Bearded Dragon Stress Signs: How To Tell If Your Beardie Is Stressed Out

If you’re a bearded dragon owner, it’s important to recognize the signs of stress in your reptilian friend. A stressed bearded dragon can develop health problems, become aggressive, or refuse to eat, so knowing how to spot the symptoms early is key to keeping your beardie happy and healthy.

Here’s a quick overview of the most common signs that your bearded dragon is feeling stressed: changes in color, increased aggressiveness, lethargy, lack of appetite, glass surfing, and arm waving. Read on for more details on recognizing and dealing with bearded dragon stress.

Physical Signs of Stress

Change in Color

One of the most obvious signs of stress in bearded dragons is a change in their color. Healthy dragons can change color to regulate their body temperature, getting darker to absorb heat and lighter to reflect it. But extreme darkening or lightening can signal fear, anxiety, or illness.

Dramatic shifts from light to dark or vice versa, especially repeatedly over a short time, often mean your beardie is stressed. Dull, washed-out coloration can also be a warning sign.

Lethargy and Lack of Appetite

Bearded dragons are naturally active reptiles that love to explore their environment and chow down on insects and greens. But excessive lethargy and loss of appetite are common reactions to stress. A beardie that hides away, moves little, and turns down food may be struggling with a stressor like incorrect temperatures, lack of UVB light, or too much handling.

Appetite loss can lead to dangerous health issues, so identifying and resolving the underlying stress is critical.

Glass Surfing

You may see your stressed lizard frantically run laps around the perimeter of its tank, a behavior called “glass surfing.” It often signals boredom from lack of enrichment or discomfort from improper habitat conditions like temps or humidity.

Glass surfing dragons scramble along the walls trying to escape an enclosure that doesn’t meet their needs. Providing a larger habitat, adding decor and climbing areas, and adjusting heat and humidity can help.

Arm Waving

Bearded dragons wave their front legs as a defense mechanism when they feel threatened. Arm waving displays make them appear larger and can scare off potential predators. In captivity, frequent arm waving usually means your beardie feels stressed by handling, enclosure placement (too much action), or tank mate aggression.

It’s a body language cue to give them space and reevaluate their habitat. If waves seem directed at a tank mate, separate them.

Behavioral Signs of Stress

Increased Aggression

Bearded dragons can exhibit increased aggression when they are feeling stressed. This includes behaviors like head bobbing, arm waving, biting, and black bearding. These are threats to try and establish dominance or get you to back away from them.

Aggression is definitely a red flag that something is stressing out your beardie.

Some common causes of increased aggression in bearded dragons include:

• Overcrowding – If their enclosure is too small, they may get territorial.
• Inadequate heating and lighting – Improper temperatures and UVB can cause agitation.
• Handling too much – Some beardies may bite or head bob if they need more space.
• Hormones and breeding season – Males become more territorial when ready to mate.

To reduce aggression, make sure your bearded dragon has an adequately sized habitat (75-120 gal for adults) with proper heating and UVB. Give them plenty of hides and branches to establish their own space. Limit handling time if they seem overwhelmed. And avoid housing males together when possible.

Avoidance and Hiding

It’s also common for stressed bearded dragons to try to avoid perceived threats by hiding. Signs include:

• Spending more time hiding in cold/dark places.
• Burrowing under substrate or curling into a ball.
• Running to hide during handling.
• Closing eyes or “freezing” when approached.

Bearded dragons are prey animals, so hiding is an instinctual defense mechanism. But consistent avoidance behaviors signal chronic stress. Causes can include:

You can reduce hiding by carefully managing their habitat – temperatures of 95-110°F during the day, strong UVB, plenty of hides and climbing areas, etc. Also limit handling to about 10-15 mins daily, and watch for signs of illness.

With time and patience, most beardies will become more confident explorers!

Causes of Bearded Dragon Stress

Incorrect Housing Conditions

One of the most common causes of stress in bearded dragons is incorrect housing conditions. Bearded dragons need large enclosures, proper heating and lighting, and ample places to hide and climb. An enclosure that is too small or lacks proper temperature gradients can quickly stress out a beardie.

Here are some housing issues that may lead to stress:

• Enclosure too small – Adult bearded dragons need a minimum of a 40-50 gallon tank.
• Substrate inappropriate – Loose substrates like sand can cause impaction. Best to use tile, paper towels, or reptile carpets.
• Lack of hiding spots – Beardies need places to retreat and feel secure. Provide hides, branches, and plants.
• Overcrowding – Never house dragons together as adults. They are solitary and territorial.
• Incorrect temperatures – Beardies require a basking area of 95-110°F and a cool side of 75-85°F.

Making sure your bearded dragon’s habitat meets its needs for space, heat, and security is crucial for preventing chronic stress that can lead to health issues.

