Do Bearded Dragons Grow Their Tail Back? {Tail Rot & Injuries}

I’ve seen tails regrow on geckos. Do bearded dragons grow their tail back?

Do you want to know what happened to a female bearded dragon who lost her tail? What are the benefits of tails for bearded dragons?

This article I wrote is all about bearded dragon tails along with research and experience to help you out with this topic.

Do Bearded Dragons Grow Their Tail Back?

No. Although some reptiles such as geckos can regrow their tails, a bearded dragon cannot. Dropping a tail is a useful defense mechanism in the reptile world, but a bearded dragon doesn’t have this built-in advantage.

A bearded dragon can lose a tail and survive to live their full life. The reasons for losing a tail would be:

  • Injuries
  • Accidents
  • Tail rot (necrotic dermatitis infection)

I have a lot of personal experience and details to elaborate on these examples involving the tails of bearded dragons. Join me below for more information.

Do Bearded Dragon Regrow Limbs?

No. I was originally allowed to care for a bearded dragon temporarily who had a missing front limb on her left side. She was able to move and survived her injuries.

It started with a fight for territory with another female.

Some people believe that two female bearded dragons can cohabitate without any threat or fights over space, but this is not a guarantee for highly territorial and solitary reptiles like our beardies.

She recovered and, but she will never be able to regrow this limb again. Bearded dragons cannot regrow:

  • Digits
  • Limbs
  • Legs
  • Tails
  • Other body parts

Thankfully, this female dragon was returned to her home without needing to share it again with other reptiles or bearded dragon counterparts. She lives a peaceful life now.

Why Do Bearded Dragons Break Their Tails?

Bearded dragons cannot break their tails easily. Geckos for example can drop their tails quickly when trouble forces them to.

They can escape predators or get themselves out of sticky situations like getting caught between branches.

Bearded dragons lose their tail when they get into gruesome fights. The bouts of aggression may last until the death or full submission of one bearded dragon over another.

Tails also get ripped off, cut off and rot under a condition known as Tail Rot which is a common bacterial infection for bearded dragons in poorly kept conditions.

Why Bearded Dragons Lift Their Tail

Bearded dragons are not vocal creatures. They hiss and some may even snore, but do not expect them to make many sounds to communicate.

Instead, they use body language such as:

  • Head bobbing
  • Arm waving
  • Tail lifting
  • Neck puffing out

When the tail lifts up, this bearded dragon of yours is alert. Mine does the same when he sees a new critter entering his field of vision. He gets into hunting mode with the tail up.

Sometimes the tail goes up at the same time when his head bobs or neck puffs out. This combination is a form of communication that shows he is acting dominant and trying to protect his territory or wishing to be left alone.

YouTube video

Why Should You Not Touch a Bearded Dragon’s Tail?

You should be present with your bearded dragon in their field of vision. They do not like anyone or anything creeping up on them.

  1. If you place your hand into the enclosure or wish to make contact, you should do some from the front.
  2. Since the tail is on the rear, they feel vulnerable and defensive when anyone tries to approach or make a move on them from behind.
  3. It’s a crucial rule for handling bearded dragons and one that we should always let children or beginners know when they visit our homes.
  • Never grab a bearded dragon by their tail and do not pick them up this way.

Scoop them up from their belly and you can even support them under the chin to show affection while keeping them calm and reassured.

Why Does A Bearded Dragon Need A Tail?

If your bearded dragon ever loses a tail and can’t grow one back, they may be slightly challenged physically. The tail helps with:

  • Balance
  • Maneuvering
  • Communication
  • Conflicts
  • Attracting mates

Without a tail, you bearded dragon will survive and live in captivity under your care without many worries.

In the wild, they will be much more vulnerable and weakened against opponents of territorial disputes.

How Long Does It Take for a Bearded Dragon’s Tail to Grow Back?

Never. The tail will not grow back because you may have mistaken this gift of regrowth in a gecko for a bearded dragon.

This is not a natural part of their existence and do not expect any bearded dragon to ever regrow any tails or other body parts.

Sorry to say, but this tail is lost permanently, but they can live a healthy life under supervision in captive care as your pet for years to come.

Bearded Dragon Tail Rot

Tail rot is common in bearded dragons who were exposed to:

  • Internal infection
  • External harmful bacteria
  • Poor husbandry
  • Improper hygiene

The tip rots as it darkens in color. Blood doesn’t circulate there anymore and this area could be considered dead or the death of the cells within.

Tail rot is also referred to as necrotic dermatitis and it is an aggressive form of bacteria that can spread if not treated medically.

Bearded Dragon Tail Tip

The tip of some bearded dragon tails may get exposed to harmful bacteria or the spread of internal bacteria may cause it to rot.

The scales in this area can be affected and the condition can spread down the tail to threaten their lives. Tail rot occurs when direct contact is made with bacteria that flourishes in poor hygienic situations.

Most often, it’s the enclosure that is not cleaned enough which causes the problem. It requires immediate care and medical assistance.

Conclusion

The idea that beardies may lose their tail and grow it back again is a prevalent one.

  • As a defensive measure, your bearded dragon cannot drop its tail at whim, and it cannot develop a new tail if it loses it due to another cause, such as an accident or injury.
  • The bearded dragon has other means of self-defense, such as black bearding, biting, tail whipping, and puffing up to make itself appear larger.
  • They are unlike some other species of reptiles, such as leopard geckos, who can drop their tail as a defense mechanism so they can escape a predator and then grow their tail back.
  • However, their tails will just mend up on the end where the loss has happened and remain that way. They can lose their tails by injury or other methods.
  • It’s critical to manage a tail injury in your dragon the same way you would any other injury, by keeping it clean and, if necessary, seeking veterinarian care.

 

Thank you for visiting PocketPetCentral.com for the best information to help you enjoy the life of your pocket pet companion in a fun, safe & healthy way.

Anna

My name is Anna and I work full time in my local pet shop where we sell many animals that I write about on this site. I love all animals and love writing about them.