Bearded Dragons are not only fascinating pets, but they also make great companions. But what about their social behaviors? Are bearded dragons social?

Bearded dragons are considered semi-social. They communicate with one another using a variety of bodily gestures, including bobbing their heads, waving their arms, and flaring their beards etc. Stacking is an everyday activity for young bearded dragons, in which one dragon will climb on top of another beardie, and then another beardie will climb on top of that one.

Let’s discuss more about beardies’ social behaviors and body gestures.

Arm Waving

Arm waving is a common behaviour seen in young beardies. It is an entertaining behaviour pattern defined by the dragon raising one arm over its head, almost as if it is greeting someone or bidding them farewell. In point of fact, this is a behaviour that the dragon uses to communicate with other dragons and let them know that it does not intend to engage in a battle with them.

Beard Flaring

Beardies are well-known for their beards, and flaring their beards is one of the actions that best distinguishes bearded dragons from other species. When the dragon perceives that it is in grave danger, it will behave in this manner.

It will thrust its chin upward and spread out its beard and may also make a hissing sound. Because of the way its beard is fanning out, the dragon seems much larger and more menacing to anyone around.

Head bobbing

Beardies are known to engage in various social activities, including head bobbing. The lizard will quickly move its head back and forth between the up and down positions. In most cases, this takes place in the company of a second beardie.

The other lizard should avoid entering its region due to the head bobbing, which serves as a warning. When two males are involved, it might result in a duel, with the victor assuming a position of dominance.

Stacking

Beardies engage in a social practice known as “stacking,” which is also quite fascinating. This behaviour is most commonly seen in newborn dragons when a large number of them are confined within a small location. When one dragon is basking in a particularly desirable location, another beardie will come along and lie on top of it.

After that, there is a possibility that a third one may arrive and climb atop the second dragon. The presence of an excessive number of dragons in the stack makes it possible for this behaviour to be innocuous at times, but it also has the potential to be hazardous. It’s possible that the lower dragon is having trouble breathing. When housing several dragons in the same area, it is essential to ensure that each dragon has sufficient space to locate a suitable position for sunbathing.

If they are introduced to humans and other animals as early as possible, the majority of dragons are less likely to be sociable with other dragons than they are to be friendly with humans and other pets. Beardies are strongly attracted to activities that challenge their minds, so they may follow you around the home to check out what you’re up to.

In addition to this, it’s possible for them to create hazy ties with animals like dogs or cats, and they may like playing rudimentary games with these pets. Like other lizards, they prefer basking in the sun for extended periods of time, which is analogous to how cats spend a lot of time sleeping during the day. Despite their seemingly solitary habit, the vast majority of dragons are really gregarious in their own unique way.

Implications of mixing beardies with other species

In the wild, beardies spend much of their time by themselves. They do not interact with other species or with other members of their species. However, this does not always indicate that you cannot keep them in captivity alongside one another.

Therefore, as was said before, bearded dragons have the propensity to be territorial with one another; nevertheless, this does not always indicate that they will not get along.

It is just more convenient to meet them at an earlier stage. Consequently, when it comes to combining them with other creatures, the first thing that must be done is to ensure that all of the species originate from the same environment. For instance, dragons hail from a land where the environment is arid and scorching. Because of this, you shouldn’t house them with a chameleon because of chameleons like environments with a high level of humidity.

Should you pay attention to your bearded dragon?

Bearded dragons enjoy the company of humans occasionally, even though their natural state is to be alone.

Bearded dragons are excellent pets because of their calm demeanor and laid-back attitude. These creatures are simple to tame, even for owners who have little experience with bearded dragons. Your bearded dragon will soon look forward to spending time with you after it has grown acclimated to both you and its new environment.

The effects of putting two beardies males together

In the wild, dragons almost often keep to themselves because of their solitary nature. This is because beardies have extremely robust territorial instincts. The male beardies, in particular, are the ones most affected by this trait.

In general, you are free to mix males and females together if you are not concerned about the dragons’ ability to reproduce. Male beardies, on the other hand, seldom get along with one another.

They might very well put on ferocious displays. And are prone to engage in combat in order to secure their area. Therefore, if one beardie is significantly larger than the other, it is incredibly likely that the smaller one will perish due to the conflict.

Beardies have a surprisingly higher likelihood of getting along with members of other animals than they do with members of their own species.

If you do find up having two beardies in the same space, you must maintain a close check on each of them. If they are fighting or preventing each other from eating food, you must separate them as soon as possible.

Do beardies need human attention?

