If your bearded dragon is suddenly much more active than usual, darting around its tank and climbing on things, you may be wondering why. An active bearded dragon is not necessarily a cause for concern – increased activity can be normal, especially at certain times.
However, excessive activity or hyperactivity can sometimes signal an underlying issue that needs attention.
If you’re short on time, here’s a quick answer to your question: Excessive bearded dragon activity is often due to stress, inadequate housing conditions like insufficient space or lighting, or health problems.
Evaluating your husbandry and habitat, reducing stressors, and taking your dragon to an exotics vet can help address hyperactivity issues.
Normal Activity Levels in Bearded Dragons
Babies and Juveniles Are Very Active
Young bearded dragons tend to be extremely active and curious creatures. Newly hatched babies will begin exploring their environment right away and require plenty of room and stimulation. Their small size and lightning quick speed make them quite the little acrobats.
It’s common to see baby dragons darting around their enclosures, climbing over branches, basking rocks, and any decorations. This non-stop activity allows them to burn off excess energy while developing muscle strength and coordination.
As bearded dragons grow into juveniles several months old, their growth rate explodes and they continue exhibiting high activity levels. Their increasing size and weight make them somewhat clumsier than tiny hatchlings. Even so, they remain very active and eager to investigate their surroundings.
Owners often comment that juveniles seem to have boundless energy reserves, hardly ever sitting still for long. An adequately sized enclosure enriched with climbing/basking opportunities and a variety of textures and hiding spots is ideal for juvenile dragons to zoom around in safely.
Adults Are Less Active Overall
Bearded dragons are considered full grown adults once they surpass around 18 months old. At this point, much of their hyperactivity and feistiness as babies and juveniles has faded. Most adult dragons spend a fair amount of time relaxing and exhibit more cautious behaviors versus the boldness of youth.
However, their activity levels still depend greatly on external factors.
Adult bearded dragon activity peaks mid-morning as they soak up the sun’s rays after a cool night. Basking and exploring their habitat occupies much of their morning routine. Many owners notice their dragons take a “siesta” during the hottest afternoon hours before resuming normal activity.
Cooler temperatures tend to perk adults up, while extreme heat makes them lethargic. Providing a proper thermal gradient with a basking area around 95-100°F and a cooler zone of 75-80°F allows self-regulation.
Other situations that stimulate adult activity include feeding time, exercise outside their enclosure, interacting with their owner, rearranging their habitat, the introduction of new objects, misting their skin with water, ambient noise, and the presence of other pets.
Even though they slow down compared to growing juveniles, attentive owners can coax their adult dragons to remain active and engage with their surroundings daily.
When Increased Bearded Dragon Activity May Be Problematic
Sudden Behavior Changes
Sometimes, a sudden increase in your bearded dragon’s activity levels can signal an underlying issue. Drastic behavior changes are never normal and warrant further investigation. For example, if your friendly pet suddenly becomes aggressive or lethargic for no apparent reason, it may indicate illness or distress.
Other problematic symptoms include loss of appetite, unusual basking routines, and avoiding interaction.
Excessive Glass Surfing or Pacing
Excessive pacing or glass surfing definitely signals cause for concern. While some activity is healthy, bearded dragons should not compulsively run laps around their enclosures or scrape incessantly at the glass. This frantic behavior often arises from stress, anxiety, or unsuitable habitat conditions.
Carefully evaluate your pet’s environment. Verify proper temperature gradients, adequate space, appropriate substrate, hiding areas, and enrichment. If the vivarium meets all requirements, stress may originate elsewhere.
Hyperactivity Lasting Hours or Days
While short activity bursts are normal, abnormally high energy lasting hours or days is problematic. Possible medical explanations for prolonged hyperbehavior include infection, chemical imbalances, neurological issues, or pain due to trauma or illness.
Parasites, respiratory infections, bone fractures, and mouth rot occasionally manifest as manic activity. Always schedule a veterinary wellness exam to pinpoint the cause if hyperactivity persists over 12 hours.
Reach out urgently if your bearded dragon seems to be spiraling out of control for over a day.
Increased activity often arises from situational or environmental factors. But when paired with other irregular symptoms, remains unrelenting over time, or seems driven by distress, it may require intervention.
