
Understand Bearded Dragons Behavior & Language

Understand Bearded Dragons Behavior & Language
Your bearded dragon’s black beard suddenly appears while basking. Later, they wave an arm in your direction. Then they bob their head while exploring their enclosure. What are they trying to tell you?
Bearded dragons communicate constantly through color changes, gestures, and behaviors. Each movement and display has meaning – from showing contentment to signaling distress. By being able to interpret these signs, we can provide better care and develop a bond.
Here we will cover:
- Recognizing normal behaviors: Reading common actions like basking, arm-waving, and head bobbing
- Spot warning signs: Identify behaviors that might indicate stress, illness, or habitat issues that need attention
- Navigating seasonal changes: Looking into our bearded dragons behavior when it naturally shifts throughout the year, including brumation periods
- Mastering safe handling: Building trust and confidence with proper interaction techniques
- Creating the perfect Enclosure: Design considerations for an environment that encourages natural behaviors and supports our beardies physical and mental wellbeing
Why Understanding our Bearded Dragon’s Behavior Matters
Learning to read our bearded dragon’s body language helps us to:
- See when they’re happy and feeling good
- Notice if something might be wrong
- Make their home just right
- Build a better friendship with our pet
Bearded Dragon’s Behavior & Communication
1. Basking and thermoregulation: All bearded dragons must bask and outside of brumation, they will bask every day. Basking is how beardies regulate their body temperature and digest food. A content bearded dragon will flatten their body under the heat lamp, limbs sprawled to soak up as much warmth as possible. Sometimes, they’ll sit with their mouth open, releasing excess heat without leaving their basking spot.
2. Head bobbing: Head bobbing is a classic example of bearded dragon behavior tied to communication. Quick, sharp bobs often mean dominance, while slow bobs are more about acknowledgment or submission.
Male bearded dragons are the most likely to do the fast bobs, especially during mating season or territorial disputes. Female or young bearded dragons are more likely to do the slow bobs.
3. When a bearded dragon starts arm waving: This gentle motion is a submissive gesture. When your bearded dragon waves an arm at you or another bearded dragon, they’re essentially saying, “I see you. You’re in charge. I am no threat to you.” It’s a fascinating social behavior that highlights their instincts.
4. Beard puffing and darkening: Bearded dragons puff out their beard and darken it to look larger and more intimidating. This behavior is common during mating displays or when they feel threatened. However, if it happens without an obvious trigger, it might be a sign of stress or discomfort.
5. Bearded dragons can change color: Another interesting bearded dragon behavior is their ability to change their color slightly to communicate or adapt to their environment. Here are some ways bearded dragons can communicate through change in color:
- Getting darker to soak up more warmth
- Looking brighter when they’re happy
- Changing color based on how they feel
6. Bearded dragons like digging: Providing a dig box can help them satisfy this instinct. Digging is a natural part of bearded dragon behavior, often linked to preparing for brumation, preparing to lay eggs, finding a comfortable resting spot, or satisfying an instinct. A dig box with soft substrate can help meet this need.
7. Exploring and enrichment: Bearded dragons are naturally curious and may roam their enclosure or surroundings to investigate. So that they can explore they need a large enclosure and natural accessories that help bring out our bearded dragons natural behaviors.
8. Bearded Dragons Sleep: Bearded dragons are diurnal meaning they sleep at night like humans. Just like humans, bearded dragons require a dark, quiet environment at night to sleep. So that bearded dragons can sleep well, give them an environment that mimics natural light cycles. A consistent lighting cycle of light and dark, and a comfortable resting place are important for their health.
9. How bearded dragons use their beard to communicate: Bearded dragon communicate through changes in their beard, it tells us a lot about how they’re feeling! When it gets dark or puffs out, our bearded dragon might be:
Abnormal Behaviors of a Bearded Dragon
Just like know normal bearded dragon behavior helps us to understand them and give them the best care, knowing abnormal behaviors is also useful. Abnormal behaviors in bearded dragons can be indicative of stress, illness, or discomfort.
1. Signs of Stress: Stress is a common issue in bearded dragons and can manifest in various ways:
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- Glass surfing: A bearded dragon repeatedly scratching or climbing the glass enclosure walls, often due to inadequate space, incorrect lighting, stress, or a desire to escape.