Each beardie has its own unique personality; it’s impossible to predict how much your pet will appreciate being in your company. They may enjoy being held and will cuddle close to you while you do so. This is because they prefer basking in warm regions. You can carry them on your shoulders or let them sit on your lap if they are of greater size.

Even while people may enjoy working with their beardie, they are not necessarily dependent on it. Some people say that because they live in the wild alone, their brains aren’t mature enough to be capable of experiencing more complex feelings like love. Because of this, they won’t feel lonely or like they’re missing out on anything when you’re gone.

Despite this, it is still possible for you to form a connection with your beardies. As they get more comfortable with you, they will start to thrive off of the attention you give them. If they remain calm while being petted, shut their eyes while you are in the room with them, or deliberately come to you to be patted, you will know they trust you. 

Beardies are popular as pets around the world. People like these creatures because they are peaceful and look different from other animals. They have a reputation for being kind and rarely hostile. Because of this, realizing that beardies can bite could come as a surprise to some people. Biting is exceptional and does not cause harm to people, but it might be a sign of a more serious issue.

Does it hurt when bearded dragons bite? Yes, Beardies can bite, but they don’t do it very often. When a beardie bites, it is typically for a purposeful and appropriate cause. The bite of a bearded dragon feels like a mild sting. It does not cause as much hurt as when a cat or dog bites you.

Read on to learn if a beardie bite is painful and why they bite.

Can Bearded Dragons Bite?

Beardies are capable of biting when disturbed. They are known for being calm and friendly. They usually grow up with people. Their breeders typically handle bearded dragons from a young age to help them adjust to human contact and establish a sense of safety.

As a consequence of this, the risk of your beardie biting you is rather low at this point. However, this does not imply that bearded dragons are incapable of biting, as they have teeth.

Do Bearded Dragon Bites Hurt?

As beardies are considered to be among the greatest reptiles to produce and own. Some new pet owners are unaware of whether or not this lizard’s bite is unpleasant.

Older beardies, or “adults,” have stronger bites than younger beardies. If you have done something that has provoked a bearded dragon to become angry toward you, there is a chance that it will bite you. These animals are calm and easy to get used to.

When beardies are unhappy or disturbed, they bite with a different pain. Bearded dragons are non-aggressive reptiles unless an internal or external factor provokes them.

Why Does Bearded Dragon bite?

Beardies will often only hurt when they are disturbed. They are, after all, wild animals, and it is only natural for them to protect themselves, which may involve biting if they feel unsafe.

Bearded dragons bite due to feeling threatened, poor handling, food, or a lack of early socialization.

Food

It is one of the most frequent reasons a beardie could bite a person. Be careful if your hands smell like food and your beardie looks like he’s hungry.

If you don’t wash your hands after handling food and reach into a bearded dragon’s enclosure, it may bite you out of instinct due to its special senses. The development of their sense of smell begins with the formation of their taste buds. Therefore, if they smell food on your finger, they may try to take a bite out of what they assume is food on your finger and may even succeed.

Some people have been bitten when feeding bearded dragons because they didn’t move their hands. It will do you well to move quickly through the process since it is your best advantage to do so.

Self Defense

When a bearded dragon feels threatened, it bites most frequently. To protect itself, a bearded dragon may naturally nip or bite at you as a warning if you go too close to them.

In their native habitat, bearded dragons are susceptible to predation by predators and birds. Bearded dragons will attempt to protect themselves if they perceive that they are in danger or are being hunted by another animal. You might notice that when a bearded dragon is about to bite, it puffs up its beard or turns black. This commonly happens if you try to grab the beardies from above as predators would.

Handling

Bearded dragons can bite a lot of people if they are not handled properly. Beardies may easily be harmed if picked up incorrectly or too roughly. Children often bite bearded dragons because they don’t know how to handle them properly. 

If your bearded dragon believes that it is being gripped too tightly, pinched, or held in a position and manner that is uncomfortable for it, then it may bite as a reaction to persuade you to stop doing whatever it is that is making it feel uncomfortable.

Because of this, it is essential that you teach yourself the right techniques for handling a bearded dragon and that you teach anyone who wishes to hold your beardie how to do so in a way that does not damage the animal.

Anti-social Behaviour

If your bearded dragon has not been given the appropriate amount of socialization from the time it was born, there is still another reason why it may be susceptible to biting.

Most pet beardies are reared in captivity and used to being treated by humans, so they’re peaceful and docile. However, some breeders do not handle the newborn and juvenile bearded dragons sufficiently, which might make a beardie not fond of being handled too much.

If a beardie does not get a significant amount of care and handling from a young age, it might be prone to feeling threatened when held, and it may turn aggressive when picked up or touched by people. This is especially true if the bearded dragon was not handled much. This can lead to nipping and biting in some cases.

