🦎 Bearded Dragons & Their Femoral Pore’s

🦎 What Are They and Do I Need to Worry?
By Kim’s Purfect Pet’s Services & Reptile Boarding – Burwell, Cambridge

🧐 What Are Femoral Pores?

If you're new to the world of bearded dragons, you might have noticed some tiny dots running down the underside of your dragon’s back legs. These are called femoral pores—and yes, they're totally normal!

They help bearded dragons (especially males) mark their territory by releasing a waxy substance. It’s their way of saying, “This is my spot!” to any passing lizard. 🦎

⚠️ When Things Get Blocked

Most of the time, you won’t need to worry. But occasionally, these pores can become blocked with hard waxy plugs. They’ll look raised, yellowish or brown, and may feel quite solid to the touch.

One of my recent boarders came in with exactly this issue. His pores were all clogged up—poor chap! So, I did what I do best...

I ran him a warm bath—no bubbles or shower cap, of course—and let him have the soak of his life to help loosen those hardened plugs. You could almost see the relief on his little face!

✋ Should You Squeeze Them?

In short: no, please don’t!

It might be tempting, but squeezing femoral pores can damage the skin, cause infections, and stress your beardie out. Just like when we were teenagers—knowing we shouldn’t pop that spot but doing it anyway—we often make it worse than it was.

Bearded dragons are gentle creatures and need a gentle approach.

💡 What You Can Do to Help

Here are a few kind and simple ways to care for blocked femoral pores at home:

✅ Warm soaks – Pop them in shallow, lukewarm water for 15–20 minutes.
✅ Gentle brushing – A soft toothbrush can help loosen plugs after soaking.
✅ Provide rough surfaces – Natural rubbing helps keep pores clear.
✅ Keep the viv clean – Good hygiene means fewer blockages.

If you’re unsure or things don’t improve, always speak to a reptile-savvy vet or someone with experience—like me!

🏡 Looking for Expert Bearded Dragon Boarding?

At Kim’s Purfect Pet’s Services & Reptile Boarding, I welcome small reptiles like bearded dragons for boarding stays in fully equipped, species-specific vivariums. They’ll get personalised care, enrichment activities, and yes—even a little spa day if needed.

If your beardie needs a break, a bit of extra care, or you're just going away and want peace of mind, I’m here to help. 💚

📩 Ready to Book or Ask a Question?

👉 Info@kimspurfectpets.com
📷 Add a photo of a happy beardie in the bath or chilling in the viv!
📍Based in Burwell, Cambridge – Reptile boarding you can trust.