- Black beard display: When our bearded dragons darken or puffed-up their beard it signals fear, territorial aggression, discomfort from environmental changes or it could be illness.
- Excessive hiding or burrowing: While occasional hiding is normal, doing so excessively, outside of brumation time, may indicate stress from external stimuli or improper habitat conditions.
- Stacking on top of each other: When bearded dragons are overcrowded, common with juveniles being reared together, it can lead to them stacking on top of each other as they compete for resources like basking lights. This can stress subordinate individuals and interfere with proper thermoregulation.
2. Health indicators, signs of illness: Bearded dragons can display physical and behavioral symptoms when they’re unwell:
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- Lethargy: A lack of movement or energy may be caused by improper temperatures, metabolic bone disease, or other health concerns.
- Loss of appetite: Skipping meals is normal in that adult bearded dragons do not need to eat everyday. But prolonged refusal to eat can signal illness, stress, or brumation-related changes.
- Twitching or tremors: If a bearded dragon is having muscle spasms they could have neurological issues, nutritional imbalances, or dehydration.
- Rubbing against objects: Bearded dragons sometimes rub against objects during shedding, that is normal. But, continuous rubbing may suggest skin irritation or the presence of parasites.
3. Aggressive behaviors: If a bearded dragon becomes suddenly aggressive, it may be reacting to stress, environmental factors, or territorial instincts:
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- Hissing and open mouth displays: Often a defensive reaction to perceived threats, but if persistent without a trigger, it could point to respiratory issues.
- Tail lifting: While occasionally normal during alertness or hunting, frequent occurrences could indicate heightened stress or agitation.
- Biting or attempting to bite: Bearded dragons can bite but it isn’t common for most well socialized pets. However, biting is a serious sign of fear, discomfort, or mishandling.
4. Changes in coloration and physical appearance: Changes in a bearded dragon’s coloration can be an important indicator of their state of health:
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- Darkened skin: Often a sign of stress, fear, illness or discomfort in their environment.
- Color change and tail up: A color change to darker hues and tail up posture may also signify distress or fear.
- Uneven or pale coloration: This may indicate shedding issues, malnutrition, or illness.
Bearded Dragon Behavior Changes with the Seasons
Bearded dragons are highly responsive to seasonal and environmental changes. These natural behaviors are essential for their survival in the wild and can manifest in interesting ways in captivity. For example, bearded dragons will brumate during cooler months and males become more aggressive in mating season.
1. Seasonal Behaviors: Bearded dragon behavior changes in cooler temperatures, typically leading to brumation. This hibernation state is marked by lethargy and a notable decrease in activity as they conserve energy. During this period, you may notice that your bearded dragon is basking less and doesn’t want to eat as much. Brumation can extend for several weeks to months, significantly slowing our beardies metabolic rate.
1.1. Brumation (hibernation):
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- Occurs during cooler months as bearded dragons slow their metabolism to conserve energy.
- Signs include lethargy, reduced appetite, and less frequent basking.
- Whether a bearded dragon brumates for days, weeks to months, or if at all, depends on the environmental conditions that we provide. In the wild, brumation occurs every winter.
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Does a bearded dragon hibernate or brumate? Find out here.
1.2. Reproductive changes:
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- During mating season, males may become more territorial and exhibit behaviors like:
- Head bobbing and arm waving: Male bearded dragons communicate to the females they will court females, or challenge rivals, through head bobbing and arm waving. They are likely to change the color of their beard to black at this time as well.
- Aggression: When a male bearded dragon enters mating season it will become much more assertive toward other males, maybe even their humans.
- Females may:
- Wave arms: While the males get more dominant, the female bearded dragons choose signs of submission during breeding season and show this through subtle signals like arm waving.
- Digging behavior: During breeding season females will want to dig. Digging prepares them for egg-laying. Digging in female bearded dragons during breeding season is so strong that they can end up with health issues if not provided with the right accessories. See the articles in the health section for more details.
- During mating season, males may become more territorial and exhibit behaviors like:
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Tip: After mating, watch for signs of egg-laying readiness, such as persistent digging and restlessness. Give them a dig box with sand immediately.
2. Behavioral adaptations to climate changes: Bearded dragons are masters at adapting to their environment. Their behaviors help them regulate body temperature and respond to stressors caused by changing climates.
