bd

Question
Hello my bearded dragon rarley or doesn't ever poo unless i bathe him i am afraid he has become to dependent on his baths what do i do? he literally will go without pooing for weeks but as soon as i bathe him he poos in 2 min i need him to do it on his own i am going on vacation and leaving him alone with an auto feeder and no one can bathe him plz help me.

Answer
Hi Rohn,

I really don't think you need to be worried. In all my years of dealing with reptiles I have never heard of one becoming constipated because of an over-dependence on baths. A lot of keepers use the bath/poop method regularly with beardeds and also iguanas as a way to keep the enclosure clean.
Obviously his bowels are working fine. You didn't mention specifically but I am assuming that his stools are a normal consistency when he  does go.  The temperature or feel of the water does tend to prompt a bowel movement in reptiles but nature will takes its course in time without it as well. It just might take a bit longer.

The "gut transit time" is the time it takes for food to move through the digestive system and this can be affected by temperature, hydration levels, calcium levels (calcium plays a a role in the contractions of the intestines) and the diet itself. As long as your dragon has access to a proper basking temperature, remains hydrated and has had regular supplementation then I really don't think you need to worry. His bowels will work as they were designed to do even without the triggering affect of the bath.