Head bobbing is popular in all species of bearded dragons, and it is when a beardie raises and lowers its head over and over again. Head bobbing is often not a positive sign – bearded dragon is showing that he is a leader and ruler of the territory. They can regrow their teeth. Beardies may not be able to grow back a tail, but they can grow … Most of the time, bearded dragons bob their heads to assert their dominance over their enclosure, sometimes to a bearded dragon in their tank or someone they see through the glass. Generally speaking, head bobbling is a more common act for males to exhibit (however this behavior is not sex specific), and is often associated with territorial aggression or dominance during breeding. This is when your bearded dragon's tail will twitch (similar to a cat's tail). The answer is absolutely not, your Bearded Dragon can bob its head at anything that it wants to show dominance to, submit to or wants to mate with. Head bobbing, or the repeated action of rising and lowering of a bearded dragon’s head, is a very common behavior that can have multiple meanings, but mostly you can assume that it has something to do with developing a social hierarchy. why does beardies tilt their heads like dogs be doing? In some cases, you can even hear it. The best thing to do if your Dragon is bobbing its head at what appears to be nothing, scan your room and see if there anything that you can easily remove from the room. Here’s a post that details the best decor and accessories for your Bearded Dragons tank, Here’s a post that shares why you shouldn’t house 2 Bearded Dragons in the same tank, You can see the exact decor & accessories I use in my tanks here, Bearded Dragon Stress | Signs, Causes, Solutions. This is a sign of dominance by the dragon that is on top. Usually, the solution is as simple as removing whatever they aren’t happy with. Total Bearded Dragon is a website that is dedicated to helping Bearded Dragon owners to care for and understand their Dragons with detailed, straight forward and actionable advice. Usually creating a better and stronger bond with your Dragon will stop this behaviour. Do Bearded Dragons Have a Third Eye? The most common are puffing out their beards and standing prouder to make themselves look bigger and scarier. Things like head bobbing, arm waving and puffing up the beard all help to show the mood that your Dragons are in and also express intentions and feelings. In fact, if your Dragon is bobbing its head slowly then it might just mean the total opposite. Head bobbing can be seen in females as well; this will be a much slower motion, more exaggerated motion and is … I would suggest keeping to the same procedure, just monitor the situation and if it settles down in a short period of time then it’s all good. Just remember that when a Bearded Dragon bobs its head it’s a natural behaviour and as long your Dragon is only doing it sometimes it absolutely fine. Head bobbing is a Bearded Dragons way of saying “I am the boss here”. In an attempt to show territorial supremacy, they will begin bobbing. Sometimes your Dragon might just all of a sudden see the other pet as a threat to its territory or something similar that before didn’t seem a problem to your Dragon. How Often Do Bearded Dragons Poop? Should You Be Worried? Imagine if you leave a sock on the floor or a baseball cap nearby. If the head bobbing persists over a number of weeks then it might be a good idea to either keep the pet away from your Bearded Dragon or the other way round as you don’t want to keep the heightened stress levels up for weeks on end. When your Dragons is first getting to know you there will sometimes be a period where they test the waters and try to show you they are the “the boss”. This kind of behaviour will usually pass within a few weeks and as the hormones go back to normal so will their behaviour. Their beard may go black too. This might seem quite bizarre at first but a Bearded Dragon can easily mistake a toy or small item of clothing for another animal. If your Dragons terrarium has got a corner that is a little bare and you notice them bobbing their head only in that corner it might be the case that they are seeing their reflection in that spot. Usually, this type of behavior is commonly seen in male bearded dragons. Learn how your comment data is processed. This is a behaviour that has always interested me and i have researched it deeply to find the answer. Keeping both Bearded Dragons together is going to cause the weaker one a lot of distress and, it will also get less UVB light along with a decreased appetite through stress. This may seem harmless but to your Dragon, they just don’t know what these items are and it can lead them to act by bobbing the head. I really hope you got some great value from this post and you got the answer that you were looking for. One reason beardies dig is to create a more comfortable spot to bask or sleep in. Getting the right amount of good quality UVB light is also very important to make your Dragon feel like they are in their natural habitat as well as for health reasons. The 3 Reasons Why Bearded Dragons Bulge Their Eyes? The only option is to separate them so they can both live happy, calm and stress-free lives. Females will head bob quickly as a sign of aggression, but the more common behavior is a slow bow and an arm wave. It’s important to note that this form of head bobbing is definitely more common with males but you can easily see a female trying to dominate in certain circumstances. If you give your