Beardie Lying Lifeless in Cage

[evolutionary]

My 3.5 year old female bearded dragon all of a sudden developed a black beard (usually a light yellowish/white) tonight and is constantly gaping. When I picked her up just now she literally seemed lifeless, eyes weren't even moving. I thought she was dead, when suddenly she kicked and took deep breaths. I laid her back down, and now she's laying almost motionless, propping herself up every 10 minutes or so and slowly dropping back down. Have never seen her behave like this.

As background, she has been literally running around acting as she always has until tonight, her behavior it's just completely (seemingly) out of nowhere. I thought she was getting heavy lately but I assumed two things (since she otherwise behaved totally normal): she was getting ready to lay another round of eggs which she did summer 2010 or she was still finishing maturation. Now I wonder if her increase in size was some kind of illness even though she never showed any outward signs of it. I'm very knowledgeable and cognizant of her diet, lighting, temps, etc.

Please help, this is very upsetting. Honestly don't know if she's going to last the night and I'm afraid to go to bed with her like this.

[Mach10X]

I'm really sorry your girl is having issues.  It sounds like she may be having complication with eggs.  Egg binding can be serious, I would recommend a vet visit ASAP.  Warm bath may help, you may want to look up emergency vets, or see one first thing in the morning.

[Luthien]

One of two things might have happened, she's egg bound or she's sick.

Take a close look at her mouth, are the top and bottom lips meeting even? what about her legs, do they look as they should?