A bearded dragon with its tail in the air is a common sight that often leaves owners curious as to why. If you’ve noticed your pet dragon walking around with an elevated tail, you may be wondering what it’s trying to communicate.
If you’re short on time, here’s a quick answer: A bearded dragon lifts its tail for several reasons, most often as a sign of dominance or aggression, but sometimes also when basking to regulate body temperature.
Read on as we explore the meaning behind different tail positions in bearded dragons and what you can discern about your pet’s behavior or health from this reptilian body language.
Showing Dominance or Aggression
Establishing Hierarchy
Bearded dragons can raise their tails when trying to establish dominance hierarchies. In the wild, they live in complex social groups where each lizard has a place in the pecking order. Dominant dragons will often hold their tails up high to signal their status over more submissive dragons with lower tails.
During breeding season, male bearded dragons may also raise their tails in elaborate dominance displays to compete for female attention. Competing males will bob their heads, puff out their beards, and lift their tails as they circle each other.
The male able to keep his tail raised highest typically wins these showdowns.
Warning Off Threats
Lifting the tail can also be a defensive maneuver for bearded dragons. When confronted by a potential threat, a bearded dragon may first try to appear larger and more intimidating by holding its tail up. This highlights its spiny scales in an attempt to ward off predators.
If the initial bluff does not work, the dragon may also change to darker colors, puff out its beard, gap its mouth, and whip its elevated tail. This dramatic display signals that it is not backing down and will put up a fight if pressed.
Only the most persistent threats continue advancing once a bearded dragon starts break dancing its tail.
Thermoregulation
Raising Body Temperature
Bearded dragons have several behaviors and adaptations that allow them to raise their body temperature. One of the main ways is by flattening their body against the ground or other warm surfaces. This increases the surface area contact with the heat source, allowing them to absorb warmth more quickly.
They may also turn their back or side towards the sun or a heat lamp to maximize sun exposure on different parts of their body.
Another noticeable behavior is the arm-waving motion that bearded dragons often exhibit in the morning. This involves standing up on all four legs and slowly waving one arm up and down. It likely helps them raise their temperature by exposing more skin surface to the warmth.
The increased blood flow to the waving arm also transfers heat throughout the body. This unique motion led to their “waving” nickname!
Bearded dragons also flatten out their beard beneath their throat to catch more sunlight. The beard’s dark coloration absorbs heat quite well. By expanding it outward, they increase the surface area absorbing warmth. This can lead to their beard becoming darker and more pronounced on cooler mornings.
On chillier days or in cooler cage areas, bearded dragons will climb on top of branches, rocks or hides to get closer to the overhead heat source. This maximizes their exposure to warming lights or the sun’s rays.
Their ability to detect infrared heat through their scales helps them find the warmest spots. Micro-climates allow them to regulate their temperature within a cage.
Releasing Heat
Just as important as heating their bodies is the ability to cool down when necessary. Bearded dragons have specialized skin and behaviors to help release excess body heat.
One way is by flattening their body against cooler surfaces. This increases body surface area contact with the cooler object, allowing heat transfer outward. Tile, rock slates or other cage decor provide nice cooling spots.
They may also move to shaded areas to minimize sun exposure at hot times of day.
Gaping their mouth open is another prominent cooling behavior. As air passes over the moist tissue inside the mouth, evaporation occurs which draws heat away from the body. You may notice their throat expanding as they rapidly breathe while gaping. This increases air flow and cooling.
A panting bearded dragon is clearly trying to shed some heat!
Their skin also assists with temperature regulation. Bearded dragons have specialized skin cells called chromatophores that can change colors. By altering their shades from light to dark, they can reflect more or less sunlight to maintain ideal body temperature.
A darker beardie is absorbing heat, while a pale colored one is reflecting it.
Signals Health Issues
Impacted Bowels
One of the most common reasons for a bearded dragon’s tail to go up is due to impacted bowels or constipation. Bearded dragons that are unable to pass stool will arch their tails up as they strain to defecate.
Impaction occurs when ingested substrate or other materials accumulate in the digestive tract, blocking the passage of feces. Dehydration, inadequate temperatures, lack of exercise, and poor diet can all contribute to constipation in bearded dragons.
Signs of impaction include lack of bowel movements, loss of appetite, lethargy, and swelling of the abdomen. Impaction can become a serious, even life-threatening condition if left untreated. Rearing up on the hind legs and elevating the tail are behaviors indicating a bearded dragon is having trouble passing stool and is in discomfort.
