When a beloved bearded dragon dies, it can be difficult to know what to do.
It’s a sad time, and while it’s important to take your time and greave, eventually you will have to do something with the dead bearded dragon.
When it’s time to dispose of a dead bearded dragon, your main options include burial, requesting a cremation, asking the vet to do a necropsy (to determine its cause of death), or checking with the breeder if your beardie was recently purchased.
Here’s everything you need to know about each option before making a final decision that best fits your needs.
What Happens When a Bearded Dragon Dies?
When a bearded dragon dies, it’s a sad day.
Bearded dragons are such amazing creatures, and it can be difficult to lose one.
Take your time to grieve, and don’t feel like you have to make a decision about what to do with the body right away.
It’s important to take some time to make sure the bearded dragon is dead and not sleeping or hibernating.
Then, if you’re able to confirm that it’s dead, think about what you want to do, and what option will be best for you.
There are a few different things that you can do with a dead bearded dragon, and each option has its own set of pros and cons.
Let’s take a look at each option so that you can make the best decision for you and your family.
How Do You Dispose of a Dead Bearded Dragon?
Burying a Dead Bearded Dragon
One option that you have is to bury your dead bearded dragon.
This can be a good option if you want to keep the body close by, or if you just don’t want to deal with what to do with a dead bearded dragon right away.
If you decide to bury your beardie, there are a few things that you need to keep in mind.
First, you need to make sure your township allows this since it’s illegal in certain areas.
Second, you need to make sure that you bury the dragon deep enough so that other animals can’t dig it up.
You also need to be aware of the fact that if you live in an area with a lot of rain, the ground can shift and your bearded dragon could end up being unearthed.
Another thing to keep in mind is that if you have other pets, they may be able to smell the body and start digging it up.
But if you do decide to bury your dead bearded dragon, there are a few things that you can do to make sure that the process goes as smoothly as possible.
First, you need to find a spot in your yard that is away from any trees or other plants.
You also need to make sure that the ground is soft enough to dig, but not so soft that it will collapse when you try to bury the body.
Once you have found a spot, you can start digging.
The hole should be big enough to fit the body, but not so big that it will be difficult to fill in.
Once the hole is dug, you can place the body inside and cover it with dirt.
It’s also a good idea to put a heavy object on top of the grave so that animals can’t dig it up.
Request a Cremation
Another option that you have is to request a cremation for your dead bearded dragon.
This is a good option if you want to keep the ashes, or if you just don’t want to deal with what to do with a dead bearded dragon right away.
When you cremate a bearded dragon, the body is placed in a special chamber and heated to a very high temperature.
This process takes a few hours, and once it’s done, all that is left of the body are the ashes.
The ashes can then be stored in an urn or buried.
If you decide to cremate your beardie, there are a few things that you need to keep in mind.
First, you need to make sure that the cremation facility is reputable and that they have experience with reptiles.
Second, you need to be prepared for the fact that you may not receive the ashes back right away.
It can take a few weeks for the cremation process to be completed, and for the ashes to be sent back to you.
And if you decide to go with a cremation, there are two options: individual cremation and communal cremation.
Individual Cremation
If you decide to go with an individual cremation, this means that your bearded dragon will be the only one in the chamber during the cremation process.
This is a good option if you want to keep the ashes, or if you want to make sure that your beardie’s body is treated with respect.
The downside of an individual cremation is that it is more expensive than a communal cremation.
Communal Cremation
If you decide to go with a communal cremation, this means that your bearded dragon will be placed in the chamber with other reptiles who are also being cremated.
This is a good option if you want to save money, or if you don’t want to keep the ashes.
The downside of a communal cremation is that you won’t be able to keep the ashes.
Overall, cremating is a popular option amongst pet owners for all the reasons above.
Visit the Vet for a Necropsy
If you’re not sure what to do with your dead bearded dragon, or if you want to find out what caused the death, you can always take the body to the vet for a necropsy.
A necropsy is an autopsy that is performed on animals, and it can give you a better understanding of what happened and why.
It can also give you closure, and help you to make peace with what happened.
If you decide to have a necropsy performed, there are a few things that you need to keep in mind.
First, you need to make sure that the vet is experienced in performing them on reptiles.
Second, you need to be prepared for the fact that it can take a few weeks to get the results back.
Overall, this is a good option if you want to know what caused your bearded dragon’s death.
Check with the Breeder
If you purchased your bearded dragon from a breeder, they may have their own policy on what to do with a dead bearded dragon.
It’s always a good idea to check with the breeder before making any decisions, as they may have specific instructions that they want you to follow.
For example, some breeders may require that you send the body back to them so that they can perform a necropsy.
Others may allow you to cremate the body, or bury it on your own.
No matter what, it’s always best to check with the breeder first before making any decisions.
Final thoughts
Losing a pet is never easy, but it’s important to know what your options are so that you can make the best decision for you and your family.
We hope that this article has helped to give you some clarity on what you can do with your dead bearded dragon when the time comes.