Stress

If a bearded dragon isn’t feeling well, one of the most common warning indications is the presence of indicators of stress or pain. When the beardie is feeling scared or uncomfortable, there is a much-increased risk that it may bite.

Stress bites can be small nibbles or full bites, depending on how much the person trusts them and how much pain they are in. Stressed reptiles are more aggressive than usual; therefore, these injuries are likely to be severe.

If you observe your bearded dragon being especially agitated, you should be aware that they are more likely to hurt you if they feel unsafe. You should refrain from handling them during this time and instead watch over their tank.

Symptoms of stress include behaving excessively restless or sleepy manner, not having an appetite, hissing, and having a mouth that hangs wide open. Other possible indicators include fatigue, a change in colour, the emission of mucous, or a weight shift.

Do Beardies Bite if You Pick Them Up?

Bearded dragons are calm and friendly reptiles that get used to being held by people when they are young. However, this doesn’t mean they won’t bite you. If a beardie bites you as you pick it up, it may be in distress, pain from maltreatment, discomfort, or mating season.

Your bearded dragon will most likely show other signs, such as running to a hiding spot, hissing, puffing up their beards, and darkening their chests, that will tell you not to handle it at the moment. 

Getting your very first bearded dragon may be a wonderful experience, especially for those who have never had one.  These creatures are amazing to look at and can be great pets. But how long do you think your bearded dragon will live?

Beardies that live in captivity have a better life than bearded dragons that live in the wild. On average, these lizards can live for up to 15 years as pets. The average lifetime is believed to be between 8 and 15 years. You must work hard to ensure the reptile’s health and happiness to make them live long and peaceful life.

How Long Can Beardies Live?

Bearded dragons may live for anywhere between eight and fifteen years on average when kept as pets. This range is based on various factors, including the quality of care provided for them and several inherited characteristics.

Factors That Affect Beardies Lifespan

The average age of a bearded dragon can vary widely depending on various circumstances. These include the environment in which they exist, the quality of care they receive, the type of food they eat, their gender, the genes they inherit, and the quality of medical treatment they receive.

It’s essential to remember that you can never be sure how long a bearded dragon will live. Even if you take all necessary precautions, your pet may become unwell despite your best efforts.

On the other hand, if you take care of your beardie properly, there is a statistically substantial probability that it will live for a very long period.

Diet

A good diet will significantly impact the longevity of your bearded dragons. They are susceptible to illness, just like people and other animals. The food quality you provide them is directly related to their ability to avoid or overcome illness.

Beardies are omnivores, which means that they consume both plant- and animal-based items in their diets. If you wish your beardie to live as long as possible, providing it with well-balanced and healthy food is essential.

How you feed your bearded dragon will depend on how old it is. A high-protein diet is essential for young lizards; thus, a diet of 80% insects and 20% fruits and greens is recommended.

Once they have reached 18 months, bearded dragons are regarded to have matured into their adult forms. Your bearded dragon is no longer developing and, as a result, will require less protein in its diet. It is recommended that adult lizards consume a diet that is composed of 80 percent vegetables and 20 percent insects.

Beardie’s Health

As a beardie owner, you are responsible for ensuring that your pet has a high quality of life and leads a healthy way of life. You need to be aware of the many diseases that can affect your bearded dragon to protect it from those that can be prevented with the proper care.

Buying a bearded dragon from a reputable breeder or seller is more likely to have healthy genes. This is because the lizards come from breeders who operate ethically, directly or indirectly. 

Sex

The average lifespan of a male bearded dragon is significantly greater than a female’s. Even though this isn’t always true, it’s important to know if life expectancy is a big factor. Male beardies are often bigger than their female counterparts. 

Another factor that contributes to these disparities in life expectancy is reproduction. When you breed a female bearded dragon, it requires a significant amount of effort on their part. Even after they have finished producing eggs, it negatively impacts their bodies and does not go away.

Habitat

Bearded dragons are strange animals that live in dry areas, and you need to make an environment like that. In light of this, the perfect habitat for lizards must consist of either a tank with a capacity of forty gallons or, even better, a significantly larger one.

You should also avoid bad things for the beardie, like loose substrate that it could accidentally eat. In order to avoid this kind of incident, you should purchase a strong substrate such as a reptile carpet or ceramic tiles.

One further thing that can shorten the lifespan of your adult bearded dragon is if you choose to have many pets in the same cage. While they may live happily together, they will struggle for resources and food, shortening one’s life.