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- Color changes: Bearded dragons darken their skin to absorb more heat or lighten it to reflect sunlight and stay cool.
- Seeking shade or heat: They move to cooler areas during heat waves or bask more during colder periods.
- Activity level fluctuations:
- Lethargy during unusually prolonged hot periods.
- Increased activity during sudden warm spells in typically cool seasons.
Tip: Monitor enclosure temperatures closely and adjust basking and shaded areas to match seasonal needs.
Emotions, Sentience and Intelligence in Bearded Dragons
Emotions, sentience and intelligence in our bearded dragons is one of my favorite subjects. Science can now prove that bearded dragons have all these qualities.
Intelligence: How Smart are Bearded Dragons?
Have you ever wondered if your bearded dragon is smart? Whether it is capable of more than what we see? Do you think bearded dragons can feel?
Maybe you’ve caught them doing something clever, like figuring out how to escape their enclosure, and thought, “Was that just luck, or are bearded dragons actually smart?”
The Misconceptions About Bearded Dragon Intelligence: It’s easy to assume that reptiles are purely instinct-driven and lack the cognitive abilities seen in mammals. After all, they don’t fetch a ball or purr when you pet them.
But it turns out that science can prove that bearded dragons are intelligent.
Bearded dragons are not only observant but also capable of learning, problem-solving, and even recognizing their owners. Check this out:
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Social learning: Bearded dragons can learn by watching others. For example, studies show that they can mimic behaviors, such as opening a door, after observing another dragon do it. This kind of learning demonstrates their ability to process and replicate new information.
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Problem-solving skills: Ever seen your bearded dragon flip over a little rock to catch a hiding insect? That’s strategic thinking at work! They can assess situations, adapt to their environment, and figure out how to get what they want.
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Recognizing their humans: Bearded dragons are capable of recognizing their owners, often responding to familiar voices or movements which helps in training beardies. This recognition goes beyond simple survival instincts—it’s a sign of their emotional intelligence and ability to form bonds.
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Interaction potential: With consistent positive reinforcement, bearded dragons can learn to associate certain sounds or actions with rewards, such as coming when called or performing simple tricks. These small moments show how adaptable and trainable they really are. Even potty training has been shown to be possible!
Sentience in Bearded Dragons: More Than Instinct
Bearded dragons are sentient beings with the ability to feel, learn, and adapt. Here’s the best part of this. Thanks to science declaring that bearded dragons are sentient, the law in some countries has followed to give them rights!
Sentience means bearded dragons can experience emotions such as pleasure, pain, and stress. Their behaviors—like basking contentedly, displaying stress with a black beard, or recognizing us are all rooted in their ability to process and respond to their environment.
For example, when your bearded dragon waves an arm in submission or puffs out their beard to assert dominance they are showing awareness of their surroundings and social dynamics.
Understanding that bearded dragons are sentient shifts the way we care for them. It’s not just about providing the right temperature or food—it’s about creating an environment that nurtures their emotional well-being too. Recognizing their ability to feel means every choice we make for their care has a deeper impact.
- Providing enrichment: Items like climbing structures or digging boxes don’t just satisfy instincts; they also promote mental stimulation and emotional satisfaction.
- Recognizing discomfort: Abnormal behaviors like glass surfing or aggression are more than physical reactions—they’re signs your bearded dragon might be stressed or unwell.
The more we understand our bearded dragons’ sentience, the stronger our bond becomes. When your bearded dragon greets you with a curious head tilt or snuggles into your hand during handling, it’s a reminder that they’re engaging with you on more than just a surface level.
Do Bearded Dragons Have Emotions?
Bearded dragons experience emotions in their own unique way. Through body language and behavior, our beardies communicate contentment, stress, curiosity, and even attachment.
For example, a bearded dragon basking with relaxed limbs shows comfort, while a puffed-up, darkened beard signals stress or fear. Many beardie parents also report their pets recognize them and show excitement when approached—a hint at their ability to form bonds.
Keeping Bearded Dragons Together & Social Interactions
It’s a common assumption that bearded dragons, like some other pets, might enjoy companionship from their own kind. However, this is far from true for bearded dragons whose social structures are intricate. Without proper understanding, cohabiting bearded dragons can lead to unforeseen issues, sometimes quite disasterous.