Beardie a good home with good hides then you should see a reduced amount of behaviours triggered by stress or feeling intimidated. Bearded dragon head bobbing or head-jerking; Head bobbing is another interesting thing that bearded dragons do. This mating style head bob from the male will be quite fast, and they will also often puff their beard just like they might do when they are being aggressive so it can be quite hard to tell the difference. Are there female lizards around? If you have other pets in your home such as a dog, cat or birds for example then its very common that your Dragon will feel uncomfortable with them. Also, male beardies will do jerky bobs when they are courting a female. If you have a baby Bearded Dragon and you have recently brought it home it is an exciting time for both you and your Dragon. (The 13 Common Reasons). A black beard can show that a beardie is ready to mate. Teach Your Bearded Dragon to Sit on Command. Head bobbing, or the repeated action of rising and lowering of a bearded dragon’s head, is a very common behavior that can have multiple meanings, but mostly you can assume that it has something to do with developing a social hierarchy. Simply adjusting a few things round so they can’t see their reflection might just stop them thinking they have company from another Beardie. it's like they'll just look at you sometimes while tilting their heads, it's funny and cute at the same time and it reminds me so much of when dogs do it, is it because their confused about something like dogs are? If you have an old pet and all of a sudden your Beardie starts to bob it’s head at the pet when its never done it before, this could be for a few reasons. It is not uncommon in these circumstances for bearded dragon head bobbing to turn into fights that often go on until both are injured or one has been killed. This can cause your Bearded Dragon to start bobbing its head at what appears to be nothing but in actual fact, it is reacting to the toy. This is backed up by PetMD who also state this as a major reason for head bobbing. The female head bob is often accompanied with the arm wave behavior, as is shown. Well, let’s take a look at what you can do to get your Dragon happy and calm again. Creating a terrarium that is close to their natural habitat can go a long way to making them feel comfortable and reducing behaviours such as head bobbing and arm waving. Home » Bearded Dragon Head Bobbing: Why They Do It. If you’ve ever watched a bearded dragon run, you’ll notice how they hold … One of the most common reasons for this is that it’s mating season for them. Fast head-bobbing is mainly observed in males. Total Bearded Dragon also participates in affiliate programs with other sites. Your bearded dragon could be head bobbing to assert dominance over you, their new environment, or another animal (whether it’s in their cage or just within view). If it’s mating season sometimes Bearded Dragons start bobbing their heads like crazy even at other household pets that they have always got along with. While Bearded Dragons will bob their heads fast in a sign of dominance, they will bob their head slow to show that they are submissive. Thanks for reading, here’s a happy, healthy Bearded Dragon . Slower, smaller nods are often associated with submissiveness. Digging. Bearded Dragons will also bob their head to attract the attention of the opposite sex during mating season. The same can be said for small items of clothing, bracelets and such. Are there other males present or have you put multiple dragons in the same bearded dragon cage (we don’t suggest this)? The exact cause of a tail-up bearded dragon will vary, depending on the scenario. Before mating bearded dragons will bob their heads. A good quality terrarium with good lighting and lots of plants and hides is essential to help them settle and imitate their natural habitat as much as possible. eval(ez_write_tag([[250,250],'totalbeardeddragon_com-box-4','ezslot_9',132,'0','0']));When a Bearded Dragon bobs its head it doesn’t always have to be out of aggression or arguing over territory. Do Bearded Dragons Burrow? Bearded Dragons have many unique and fascinating behaviours such as head bobbing. A bearded dragon with their tail up means they are either excited or alert or both! Skip to content. Head bobbing is a sign of domination. If your Dragons terrarium isn’t kitted out with decor that resembles their natural habitat and they can just see glass then there is also a good chance they will also see their reflection. Bearded Dragons Bob Their Heads During Mating. Slower bobs signal submission. Males are more prone to head bobbing, and they tend to do it quickly. This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. When under a predator threat, they may hiss, … Ok, are you are worried that your Bearded Dragon is bobbing its head constantly either in a dominant or submissive manner and you think it needs to stop but not sure how? Bobbing is mostly about showing off, and how they’ll display this action is really based on how important it is to show territorial aggression or dominance. Baby bearded Dragons can perform the slow head bob that is associated with submission if it feels uneasy about a certain situation. Things like head bobbing, arm waving and puffing up the beard all help to show the mood that your Dragons are in and also express intentions and feelings.eval(ez_write_tag([[300,250],'totalbeardeddragon_com-leader-4','ezslot_8',149,'0','0'])); For the most part, when a Bearded Dragon bobs its head it is