Does my bearded dragon need a water bowl?

No, we do not recommend a water bowl for bearded dragons, and we have never use them here at Exo-Morphs. We get asked this question all the time and I thought it would be a good idea to let everyone know why we do not recommend a water bowl for bearded dragons, and ways you can provide moisture without having to use a water bowl.

In the wild, bearded dragons get much of the water and moisture they need directly from their daily diet. Bearded dragons are from the warm and dry regions of Australia, and they have adapted to utilize the available moisture from their foods very well. Since their environment is arid or semi-arid, there is not an overabundance of drinking water available so they need to rely on preserving the moisture they retain from their food, and their bodies do a great job at it. This being said, bearded dragons will still drink standing or running water, and lift their head to the sky when it rains to collect the rainwater that pours onto their nose. 

Why don't we use a water bowl? 

Bearded dragons are not very wise when it comes to water bowls in their enclosure. They will often flip them over, making a mess out of the substrate. They also tend to use them as a place to poop, and then have no issues drinking the water even if it's soiled. This is a bad way for them to get sick, and a bearded dragon just doesn't know any better. 

When bearded dragons are small they can fall asleep in water bowls and drown, and a water bowl provided for a group of hatchlings gets soiled almost immediately and becomes a breeding ground for parasites in their warm environment. 

Overall, providing a water bowl is just a bad idea, but there are a few great ways to hydrate your bearded dragon without using a water bowl. 

1. Misting - Bearded dragons love a daily misting. We use a dedicated spray bottle filled with fresh clean water. We mist the walls and decor of the enclosure, and even spray the water directly on the bearded dragon (this helps to clean off their scales from their dusty and dry enclosure). For years, people believed that bearded dragons absorb water directly through their skin, and this is not true. They only get moisture via the foods they eat or by drinking water. 
2. Baths/Soaking - We like to give all of our dragons a weekly bath/soak. We fill plastic storage totes with 1-2 inches of room temperature water and place the bearded dragons into the tote to soak for anywhere from 10-20 minutes at a time. The length of the soak is adjusted based on the personality of the bearded dragon and how much they actually enjoy being in the water. Some bearded dragons love bath time, and others do not, but it's great for their health and cleanliness and we recommend making sure you do this enough so that your bearded dragon can at least tolerate a few minutes each week. While soaking some will swim, most will put their face right down into the water and begin lapping it up, and others will freak out and try to escape. Eventually they will all calm down and begin to enjoy being in the water. Be careful to keep an eye on them, because a soak often loosens their bowels and they tend to poop in the water after a good soak. At this time they need to be removed and rinsed to prevent them from drinking any of the soiled water. One other thing to consider is to not handle your bearded dragon too much after a bath. They will often drink more water than their body can process at a time and they need some still time on their own to work it down without regurgitating it back up.  
3. Diet - If your bearded dragon is regularly eating a healthy amount of greens, vegetables, and fruits... even insects, they will already be absorbing a good amount of moisture. Even if they're eating properly we still like to use the methods above to avoid dehydration and help keep their digestive system functioning properly. 

Do bearded dragons need electrolyte soaks?

An electrolyte soak is not necessary, but it can definitely help a dehydrated bearded dragon recover quicker. It can also help with illness, stubborn sheds or digestive issues, so it's worth having a good quality electrolyte soak on hand. We do like to add electrolytes to our bearded dragon's baths a few times each month, usually every 3-4 weeks. We have not seen a noticeable difference, but it makes us feel good knowing we are doing whatever we can to help improve their overall health and well-being.

Can a bearded dragon be overly hydrated?

Yes, they can. If your bearded dragon regurgitates water after a long soak, or has loose stools for a few days after a bath, you may want to consider cutting back on high moisture foods or skip a misting or two until they get properly regulated again.