Health Issues

Bearded dragons with certain health conditions may exhibit signs of stress. Issues like respiratory infections, parasites, or metabolic bone disease cause discomfort and pain. A sick beardie feels vulnerable and has high levels of stress.

Get your dragon examined by a qualified reptile vet if you notice:

• Wheezing, gaping, or mucus discharge from mouth or nose
• Loss of appetite or dramatic weight loss
• Swollen limbs or body, lethargy
• Twitching or tremors

Treating any underlying health issues can help resolve stress. Also be sure to quarantine new dragons or those returning from vet visits for at least 30-45 days to prevent contagious diseases.

Improper Diet

Bearded dragons are omnivores that require a nutritionally balanced diet. Feed juveniles about 80% protein (insects) and 20% greens/veggies. Adults require about 70% plant matter and 30% insects. Improper diet causes nutrient deficiencies and metabolic issues leading to stress. Common problems include:

• Not gutloading feeder insects with nutritious foods
• Feeding too many worms instead of a variety of insects
• Not finely chopping vegetables so they are digestible
• Not providing calcium/vitamin supplements as needed

Consult reptile nutrition resources to ensure your dragon’s diet has the right nutrients. Also monitor their growth and development closely.

Overhandling

Frequent handling and overstimulation is another preventable cause of stress for bearded dragons. While they can become quite docile, every beardie has limits on handling time. Watch for these behaviors signaling your dragon needs a break:

• Gaping mouth
• Arm waving
• Change to dark colors
• Puffing out beard
• Nipping fingers

Try to limit handling sessions to 10-15 minutes, 2-3 times per day. Let your beardie retreat to their enclosure when they’ve had enough stimulation. With some common sense adjustments, you can keep your dragon’s stress levels low.

Reducing Stress in Bearded Dragons

Provide Proper Housing

Providing the optimal housing setup is crucial to keeping your bearded dragon stress-free. The enclosure should be large enough, with a minimum of 40 gallons for juveniles and up to 120 gallons for adults. Make sure the tank is escapes proof with a secure lid and doors.

Include appropriate substrate like reptile carpet or paper towels that is easy to clean. Natural decor like branches, rocks and logs give your dragon places to climb and hide when they feel stressed. Maintain proper temperature and humidity gradients from warm to cool sides with an appropriate heat lamp and monitored by thermometers.

UVA and UVB lighting on a 12 hour cycle mimics their natural habitat. Give access to a large water bowl for bathing and hydration.

Offer a Healthy Diet

Feeding a nutritionally balanced beardie diet is vital for their health and to avoid stress. Offer a variety of fruits and veggies like collard greens, butternut squash, bell peppers and blueberries. Live prey like gut-loaded crickets and worms should make up most their protein.

Feed juveniles 80% protein and 20% veggies, adjusting to an equal mix as adults. Dust insects with calcium and vitamin supplements. Remove uneaten fruits/veggies within 24 hours and provide fresh water daily. Set a consistent feeding routine rather than leaving food in the tank all day.

Get to know your dragon’s appetite and favorite foods but never overfeed even if they act hungry.

Respect Space and Handling Limits

Frequent handling can stress out bearded dragons, especially when they want space. Carefully observe their comfort levels and body language when interacting. Don’t force handling if they seem skittish or scared and avoid chasing them around the tank.

Allow them to walk onto your hands versus grabbing at them. Limit handling to short 5-10 minute periods for juveniles and 15-20 minutes for adults 1-2 times per day. Provide a hideaway place in their tank to retreat and enough space between decor for basking and movement.

Never house dragons together as they are solitary creatures and get stressed by perceived competitors.

Check for Health Issues

Sickness and parasites are common beardie stressors. Schedule annual vet exams to screen for problems like impaction, infections, and vitamin deficiencies which require medication or diet changes. Monitor their tank for signs of mites or substrate ingestion.

Watch for unusual behavior like reduced appetite and lethargy that indicate poor health. Some symptoms of stress are darker beard coloring, puffing out their beard, gaping mouth, arm waving, and glass surfing along the tank walls. Isolate bully dragons right away if cohabiting.

With the above care tips, you can prevent most beardie stress and help them live long, happy lives of 10+ years!

Conclusion

In summary, bearded dragons exhibit clear signs like color changes, lethargy, aggressiveness and repetitive movements when they’re feeling stressed. While some stress is normal, chronic stress can lead to health and behavior problems.

By providing the proper enclosure, nutrition, handling limits and vet checkups, you can help minimize stress and keep your beardie relaxed and thriving.

Pay close attention to your bearded dragon’s appearance and behaviors day-to-day so you can catch problems early. With proper care and attention, you can have a happy, low-stress beardie friend for years to come!