How to Clip a Bearded Dragon's Nails

Bearded dragons are a lizard species native to Australia. They typically live in rocky, desert-like areas. Also known as beardies, they are characterized by their triangular-shaped head, thorny body and incredible climbing skills. If you intend to keep one as a pet, plan on trimming its nails frequently as they will grow quite long and sharp. Fortunately, cutting a bearded dragon's nails is fairly simple to do with an assistant and the right equipment.

Things You'll Need

  • Cat nail clippers
  • Blood-clotting gel
  • Assistant
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Instructions

    • 1

      Take the bearded dragon out of its aquarium. Have an assistant hold the dragon tightly -- it will likely try to get away during the nail-cutting.

    • 2

      Find the tip of the nail that needs to be cut. Only cut the tip of the nail. Bearded dragons have a vein that runs through each nail; if you cut past the tip, you may cut the vein and cause bleeding.

    • 3

      Hold the bearded dragon's claw with your less dominant hand and position the nail clippers. Squeeze the nail clippers firmly after first making sure the position is correct. Remember, you just want to cut the tip.

    • 4

      Apply a small amount of blood-clotting gel if the nail begins to bleed; this will help your bearded dragon heal more quickly. Repeat the steps above until all nails have been trimmed sufficiently.