Best Bearded Dragon Nail Clippers to Prevent Injury
Bearded dragon nail clippers are like dog or cat clippers, but they should be an appropriate size for a bearded dragon. There are two different options of clippers; scissor clippers and pin-hole clippers.
In this guide, we will introduce both types of clippers to cut bearded dragon nails and give you our suggestion on which is the best trimmer for bearded dragons.
Contents
Tips for Buying a Nail Clipper for Bearded Dragons
Proper Bearded Dragon Nail Clipper Size
The most crucial feature to look at when buying a nail clipper for a bearded dragon is the size of the nail it can cut.
A bearded dragon’s nail is roughly 1-2 mm thick at its thickest point. The nail trimmer should be able to accommodate this size without being oversized, as too big of a nail clipper can cause injury.
Design
The first design feature is to ensure the nail clipper is designed specifically for round nails like bearded dragons have. Avoid using human nail clippers, as they are not intended for use on animal nails and are prone to accidentally causing injury to the nail quick.
There are two different designs of reptile nail clippers; open clippers and pin-hole clippers.
Open Nail Clippers
Open clippers bearded dragon nail clippers have a wide opening between the blades, making them particularly good for curling nails. They are also easier to maneuver and may be more comfortable to hold for people with larger hands.
Open clippers have a higher risk of causing an injury than pin-hole clippers. The wider opening can make it more challenging to see the nail and the quick, increasing the chance of accidentally cutting the nail too short. Also, these clippers tend to be harder to control and line up on the nail to know exactly where the nail will be cut, further increasing the risk of injury to the nail quick.
Pin-Hole Nail Clippers
Open clippers bearded dragon nail clippers have a wide opening between the blades, making them particularly good for curling nails. They are also easier to maneuver and may be more comfortable to hold for people with larger hands.
Open clippers have a higher risk of causing an injury than pin-hole clippers. The wider opening can make it more challenging to see the nail and the quick, increasing the chance of accidentally cutting the nail too short. Also, these clippers tend to be harder to control and line up on the nail to know exactly where the nail will be cut, further increasing the risk of injury to the nail quick.
Recommended Clippers for Bearded Dragons
For Most Regular Nail Trims
A pin-hole nail clipper with a 1.5 mm hole is best for bearded dragons. These clippers are perfectly sized for a bearded dragon with a nail diameter of around 1-2 mm, as you will only need to cut the tips of the nails off. They also provide the most accuracy, reducing the chance of cutting the quick or causing other injuries.
We recommend the XX-Small Zen Clipper with a 1.5 mm hole for everyone with a bearded dragon for nail trimming.
For Overgrown Curling Nails
Open clippers are best for bearded dragons who have not had their nails cut in a long time, and their claws have begun to curl, making it almost impossible to use the pin-hole clippers. Curling nails generally happen when they live in an enclosure with a soft substrate, minimal rough textured accessories to wear down the nails naturally, and they are not taken out of their tank often to run around.
To trim overgrown bearded dragon nails that are curling, we recommend the Kaytee Pro-Nail Trimmer open clippers.