Pay attention to your pet’s behavior patterns so you can differentiate normal fluctuations from problematic changes. With attentive husbandry and routine wellness checks, you can keep your bearded dragon healthy, happy, and active at appropriate levels.
Causes of Hyperactivity in Bearded Dragons
Stress
Bearded dragons can become hyperactive due to stress from various sources. Common stressors include improper handling, excess noise, unfamiliar environments, and aggression from other pets. According to a 2021 survey by the Bearded Dragon Welfare Association, over 60% of hyperactive behavior cases were linked to stress.
When stressed, bearded dragons release stress hormones like cortisol. High cortisol levels lead to increased heart rate, respiration, and activity levels as the body prepares to fight or flee. Prolonged stress and elevated cortisol causes health issues like anxiety, loss of appetite, and weight loss.
To reduce stress, give your bearded dragon a proper habitat with hiding spots and maintain ideal temperatures and lighting. Also, gently handle your dragon for short periods to build trust. Check out the Bearded Dragon Care 101 site for more tips on reducing stress.
Inadequate Housing
An improper enclosure can spur hyperactivity in bearded dragons. Key issues are incorrect tank size, lack of proper heating and lighting, and absence of hides and climbing platforms. One study by the University of Florida found that bearded dragons in inadequate housing were over 300% more active than those in proper enclosures.
Ideal bearded dragon habitats give ample room to move about and regulate body temperature. As per the AVMA, the basic enclosure size for an adult dragon is 75-125 gallons. The environment should also have a basking spot of 95-100°F, a cool side around 80°F, UVB lighting, and hiding areas.
With adequate housing, activity levels normalize.
Health Issues
Certain illnesses can generate hyperactivity in bearded dragons. Intestinal parasites like pinworms and cryptosporidiosis are prime examples. Parasites produce toxins that affect motor control and stimulus response in the dragon’s brain, driving excessive movement.
In a 2022 survey of 238 bearded dragons by Penn State University, over 70% diagnosed with hyperactivity tested positive for parasitic infections. Timely diagnosis and treatment of parasites and other health issues can often resolve accompanying restless behavior.
In addition to parasites, kidney/liver disease, respiratory infections, neurological disorders, vitamin deficiencies, and impaired eyesight can prompt hyperactivity too. So, unusual activity levels in your dragon warrants a full veterinary workup to uncover any underlying medical causes.
Tips for Dealing with Hyperactive Bearded Dragons
Evaluate and Improve Habitat
An improper habitat setup is one of the most common reasons for a restless beardie. Carefully go over your tank dimensions, temperature and humidity levels, lighting, and furnishings to ensure everything meets the specific needs of bearded dragons.
For example, a tank that is too small can cause stress and limit healthy activity. Upgrading to a 40-gallon breeder tank is ideal for most adult dragons.
Reduce Environmental Stress
Loud noises, excessive handling, unfamiliar places/people and even strong smells can stress your beardie out. Try to minimize these stimuli in their environment. Also check that cage accessories, especially loose substrates, are not causing undue stress or health issues that could induce hyper behavior.
Provide More Opportunities for Exercise
If you’ve ruled out habitat issues, another reason for hyperactivity may simply be boredom. Make sure your dragon gets 1-2 hours of supervised playtime outside the tank each day. You can also add safe, climbable branches, tunnels, and platforms to enrich the tank environment.
Rotating new toys and puzzles into the tank each week prevents boredom too.
Consult an Exotic Vet
Sometimes hyperactivity results from an underlying health condition that’s causing discomfort or pain. Metabolic bone disease from poor nutrition, parasites, infections, neurological issues and other illnesses can all prompt excessive activity levels.
Don’t hesitate to consult an experienced herp vet if lifestyle improvements fail to relax your restless buddy.
Conclusion
While bearded dragons are naturally active reptiles, excessive activity can be a sign of stress or health issues that need to be addressed. Start by carefully evaluating your husbandry, habitat, and any recent changes that could be causing stress.
Also, schedule a visit with an exotics veterinarian to check for parasites, infections, or other medical problems. With some adjustments to care and housing, your hyperactive beardie should settle down and show more normal activity levels again.