Treatment of impaction involves hydrating the bearded dragon via soakings and fluid injections under the skin. Increasing the ambient temperature to 105-110°F will quicken the dragon’s metabolism and promote bowel motility.
Adding more exercises outside the enclosure will also help get the digestive tract moving. A vet may prescribe laxatives or enemas to help loosen compacted feces. Adjusting the diet to include more hydrating vegetables and less dry, fibrous material can prevent future impactions.
Metabolic Bone Disease
Metabolic bone disease (MBD) is another potential reason for a bearded dragon to hold its tail upright. MBD is caused by inadequate levels of calcium and vitamin D3 in the body, resulting in soft, deformed bones and muscle twitching.
Bearded dragons require high amounts of calcium and D3 for proper bone development and muscle control. Without enough of these nutrients, they can experience spinal curvatures, fractured bones, muscle spasms, and trouble walking – all of which can manifest in tail elevation. MBD is seen in dragons fed poor diets low in calcium, or those without proper UVB lighting to synthesize vitamin D3.
Symptoms besides tail lifting include rubbery legs, swollen joints, and twitching. Severe MBD causes paralysis. Reptile veterinarians can diagnose MBD through blood tests, x-rays, and examination of bone density.
Treatment involves immediately correcting the diet and lighting deficiencies. Calcium and vitamin supplements are given, and checkups monitor bone growth. With prompt treatment, bearded dragons can fully recover from early-stage MBD. however, the deformities become permanent if left untreated.
Ensuring adequate calcium intake via dusted insects, greens, and calcium supplement, along with proper UVB lighting to stimulate D3 synthesis, are vital preventative measures. With the right husbandry, bearded dragons can enjoy excellent musculoskeletal health without their tails going up due to MBD.
Brighter Color as Communication
A bearded dragon’s tail can turn brighter colors for several reasons, often as a means of communication. Here’s an overview of what a brighter tail color signifies in bearded dragons:
Showing Dominance
One of the most common reasons for a bearded dragon’s tail to turn brighter is as a display of dominance. In the wild, dragons use their coloring to establish hierarchy and defend territory. A dragon may turn its tail dark black and puff out its beard to appear bigger and more threatening to rivals.
In captivity, dragons may show dominant displays towards other pets or their owner. However, this is usually harmless behavior. An assertive dragon is not necessarily aggressive.
Regulating Body Temperature
Bearded dragons are cold-blooded, so they use color changes to heat up or cool down. When a dragon is too hot, its tail may turn a very light color to reflect heat. If it is too cold, the tail darkens to absorb more warmth.
Watch for these temperature-related color changes to ensure your dragon’s enclosure is at the proper temperature of 95-110°F on the basking side.
Communicating Stress
Brightening tail color can also signal fear, anxiety, or stress. For example, a dragon may show a bright yellow tail when approached by a new person or animal it perceives as threatening. This is a defensive posture.
Signs your bearded dragon is stressed include:
- Very dark black beard and tail
- Puffing out body to appear larger
- Opening mouth in a gaping display
- Bobbing head up and down
Minimize stress by giving your dragon plenty of hiding spots, handling gently, and maintaining proper husbandry.
Displaying Excitement
On the other hand, a dragon may turn bright colors out of happiness or excitement too. For example, many dragons will turn bright yellow when given a treat they really enjoy, like live feeder insects.
Signs your bearded dragon is excited include:
- Bright yellow tail color
- Darting eyes
- Pacing along enclosure walls
It’s fun to watch your dragon light up with vibrant colors when they are eager to eat or interact!
Signaling Breeding Season
Breeding season brings another reason for color change. A receptive female will display bright breeding colors to let males know she is ready for courtship. Her beard and tail may turn bright yellow or orange.
Males also use flashy displays to attract mates at this time. Watch for these cues if you plan to breed your bearded dragons.
Conclusion
In summary, an elevated bearded dragon tail often indicates dominance behaviors, temperature regulation, or potentially, underlying health problems. Now that you know the range of reasons behind this body language, you can better interpret what your pet is trying to tell you.
Stay observant of any tail positioning changes along with other symptoms that may require a vet visit. With a little practice reading your bearded dragon’s signals, you’ll be able to keep them happy and healthy.