I thought housing my bearded dragons together would keep them company, but now I'm noticing signs of stress and aggression.

The Hidden Risks of Cohabitation
Bearded dragons establish a social hierarchy through behaviors such as head bobbing to assert dominance and arm waving as a sign of submission. In captivity, these behaviors can become more pronounced, which in turn leads to stress, injury, or even death if not properly managed. For instance, housing multiple males together can result in territorial disputes, while placing a male and female together may lead to unwanted breeding or aggression.
Even young bearded dragons can cause each other problems. Keep bearded dragons individually or in small groups of four to five similarly sized juveniles (Stahl, 1999). Competition for food, heat and UVB can be disasterous for their health and wellbeing. Some will out grow the others as they win the resources they are competing for. Once you start to see differences in size it is best to rehouse the smaller or the larger ones seperately.
It’s not that we cannot keep bearded dragons together, just that it requires the right conditions.
Bearded Dragons React to their Environment
Bearded dragon behavior is deeply influenced by what’s happening in their environment. Beardies react to external stimuli in ways that reveal their emotions and instincts. For example, when a bearded dragon feels scared or threatened, their skin often darkens—a clear sign they’re trying to communicate their discomfort.
- Lighting matters: Bearded dragons rely on proper light and dark cycles to regulate their physiological rhythms. Mimicking natural sunlight conditions supports their physical health and helps them feel safe and in sync with their environment.
- Reducing perceived threats: Even in the safety of their enclosure, bearded dragons can feel threatened. Reflections in the glass or sudden movements outside their tank might trigger a fear response, causing unnecessary stress. Minimizing these stressors by covering reflective surfaces or carefully managing their environment can go a long way in keeping your dragon calm and content.
- The power of environmental enrichment: A stimulating environment isn’t just a luxury for bearded dragons—it’s essential for their well-being. Providing objects that encourage exploration, like climbing structures or hidden treats, can spark their natural curiosity. Research confirms that both physical and mental stimulation improve their welfare, creating a happier, healthier dragon.
You’ve just set up a great new enclosure for your bearded dragon, Spike. The basking light is perfectly positioned, the temperature is spot on, and you’ve added a few new climbing branches for enrichment. But then, out of nowhere, Spike starts scratching at the glass frantically, his skin darkening. What’s going on?
As you lean in to investigate, you realize the sunlight from the window is bouncing off the tank, creating a moving reflection. To Spike, it looks like another bearded dragon staring back at him—a potential rival in his territory! His glass surfing and darkened skin are his way of saying, “Get out of my space!”
Once you cover the reflective surface with a towel, Spike stops scratching, his colors lighten, and he settles under his basking lamp. Just like that, the “intruder” is gone, and Spike feels safe again.
The Wild Side of Bearded Dragons
It turns out that bearded dragons are master strategists, skilled survivors, and fascinating adventurers. Each of our Pogona species has evolved unique ways to thrive in some of Earth’s most challenging environments. From sun up to sun down, in this article we explore the day in the life of a wild bearded dragon. There are challenges for territory, nomads, home bodies and predators, all part of the day in the life of a wild bearded dragon.@topdidj Meeting the bearded dragons at the Alice Springs Reptile Centre.. watch til the end for a surprise #reptile #alicesprings #centralaus #manuelpamkal #fyp #learning #aussie #indigenous #nt #bushman #topdidj #aboriginal #blackfullatiktok #foryou #interesting #northernterritory #australia #history #culture #aboriginaltiktok #learnontiktok #aus #dalabon #elder ♬ original sound - TopDidj
Interacting, Relationships and Having Fun with Our Bearded Dragons
Bonding with our Bearded Dragon
Ever wondered if bearded dragons bond with us? They can, but bonding with our bearded dragons takes patience and routines. Through repeated, positive interactions, your bearded can develop a form of greeting and bonding with you. Understanding the behaviors of a bearded dragon can help you bond quicker and lowering stress while increasing comfort with handling.
Do Bearded Dragons Like to Cuddle?
Bearded dragon cuddles might not seem instinctual, but many owners will tell you otherwise. Bearded dragons have been known to snuggle into our neck, relax on our lap, and chase us for more attention. But how do you know if your bearded dragon is truly enjoying the interaction?
