temps? yeah, he poops every couple days I think..... he's not mine so I usually don't clean his cage. can anyone make a beardie care sheet for the site? he's always been darker than normal, but seems to be really happy and healthy. thanks for the help! -Juggalo
[addsig]