Regular Vet Checkups

It is essential that all pets, especially bearded dragons, have routine veterinarian examinations. Even though bearded dragons do not require vaccinations, you should still take your beardie to a veterinarian specialising in reptiles at least once a year for a checkup.

In addition, your veterinarian should inspect your pet’s faeces once a year for any signs of parasites. This will not only guarantee that your bearded dragon is healthy, but it will also help them live for a longer period of time.

How Long Do Bearded Dragons Live in the Wild?

In the wild, a bearded dragon can live alone and, on average, lives between five and eight years.

One of the main reasons why wild animals live shorter lives is because of natural predators. Bearded dragons have a number of potential enemies, including bigger lizards and birds of prey. Bearded dragons can avoid being eaten by snakes, birds, and other predators because their colours blend in with their natural environment. Beardies have the same shades of grey, yellow, and brown skin as the sand and pebbles found in their habitat.

In order to survive, bearded dragons need to be kept in warm environments. They don’t have a warm blood supply; therefore, they must constantly rely on other things to maintain their body temperature. This level adjusts according to the temperature of their environment. They keep themselves warm by bathing themselves in the sun and may burrow underground to escape dangerous temperatures and predators.

How to Maximize the Bearded Dragon’s Lifespan?

Because of all the things that might shorten or prolong a bearded dragon’s life, it is essential to understand how to keep it healthy and happy. 

Here are some suggestions for maximizing your pet’s longevity.

Provide the Suitable Heating

Heat is essential to a bearded dragon’s life since, in the absence of heat, the animal is more likely to experience various health difficulties, such as digestive troubles. Also, they won’t have the right environment to absorb nutrients, leaving them without calcium.

Always use a digital thermometer to get the most accurate readings possible of these temperatures. In addition, if you go to a local pet store, you should be able to get a thermometer that is specifically designed for use with reptiles.

Check the Pet’s Diet

Although there is a fairly long list of items you can give your bearded dragon, this does not indicate that everything is suitable for consumption by the animal. For instance, if you are not careful, feeding your dragon an inappropriate diet of home-caught insects is simple.

On the other hand, it is strongly suggested that you choose meals that your dragon can consume without any problems. 

Keep an Eye on the Bearded Dragon

As you continue pet ownership, recognize that the beardie depends on you. You must closely check the animal to guarantee it receives all the essentials for its continued existence and a longer lifetime.

Always be sure to check for any potential health and physical problems. In an ideal situation, it is essential to perform a check for bone production, and one of the parts you will undoubtedly observe is the jaw bone.

Get a Suitable Enclosure Setup

Since a bearded dragon’s natural environment is open and allows it to move around freely, try to make an environment as close to this as possible. Keep in mind that bearded dragons may reach a length of up to 45 centimetres; therefore, it is crucial to provide them with a spacious terrarium.

In addition, since it will be confined inside such a small space, your beardie will likely become agitated. If you begin with baby beardies, it can happen because a smaller tank might seem the best place for them.

Bearded dragons’ popularity has skyrocketed recently, yet they are still regarded as exotic pets due to their unique dietary needs. So, what can a bearded dragon eat?

Bearded dragons eat both plants and animals, which means they are omnivores. When they are very young, bearded dragons consume around 80% insects and 20% plants. However, in some cases, owners have difficulty encouraging their dragons to consume any veggies while they are in this stage. Adult bearded dragons eat 80% vegetation and 20% insects.

This article will give all the information you want concerning the proper diet for your bearded dragon.

What Insects and Bugs Bearded Dragons Eat?

Bearded dragons will consume almost any moving insect, but their owner must ensure they only consume safe bugs. These are the most popular insects that bearded dragon owners may give their pets to eat:

Crickets

Bearded dragons eat a wide variety of feeder insects, but crickets are among the most common and should be a major ingredient in your pet’s diet. Feeder crickets are wonderful for young bearded dragons since they include a lot of protein and a healthy dose of Calcium. It’s also a great idea to increase the crickets’ nutrition by adding powders or gelatin pieces.

Mealworms

Mealworms grown in captivity are a nice food source for the full-grown bearded dragon, just like crickets. You should, however, stay clear of giving them to young bearded dragons because their gullets aren’t nearly big enough to accommodate one of these worms. Because of their significant amount of fat, they are not recommended as a regular part of their diet. Because of the smaller amount of fat they contain, Silkworms provide an option that is more nutritionally sound.

Dubia Roaches

Aside from crickets, dubia roaches are another common source of nutrition for bearded dragons, and they are nearly as simple to discover as crickets. You won’t have to worry about these insects fleeing because they are docile and don’t jump or climb. If you have a dark room in your home where they may be housed, you can breed them there. In addition, their lifespan is far greater than that of crickets, and unlike other insects, they do not carry any parasites with them.

