Do Bearded Dragons Bite? Everything About Beardie Bites

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Bearded dragons are the ideal zen pets to keep thanks to their docile and easygoing nature. However, despite their easy domestication, they are capable of defending themselves from threats. If you’re curious about how your dragon defends itself—whether by biting or using other methods—you’ve come to the right article for that.

Bearded dragons bite mostly out of defense. They’re not aggressive lizards, but when threatened, your pet may bite you with its tiny, sharp teeth as soon as your finger crosses its jaw.

How Do Bearded Dragons Bite?

Bearded dragons have acrodont teeth that are sharp enough to sink into bare skin and hold until there is an injury. However, they only bite when they feel threatened or cornered. It usually follows after signs of aggression such as flattening the body, darkening the beard, and opening the mouth.

Still, the likelihood of your bearded dragon biting depends on its temperament. I’ve never witnessed my eldest bearded dragon bite, even at the vet where he got poked and prodded. Unlike him, I once fostered a female juvenile dragon that was so quick to anger and frequently bit the fake plant in her enclosure.

Do Bearded Dragon Bites Hurt?

Every bite that is strong enough to pierce the skin is painful, and a bearded dragon’s bite is capable of that. The bite may not be excruciating or require painkillers, but it’s uncomfortable enough to cause stinging, especially if the bitten area gets contaminated.

If you’ve been bitten by your beardie, there’s no need to panic. Simply sanitize the area to kill the bacteria and facilitate healing.

Major Reasons Why Your Bearded Dragon Bites

Although bearded dragons are docile, they can become aggressive due to the following reasons:

1. Fear

The most prominent reason dragons bite is that they feel threatened. Once your dragon senses danger, it will defend itself by looking more aggressive or running away. When cornered, it may bite its perceived attacker which is exactly the scenario that played out when Steve Irwin kept bothering a wild bearded dragon.

2. Territorial Issues

Bearded dragons will fight over essential resources such as space, food, and even basking spots. During these brawls, they bite themselves nastily till the weaker dragon submits or retreats. This is why it’s dangerous to put two adult dragons in the same enclosure.

3. Mating

When beardies mate, the male dragon bites the female’s neck to hold her in place. Although it’s natural, mating can become aggressive, especially when it happens too frequently. To prevent this, we alternate housing arrangements by keeping the dragons together for one week and separating them for the next week. Female bearded dragons, who get bitten and mounted, can sustain serious injuries if they’re excessively mated. Check out my article on “How Do Beardies Mate?” for further details.

4. Feeding Time

When your bearded dragon is eager to eat, it may lunge at your hand thinking it’s one of its delicacies. Although it’s common and innocent, the bites can be painful. If you have an overly excited beardie, consider using tongs or tweezers to hand feed instead of your bare hands.

5. Pain or Discomfort

A bearded dragon can get frustrated and overwhelmed by pain to the point that it becomes aggressive. If your pet is suddenly displaying negative behaviors, like attempting to bite you, perhaps it’s suffering from an underlying illness or pain that you haven’t noticed yet. This situation is usually accompanied by lethargy, lack of appetite, sunken eyes, evasiveness, and weight loss.

6. Unethical Upbringing

Bearded dragons that have been subjected to poor husbandry will likely become temperamental, which is often the case with rescues and adult pet store beardies. Sadly, most breeders care more about their pockets than ethical breeding. When a beardie is exposed to violence or negligence over time, it will grow to distrust its caregivers and become consistently defensive.

That aside, not caring for your beardie properly can cause discomfort which can result in aggression. To be sure of your methods, go through the article on How to Take Care of A Bearded Dragon to compare.

How to Earn Your Bearded Dragon’s Trust And Get It to Stop Biting

The key to bonding with your bearded dragon is patience. Keep in mind that as beardies are individualistic, there’s no standard duration for building trust with your pet. That being said, here’s how to go about it:

Bribe it With Treats

Giving treats such as fruits is an easy way to improve your dragon’s mood, allowing a friendly bond to quickly form. While bearded dragons lack the emotional capacity to feel love for their caretakers, they can associate providing food with safety and grow fond of you with time.

Hand Feed During Mealtime

Hand-feeding helps your pet to become more comfortable with handling. If it’s still apprehensive about being hand-fed, it might need more time to realize that the giant hand lowering into its safe space is not a predatory bird! You can start by using tweezers or tongs to hold the food before going in closer with your bare hands.

Carefully Hold Your Pet

Sometimes, bearded dragons enjoy being held because they appreciate the warmth of our bodies. If you know how to properly handle your beardie, befriending it may be easier to achieve. Just ensure that you’re holding it the correct way otherwise it will dread associating with you.

4 Signs You’ve Earned Your Bearded Dragon’s Friendship

It may take a while for bearded dragons to bond with their owners as they’re naturally defensive, especially when they’re adopted as adults. If you’re careful and consistent, you’ll notice the following signs:

Your Beardie Is Finally Relaxed

Beardies are curious little lizards, quick to notice movement around them and inspect their surroundings. However, if your dragon feels unsafe in its enclosure, you may often find it hiding in its shaded area instead of engaging with its environment. If getting close to your pet doesn’t cause it to retreat, you’ve won its trust.

Your Dragon Can Freely Eat from Your Hand

Hand feeding requires a level of trust from your beardie. In some cases, it can become counterproductive, especially if it’s already apprehensive. But when you can hand-feed your pet grubs and greens without a hassle, it shows how much it’s grown to trust you.

Your Beardie Willingly Climbs onto You

Eventually, your dragon may become comfortable with snuggling because it knows you won’t harm it or drop it on the ground. Holding or cuddling your pet beardie requires time and patience, and some pets may never be that comfortable with that level of intimacy.

No More Signs of Aggression

Hissing, biting, and darkening the beard are all signs of aggression. Your pet should not be displaying any of these as it translates to feeling threatened. If your dragon feels safe around you, it wouldn’t see the need to threaten you with painful bites or weird gestures.

Are Bearded Dragons Venomous?

Bearded dragons have mild venom that can cause stinging and moderate pain in the affected area, but it generally doesn’t result in significant harm beyond that. This venom is secreted in their saliva and takes effect upon contact with an open wound.

Some might argue that the venom helps bearded dragons hunt by paralyzing smaller insects when they bite. However, I couldn’t find solid evidence to support this claim, aside from research confirming that beardies do possess venom.

Photo of author

Medi

EL Mehdi (Medi), the founder and voice behind Desired Reptiles, renowned for his dedication to bearded dragons. As a passionate reptile enthusiast, Medi has developed a solid background in caring for these lovely creatures. He gained extensive knowledge about their diet, behavior, and how to create environments that mimic their natural habitat

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