Understanding Bearded Dragon Behaviors (And What They’re Trying to Tell You!)
All Bearded Dragon owners know they have BIG personalities! Bearded Dragons are one of the most expressive reptiles you can own, and they have a wide range of different behaviors that can help us understand how they are feeling!
1. Arm Waving
What it looks like: Slow circular wave of one front leg.
What it means: Submission.
Baby dragons do this a lot. Adults may do it when introduced to a more dominant dragon (or if they can see another animal from their enclosure), or when unsure of something new in their environment.
What to check:
-
Is there another dragon nearby (even reflected in glass)?
-
Is your enclosure too small, causing visual stress?
-
Is your dragon still young and naturally submissive/unsure?
👉 Reflections in glass enclosures can trigger constant submissive behavior. Blocking sides or upgrading to a more spacious, visually secure habitat reduces unnecessary stress.
The Best Bearded Dragon Enclosures have 3 opaque sides to reduce visual stress.
2. Head Bobbing
What it looks like: Quick, forceful up-and-down head movements.
What it means: Dominance or territorial display.
Usually seen in males, but females can do it too. It can be:
-
A response to another dragon
-
A reaction to their reflection
-
Hormonal behavior during breeding season
If it’s paired with a black beard, you’re seeing a full display.
👉 If your dragon is constantly displaying, that’s not “cute personality.” That’s environmental stress or hormonal stimulation. Evaluate space, lighting, and visual barriers.
3. Black Beard
What it looks like: The beard turns dark black and may puff outward.
What it means:
-
Stress
-
Fear
-
Pain / Sickness
-
Territorial display
-
Breeding behavior
A black beard during feeding or handling often signals discomfort.
👉 Chronic black bearding can be an early indicator of improper husbandry or illness. Always verify your UVB strength with a Solarmeter and monitor temperature and humidity levels with digital probe thermometer / hygrometers!
4. Glass Surfing
What it looks like: Scratching or running along enclosure walls repeatedly.
What it means:
-
Stress
-
Boredom
-
Hormones
-
Enclosure too small
-
Reflection confusion
This is one of the biggest signs your setup needs improvement.
Bearded dragons are active, terrestrial lizards that benefit from:
-
Large floor space (4x2x2 minimum for adults)
-
Climbing branches wide enough for their whole body to rest on them
-
Digging opportunities
-
Chances to forage for food
Providing Enrichment reduces stress behaviors dramatically!
5. Pancaking
What it looks like: Body flattened and spread wide.
What it means:
-
Thermoregulating (absorbing heat)
-
Making themselves look bigger (defensive)
If it happens under the basking light, that’s normal. This is often paired with "firing up" or, darkening their entire body to help them absorb as much heat as possible. Think of them as trying to become little solar panels!
If it happens when you approach, that’s defensive posturing. Always make sure to approach slowly and try to only pick up your bearded dragon from the front instead of overhead to minimize stress responses!
6. Beard Puffing (Without Darkening)
What it means:
-
Stretching
-
Adjusting beard scales
-
Mild alertness
7. Lethargy and Hiding
This one requires careful interpretation and close observation..
Possible causes:
-
Brumation (seasonal slowdown)
-
Incorrect temperatures
-
Inadequate UVB
-
Illness
- Early morning/late night/ inactive hours
If your dragon:
-
Stops eating
-
Sleeps excessively
-
Avoids basking
Verify your temperatures with a digital probe thermometer. Confirm UVB output and placement. Rule out husbandry errors before assuming they are just brumating.
When in doubt, visit a reptile specialized veterinarian to rule out illness!
8. Digging
What it means:
-
Natural instinct
-
Seeking cooler areas
-
Gravid female preparing to lay eggs
Bearded dragons are natural diggers. A solid substrate doesn’t allow this behavior and can increase frustration. Make sure to offer a digging area even if using a solid substrate option to give your beardie the opportunity to express this natural behavior!
👉 Advanced care tip: Deep, naturalistic substrate allows expression of instinctual behavior and improves overall well-being.
The Bigger Picture: Behavior Reflects Environment
Bearded dragons act in response to their environment.
When behavior changes, ask yourself:
-
Are temperatures correct? Am I using a species appropriate heat source and the correct strength for my animal? (
-
Is my UVB adequate and replaced regularly?
-
Is my animal's enclosure large enough for them to express their natural behaviors?
-
Am I providing enough enrichment and variety?
-
Are there reflections or anything else in the environment that could be unknowingly causing stress?
By observing your Bearded Dragon you can learn a lot about how they are feeling, and as a result, pick up on potential issues before they become a bigger problem!