Which Vegetables and Fruits Can Bearded Dragons Eat?

Bearded dragons can consume a wide variety of vegetables and fruits without risking their health. Bearded dragons consume raw and cooked vegetables. But raw vegetables are better than cooked ones because they have more nutrients. Here are the most common veggies you may give your bearded dragon daily:

Carrots

The amount of calcium to phosphorus found in carrots is about average, and they are an excellent source of vitamin A. This is an excellent treat for your bearded dragon and makes a lovely addition to their salads. They also have a lot of water, which will assist in keeping your bearded dragon hydrated. 

Peas

Peas are completely safe for your pet bearded dragon to consume. They provide specific health benefits due to the higher Calcium content, low Phosphorus level, and high Vitamin A concentration. However, compared to the amount of calcium it contains, the amount of phosphorus in it is quite a bit lower; in fact, it is so much lower that it throws off the optimal ratio and makes it a poor alternative for vegetables that are healthier for you. Your pet should only consume this in minimal amounts.

Cauliflower

Cauliflower is one of the foods that may be given to your bearded dragon, but there is very little need for you to do so. When it comes to the proper diet of your bearded dragon, this vegetable only has a trace quantity of the essential vitamins needed to keep them healthy. This vegetable is also saturated, making it much worse because it will just fill your pet’s stomach with waste.

What Kinds of Fruits Can Bearded Dragons Eat?

The Bearded Dragon can consume a broad assortment of fruits in addition to the veggies it may eat. Here are the most common fruits your bearded dragon can eat. 

Apples

Apples are safe for bearded dragons to consume; however, you should carefully chop each piece to ensure that your beardie does not injure itself while eating the fruit. Cut the pieces, so they are no bigger than the distance between their eyes. Apples, like grapes, offer a good balance of calcium to phosphorus in their composition, but they are deficient in the amounts of vitamins A and D that the body needs.

Strawberries

Strawberry is one of the few foods that bearded dragons can eat, but it has almost no nutritional value. First, these fruits are mostly water, so they’re full but lack nutrient value. In the same vein, strawberries have an inadequate ratio of calcium to phosphorus in their composition. If you feed your bearded dragon a strawberry, you probably won’t hurt him, but you also won’t do much good for him!

Bananas

Although the high potassium level of bananas is considered beneficial for human health, bearded dragons do not derive any nutritional value from this property of bananas. Therefore, although there are no known health risks associated with feeding this fruit to your bearded dragon, it does not contribute much to the beardie’s diet and is more appropriate as a supplemental snack.

Supplements

Your Bearded Dragon needs a calcium and vitamin D3 supplement in addition to a varied diet of insects, fruit, and vegetables to help prevent a calcium deficit. Most owners sprinkle the powdered supplement onto the insects before feeding them to their pets; however, the supplement may also be applied to fruits and vegetables. If you want the greatest results, following the directions on the packaging is highly recommended.

How Much Should My Bearded Dragon Be Fed?

Bearded dragons achieve adulthood and sexual maturity at about 18 months of age. Bearded dragons can live up to 30 years. At this age, they will only eat twice a day.

Provide your dragon with insects and let it feed for 10 minutes to discover how much it needs to eat. After one minute, throw away any bugs that were left unconsumed.

When it comes to fruits as well as vegetables, you should only leave them in your dragon’s cage for about half an hour. This will give your dragon enough time to eat to its satisfaction without causing it to be overfed. This prevents any mold from growing on the food that has been left over.

What Do Baby Bearded Dragons Like to Eat Best?

Calcium is essential for young bearded dragons, especially when growing their bones. Newborn beardies can get metabolic bone disease at a young age if they do not acquire enough of it at a young age. This will have a significant and detrimental impact on their quality of life. They also require a lot of protein at a young age, and the best way to provide it for them is by consuming insects sprinkled with calcium powder.

What Should a Bearded Dragon Not Eat?

It’s just as helpful to know what not to feed the bearded dragon as it is to know what to feed it. Beardies can’t eat some foods since they aren’t good for them, while other foods can be quite harmful to them if they consume them.

These are some examples of foods that should not be given to your bearded dragon:

• Crocus
• Buttercup
• Lettuce
• Avocados
• Lightning bugs
• Horse chestnut
• Poppies
• Fish
• Daffodil
• Fireflies
• Ivy
• Rhubarb
• Wasps
• Elder bugs
• Poppies
• Bees
• Scorpions
• Seafood