perfectly normal and part of their natural behaviour to express their intentions at that time. First, to decide why a dragon may be bobbing its head all that’s needed is for you to glance around. Arm waving is seen as a quirky and adorable trait that pet bearded dragons can exhibit. Not all head bobbing means the same thing with Bearded Dragons. Your main job is to give your Bearded Dragon the best environment possible to aid the settling in period. The truth is, this settling in period can be quite a scary time for your Dragon and they can feel unsure, uncomfortable and even intimidated. It is a photo-sensory organ located on top of their heads, which allows them to navigate environmental alterations. Dragons will mostly see their reflection if their terrarium is bare or has a bare spot. Bearded Dragons have some fascinating behaviours that they use to express themselves in certain situations whenever they see fit. The bob will go hand in hand with the blackened beard, as well. Females also produce the slow bobbing motion, let’s take a look at why. Why Does My Bearded Dragon Head Bob? In order for your Bearded Dragon to feel happy, calm and safe they need to have the right environment. Total Bearded Dragon is a website that is dedicated to helping Bearded Dragon owners to care for and understand their Dragons with detailed, straight forward and actionable advice. This simply signifies to the other Bearded Dragon that they are the boss. Without a doubt, bearded dragons do have a third eye, which is also known as the parietal eye. Bearded Dragons like most other reptiles and animals don’t understand the concept of glass and the fact that it has a reflection. Ultimately, head bobbing behaviour is a way for Bearded dragons to show off. If your Dragon is constantly head bobbing and you feel that their stress levels are going up then it might be a good idea to find the source and stop your Bearded Dragon from coming in contact with it for a while. I only recommend doing this if your Bearded Dragon is bobbing its head constantly whenever the pet is around. or what is the reason for bearded dragons to have this dog-like behavior more than any other reptile? Why Do Bearded Dragons Bob Their Heads? What You Must Know! If there is both a female and male around (or multiple males and females), you can assume that the dragon is bobbing to show his dominance to the female. Digging. Believe it or not, it is very common that your Bearded Dragon will bob it’s head at you the owner. Slower head bobbing is used as a sign of submission and females will also bob their head slow to submit to a male’s advances. Females won’t typically display dominance to other females with head bobs. Tail Twitching. Your Dragon could easily be seeing themselves in the glass and mistaking their reflection for another Bearded Dragon. This is backed up by Reptile Guide who also talk about this as a reason for head bobbing.eval(ez_write_tag([[300,250],'totalbeardeddragon_com-mobile-leaderboard-2','ezslot_14',137,'0','0'])); The most common time for this to happen is when you first bring your Bearded Dragon home. Other times it will be the slow head bobbing motion that is related to showing submission. In just about all other situations you should be able to remove the cause of the problem or move your Bearded Dragon to another room if that makes more sense. Territory. This behavior is similar to many other species where the male must put on a show or perform a mating ritual to win the female’s affections. That is how we keep doing what we do. Find Out Here…. About Us. - November 30, 2020 Bearded Dragons bob their heads at other Bearded Dragons as a sign to show that they are dominant. This is a well-known personality trait of Bearded Dragons and trusted sites such as animaluniversity.org also state this to be true. Best Answer Head bobbing is generally used as a sign of dominance between two dragons. If your pet is new to the home then it’s quite natural for this to happen as your Bearded Dragon can often feel uncomfortable with a new animal until it understands the new pet means no harm. However, bobbing is not synonymous with only males. It’s a good idea to monitor the situation and in a short period of time your Dragon should calm down with the head bobbing and start to relax.eval(ez_write_tag([[300,250],'totalbeardeddragon_com-narrow-sky-1','ezslot_15',117,'0','0'])); If this goes on for weeks and weeks then i would suggest relocating your Dragon to a room where the pet isn’t going to be in contact. It is a common display of power during times of breeding and courtship to show that the male is suitable mate. eval(ez_write_tag([[300,250],'totalbeardeddragon_com-large-leaderboard-2','ezslot_1',148,'0','0']));Your baby Dragon will often bob its head to try and display dominant behaviour to try and gain some control in its new surroundings. Gentle handling will show your Dragon that there is no need for aggression or dominance and certainly no need to be intimidated by you. It is a form of communication and often shows submission or. It’s also possible to cause your Bearded Dragon to feel uneasy and therefore start bobbing its head by simply moving its terrarium to a different corner of the room. Even a change in your furniture could produce this kind of behaviour and it’s just a matter of being mindful of these changes. If the other Dragon returns a fast head-bob, it is actually also quite! Behaviour is a way for Bearded Dragons can exhibit first but a Bearded bobs. 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