You love holding your bearded dragon, but lately, it feels like handling a cactus. Their claws can become needle-sharp, leaving your arms covered in scratches.

More importantly, overgrown nails are bad for the dragon. If they get too long, they can get snagged on carpet or mesh, ripping the nail out completely. Long nails also force their toes to twist sideways, leading to permanent joint deformity.

Cutting them seems scary, but with the right technique, it is a simple 5-minute process. As a follow-up to our Bathing Guide, we recommend doing this right after a bath when the dragon is calm and the nails are softer.

The Anatomy of the Claw: Spotting “The Quick”

Before you cut anything, you need to look closely at the nail. Bearded dragon nails have two parts:

1. The Tip: This is thin, black (or clear), and sharp. It is dead keratin, like human hair. This is what you cut.
2. The Quick: This is the thicker part inside the nail that contains blood vessels and nerves.

The Mission: You want to cut the sharp tip without hitting the quick. If your dragon has clear nails, you can see a pink line inside—that’s the quick. If they have black nails, look for where the nail gets wider and thicker.

Tools You Need

• Small Animal Nail Clippers: The kind sold for cats or kittens work best. Do not use human clippers; they can crush the nail rather than slicing it.
• Styptic Powder (or Cornstarch): Essential for emergencies to stop bleeding.
• A Towel: To restrain the dragon.

Step-by-Step Trimming Guide

Step 1: The “Burrito” Technique

If your dragon is wiggly, wrap them snugly in a soft towel, leaving only one foot exposed. This is called a “Beardie Burrito.” It makes them feel secure and prevents them from jerking their leg away.

Step 2: Isolate the Toe

Hold one of their toes gently but firmly between your thumb and index finger. Stabilizing the toe is crucial so they don’t pull back right as you cut.

Step 3: The Snip

Position the clippers at the very end of the sharp, curved tip.

• Cut little by little. Don’t try to take off a huge chunk at once.
• Just take off the “hook” at the end (usually about 1/16th of an inch).
• Angle: Cut at a slight angle that mimics the natural shape of the claw.

Step 4: Repeat

Do all 5 toes on the foot, then uncover the next leg. Remember, the back claws are usually thicker than the front ones.

Emergency: What If It Bleeds?

Even experienced vets sometimes nip the quick. If you see a drop of blood, don’t panic. Your dragon will be fine.

1. Dip the bleeding toe directly into the Styptic Powder (or cornstarch/flour).
2. Apply gentle pressure for a few seconds.
3. The powder will clot the blood instantly.
4. Put them back in a clean tank (avoid loose dirt for a day to prevent infection).

How to Avoid Cutting Nails Forever?

If you hate doing this, there is a natural solution. As we mentioned in our comparison of Best Substrate Options, using rough Slate Tile or placing rocks in your tank acts as a natural file. Every time your dragon walks, the rough surface grinds down their nails, keeping them dull and short naturally.

Summary

• When: Every 2-4 weeks, or whenever they feel sharp.
• Tool: Cat nail clippers.
• Safety: Have cornstarch ready just in case.
• Pro Tip: Cut less than you think. You can always cut more later, but you can’t glue it back on!

Now that your dragon is clean, shed-free, and trimmed, they are in perfect health. But even healthy dragons can carry silent passengers. Make sure you are up to date on your parasite prevention by revisiting our Health & Wellness Hub.