When Your Bearded Dragon’s Nose Decides to Be Weird: The Complete Guide to Nose Shed

You’re sitting there watching your beardie do absolutely nothing (because that’s what they do best), and then you notice it.

There’s something in their nose.

Is it a booger? Is it dirt? Did they somehow manage to get a piece of substrate stuck up there?

Nope. It’s shed. And it’s totally normal, even though it looks super weird.

Your Dragon Literally Sheds Their Nose Holes

Here’s something that blows most people’s minds when they first discover it: bearded dragons shed the inside of their nostrils.

Not just the skin around their nose. The actual inside parts.

I’m talking about a little plug of dead skin that can be 1-2 cm long extending all the way up into their nasal cavity. Some owners describe pulling these out and being shocked at how long they are—like a tiny white accordion that was living in their dragon’s nose rent-free.

What Exactly Is a Nose Plug?

A nose plug (also called nose shed) is just dead skin that gets stuck in your beardie’s tubular nostrils during the shedding process.

Think of it like when you peel sunburned skin, except it’s happening inside a tiny lizard nose hole.

Bearded dragons shed their entire outer layer of skin, and yes, that includes all the weird places you wouldn’t think about—nostrils, ear canals, even between their toes. Every part of their scaly body gets a fresh coat.

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Why Does This Happen?

Your dragon isn’t doing anything wrong. This is just part of being a reptile.

Baby bearded dragons shed like they’re getting paid for it—sometimes every single week during their first six months of life. That’s because they’re growing crazy fast.

Juvenile dragons (6 months to 1 year) shed every 4-6 weeks.

Adult bearded dragons (18+ months) only shed a few times a year, maybe 2-3 times total.

The younger they are, the more shed you’re going to see everywhere, including stuffed up their nostrils.

What Causes Nose Plugs to Get Stuck?

Low Humidity

This is the big one.

Bearded dragons need some moisture in the air to shed properly. When the air is too dry, their skin gets stubborn and sticky, especially in delicate areas like the nose.

Low humidity doesn’t just cause nose plugs—it can also lead to respiratory infections, clogged femoral pores, and incomplete sheds all over their body.

Dehydration

A dehydrated beardie doesn’t have enough moisture to help the shed process along.

The skin around the nostril is super delicate, and without proper hydration, it just stays put and forms a plug.

Not Enough Rough Surfaces

In the wild, bearded dragons rub themselves against rocks, branches, and rough surfaces to help remove shed.

If your tank only has smooth surfaces and no climbing branches or textured hides, your dragon literally has nothing to scratch against. That means stuck shed everywhere, including the nose.

Signs Your Dragon Has a Nose Plug

You’ll usually notice one or more of these:

• Visible white or grayish plug covering one or both nostrils
• Your beardie rubbing their face against things more than usual
• Gaping (opening their mouth to breathe)
• Heavy breathing or seeming like they’re working harder to get air
• Licking their nostrils repeatedly (they know it’s there and they’re trying to deal with it)

One owner on a forum thought their dragon was having a respiratory emergency because of the labored breathing and gaping. Turns out? Just a nose plug. Once it came out, the dragon was breathing perfectly fine again.

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The Big Question: Should You Remove It?

Here’s where opinions get spicy.

The “Leave It Alone” Camp

Most vets and reptile experts say don’t touch it. Let your dragon handle it themselves.

In most cases, bearded dragons will either:

• Sneeze it out
• Lick it loose over time
• Rub it off on something in their tank
• Have it fall out naturally

The nose is a sensitive area, and if you yank on shed that isn’t ready to come off, you could hurt the new skin underneath or even damage their nasal passages.

The “Sometimes You Gotta Help” Camp

That said, a lot of experienced beardie owners gently assist when a nose plug is clearly blocking breathing or has been stuck for over a week.

The key word here is gently.

How to Help (If You Absolutely Must)

Step 1: Try a Warm Bath First

Give your dragon a 20-30 minute soak in lukewarm water (around 85-90°F).

This can soften the shed enough that it loosens on its own.

Step 2: Moist Q-Tip Method

Use a moistened Q-tip and very gently rub around the outside of the nostril in circular motions.

Many owners report that this causes the plug to just pop right out with minimal effort. One person said they barely touched it with the Q-tip and a “little dry piece fell out with it.”

Step 3: The Tweezer Technique (Last Resort)

If the bath and Q-tip don’t work, you can use sterilized tweezers (cleaned with rubbing alcohol).

Important rules:

• Only grab the very edge of the visible shed
• Pull straight out at a right angle from the nose
• If it doesn’t budge easily, STOP—it’s not ready
• Never pull on anything that’s still firmly attached

One owner described removing a nose plug with tweezers and being completely grossed out by how long it was. “I thought it was a 2-inch booger until I looked closely.”

Warning: What NOT to Do

❌ Don’t use tweezers as your first option—this should be a last resort

❌ Don’t pull if there’s resistance—you’ll hurt them

❌ Don’t pick at shed that’s not ready—let the bath and moisture do the work

❌ Don’t panic—nose plugs look worse than they actually are

There’s even a horror story floating around about someone accidentally pulling out the lining of their bearded dragon’s ear because they thought it was stuck shed. Don’t be that person.

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How to Prevent Nose Plugs

1. Provide Rough Surfaces

Your dragon needs things to rub against:

• Branches for climbing
• Textured rocks
• A rough hide box
• Decorative pieces with varied surfaces

These aren’t just enrichment—they’re tools your dragon uses to shed properly.

2. Maintain Proper Humidity

Bearded dragons are “dry shedders,” but that doesn’t mean they need zero humidity.

Keep the humidity in the tank between 30-40% normally, and you can bump it up slightly during active sheds if needed.

3. Keep Them Hydrated

Make sure your dragon is drinking enough water and getting moisture from their food (greens, occasional baths).

Dehydration makes shedding way harder.

4. Offer Regular Baths

A warm bath once or twice a week during shedding season can help keep the skin loose and prevent plugs from forming.

Just remember: bearded dragon skin is waterproof, so baths only help if the skin is already starting to peel.

The Nose Trumpet Phenomenon

Here’s a fun fact that’ll make you laugh: when bearded dragons blow air through their nostrils with a nose plug partially blocking the passage, it makes a trumpet sound.

There are literally hundreds of TikTok videos of bearded dragons honking like tiny, scaly jazz musicians because of nose shed.

Owners call it “nose trumpet time” and it’s both hilarious and oddly satisfying to watch.

When to Actually Worry

Nose plugs are usually no big deal, but you should contact a vet if:

• The plug has been stuck for more than 2 weeks despite your help
• Your dragon is struggling to breathe even with one nostril clear
• There’s discharge, swelling, or bleeding around the nose
• Your dragon seems lethargic, isn’t eating, and has other symptoms beyond just the nose issue

Sometimes what looks like a nose plug is actually related to a respiratory infection, especially if there’s mucus or your dragon is making wheezing sounds.

Real Owner Experiences

One beardie owner rushed to the emergency vet convinced their 9-month-old dragon had a respiratory infection because of the labored breathing. The vet? “It’s just a nose plug.” They used their fingernail to gently scrape around the nostril and it popped right off.

Another owner reported giving their dragon a bath, then using a soft baby toothbrush to lightly brush around the nose. The shed loosened and came out on its own within a day.

And then there’s the person who pulled a nose plug with tweezers and swore it was “like a 2-inch booger hooked to it” because bearded dragons shed the inside of the nostril too.