Bearded dragons show their comfort in subtle ways—closing their eyes as you stroke their back, climbing onto your hand, or plopping down against you. While not all bearded dragons are cuddle enthusiasts, the ones that are can form unique bonds with us.
Here is more about bearded dragons cuddling and signs they are enjoying it.
Bearded Dragons and Cats: Can They Be Friends?
Ever thought about what might happen if your bearded dragon met your cat? Would they form an unlikely friendship or create chaos in your home? Surprisingly, bearded dragons and cats can coexist peacefully, however, there are definately some ‘buts’ in there.
Imagining our bearded dragon lounging on a sunny window sill right next to our cat is a heartwarming image. It’s not always that simple. Cats are natural hunters, and smaller animals like bearded dragons can trigger their prey instincts. The post on bearded dragons and cats covers everything you need to know.
Handling Bearded Dragons
Interacting and handling our bearded dragons can cause stress if not done correctly. Start with taming techniques if your bearded dragon is skittish, shows fear or rejecting being handled.
Slow, cautious movements the way to start to avoid eliciting a stress response. Sudden movements can trigger fear in these reptiles. A bearded dragons third eye will help it detect threats from above so avoid apporaching overhead.
To minimize defensive reactions like hissing or biting, it’s better to approach from the side and offer a flat hand for your bearded dragon to step onto, which is more natural.
Recognise the signs of dismfort. Signs such as a black beard, open mouth, or hissing are clear indicators of stress or fear.
Can Bearded Dragons Swim? You Might Be Surprised!
Did you know that bearded dragons can swim? Our bearded dragons can paddle through water surprisingly well, but do they enjoy it? And what’s the best way to introduce them to swimming without causing stress?
Not every bearded dragon is a fan of water, but for those that are, swimming can help with hydration, shedding, and even digestion. So, how do you know if your bearded dragon can swim? And how do you make it a safe and enjoyable experience? Check out the post.
Where can we Take our Bearded Dragons
In some countries (except Australia), it is acceptable to take your bearded dragons out with you. Here are some ideas on where you can take your bearded dragon.
Things to Do With our Bearded Dragons
Bearded dragons have plenty of playful and curious sides to explore. From outdoor adventures like sunbathing or supervised walks on a leash, to indoor fun like chasing laser pointers or pushing small balls, there are countless things to do with your bearded dragon.
When our Bearded Dragon Takes Over our Phone – Ant Smasher
Let’s be real – watching our bearded dragon attack virtual ants on our phone screen is pretty hilarious. These videos have blown up on YouTube, and honestly, who can blame people for watching? There’s something oddly satisfying about seeing a lizard try to eat digital bugs. But what’s actually going on here?
Here’s the thing – your bearded dragon isn’t actually trying to be a gamer. They’re just doing what comes naturally – hunting for food. That’s why they look so confused when they can’t actually eat anything after striking the screen!
People have gotten super creative with these videos, which typically get around 3,718 views each (Plothe, 2020). Some folks have:
- Mixed in Super Mario music
- Created dragon competitions
- Added dramatic title cards
- Put death metal soundtracks over the action
But let’s be honest – while we’re having fun watching our bearded dragons attack the screen, they’re probably wondering where their actual snack is. Maybe toss them a real cricket after they’re done being your gaming buddy.
References
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Arena, P. C., Bashaw, M. J., Grant, R., Howell, T., Martínez-Silvestre, A., & Warwick, C. (2023). Miscellaneous Factors. In Health and Welfare of Captive Reptiles (pp. 583-617). Cham: Springer International Publishing.
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Martínez Silvestre, A. (2014). How to Assess Stress in Reptiles. Journal of Exotic Pet Medicine, 23(3), 240–243.
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Plothe, T. (2020). Bearded Dragons at Play. Exchanges: The Interdisciplinary Research Journal, 7(3), 1–13. https://doi.org/10.31273/eirj.v7i3.523
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Stahl, S. J. (1999). General Husbandry and Captive Propagation of Bearded Dragons, Pogona vitticeps. Bulletin of the Association of Reptilian and Amphibian Veterinarians, 9(4), 12–17.
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Warwick, C., Arena, P. C., & Burghardt, G. M. (2023). Health and Welfare of Captive Reptiles. (2nd ed., pp. 583–617). Springer.
How Well Do You Know Your Bearded Dragon?
Put your knowledge to the test with this fun and informative quiz!