How to Tell if Bearded Dragon Is Angry {How to Calm Them Down}

I want to tell about a time when my bearded dragon couldn’t stop hissing at me. This is all part of how to tell if bearded dragon is angry and how to calm them down depends on our responses to their aggression.

There is so much we can do to offer solutions that relax our pet beardies. This article will explain everything there is to know about angry bearded dragons.

How to Tell if Bearded Dragon Is Angry

When trying to determine if your bearded dragon is angry, observe their body language and behavior for signs of agitation or defensiveness. Common signs may include:

  • puffing up their beard
  • darkening or blackening of their beard
  • gaping their mouth
  • hissing
  • flattening their body
  • lashing out with their tail
  • biting

If you observe any of these behaviors, it may be best to give your bearded dragon space and avoid handling them until they calm down.

How Do I Know if My Bearded Dragon Is Unhappy?

When bearded dragons are upset or under stress, they may act in various ways. Watch out for:

  • Reduced appetite
  • tiredness
  • prolonged hiding
  • lack of interest in their surroundings
  • frequent glass surfing

When a bearded dragon continually climbs and descends the walls of its enclosure, it is known as “glass surfing” and may be a sign of stress or boredom.

It’s crucial to address the likely source of stress or unhappiness if you detect any of these habits. This can entail giving your bearded dragon a bigger cage, modifying their nutrition or lighting, or spending more time engaging with them.

How Do You Calm an Angry Bearded Dragon?

Give your bearded dragon some space and refrain from handling them until they calm down if they are acting aggressive or angry.

  • Loud noises or bright lights may make your bearded dragon feel more stressed. You may try lowering the lights and decreasing the commotion in their surroundings to help them relax.
  • Additionally, you may make your bearded dragon feel safer by giving them a hiding place or a shady location in their habitat.

Pushing a bearded dragon to engage or touching them while they’re irritated or feeling threatened can be dangerous and lead to bites or other injuries. Speak with a veterinarian if your bearded dragon’s behavior does not change or if you are worried about their health.

What Does an Aggressive Bearded Dragon Look Like?

Some physical and behavioral indicators of aggression in bearded dragons include:

  • puffing out the body or beard
  • hissing
  • flattening the body to seem bigger
  • lunge or charge at perceived dangers
  • opening their mouth widely

Bearded dragon aggression can result from a number of things, including:

  • stress
  • territoriality
  • disease

If your bearded dragon starts acting aggressively, it’s critical to address the underlying issue and offer your pet a safe and secure environment.

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How to Tell When a Bearded Dragon Is Happy

There are a number of indicators that a bearded dragon is content and healthy including:

  • bright, attentive eyes
  • frequent movement and activity
  • natural curiosity
  1. They could be curious in their surroundings, like soaking up the heat from their heat lamp, and engage with their owners.
  2. Bearded dragons will have a comfortable body language, with their body resting on all four legs, their limbs and tail held securely.
  3. As a gesture of acceptance or acquiescence, they could also bobble their heads or wave their arms.
  4. Another sign of a bearded dragon that is content and healthy is regular feeding habits and a healthy appetite.

A tidy, well-maintained habitat with the right temperature and lighting may help guarantee the health and happiness of your bearded dragon.

How to Tell if a Bearded Dragon Is Stressed

There are a number of indicators when a bearded dragon is under stress. Here are a few typical ones to watch out for:

  1. Changes in appetite, include eating less or refusing to eat
  2. Lethargy or a decline in activity
  3. Avoiding contact with their surroundings or their owner or hiding from them
  4. Beard puffing up is a sign of defensiveness.
  5. A black beard or darkening skin tone, which might be an indication of anger or sadness
  6. Panting or breathing quickly
  7. Glass surfing or pacing against their enclosure’s walls

It’s critical to pinpoint the stressor and take action to resolve it if you observe any of these symptoms.

This might involve:

  • creating a cozy and safe atmosphere
  • lowering activity or noise levels
  • altering the lighting or temperature
  • offering a lot of hiding places and other enrichment activities

How to Pick up an Angry Bearded Dragon

To prevent worsening the issue if your bearded dragon is upset or furious, approach them gently and quietly. The following procedures can help you pick up a bearded dragon safely:

  1. As you approach your bearded dragon gently and quietly, soothe them by speaking in a soothing tone of voice.
  2. Pick them up while covering their body gently with a towel or piece of cloth, being careful not to grip them too firmly or forcefully.
  3. To give them a sense of security, support their body and keep them close to your chest.
  4. Avoid jerky or abrupt movements that can frighten them more.
  5. Return your bearded dragon to its cage if they show signs of aggression or agitation there rather than trying to handle them again right away.

Bear in mind that bearded dragons can become agitated or violent for a number of reasons, including as feeling threatened or uneasy in their surroundings.

To preserve their health and wellbeing, pay attention to their body language and modify their living arrangements as necessary.

Bearded Dragon Stress Marks

Stress markings are a typical sign that your bearded dragon is stressed out. What you should know about stress markings in bearded dragons is as follows:

  • Stress markings are black streaks or patches that develop on the chin or belly of a bearded dragon.
  • Numerous things, such as environmental changes, handling, disease, or sensations of fear or unease, might result in these scars.
  • Make sure your bearded dragon’s habitat is the right size, well-maintained and offers enough heat and light to prevent stress in your pet.
  • Give your bearded dragon someplace to hide, such rocks or branches, to make it feel safe.
  • Be gentle while handling your bearded dragon and steer clear of unexpected movements that can shock or frighten it.
  • Consult a vet who specializes in reptiles if stress markings continue or are shown in combination with other symptoms of sickness or discomfort.

You may take action to keep your bearded dragon happy and healthy in its environment by being aware of the symptoms of stress in them.

What Is an Abnormal Behavior of a Bearded Dragon?

Here are a few instances of unusual bearded dragon behavior:

  • the inability or reluctance to eat
  • not moving or remaining still within their confines
  • aggressiveness towards people or other animals
  • unusual or very cautious concealment
  • gnawing or rubbing their skin
  • abnormal or too frequent urination or feces
  • trembling or swaying
  • long stretches of sleep or a lack of energy

If your bearded dragon exhibits any of these behaviors, it may be a sign that there is a stressor in their surroundings or an underlying health problem.

To rule out any potential health issues and to get advice on how to change their surroundings to improve their wellbeing, make sure to speak with a veterinarian who specializes in reptiles.

Why Is My Bearded Dragon Hissing at Me All of a Sudden?

I could see my bearded dragon relaxing in the heat light as I got closer to his habitat. But as soon as I reached in to grab him, he hissed at me! His response surprised me because I had never seen him react that violently before.

I made another attempt to approach him, but he kept puffing up and hissing, so I knew he was either feeling threatened or afraid. I carefully moved back and decided to give him some space since I didn’t want to make him feel even more anxious.

After some investigation, I discovered that bearded dragons can act in this way when they feel threatened or when their schedule is disturbed. I thus changed his schedule and cage to include extra hiding places and regular feeding times, and over time, he became less defensive and more at ease with me.

It only serves to emphasize how crucial it is to be aware of your pet’s behavior and requirements and to make sure they feel safe and secure in their surroundings.

What Annoys Bearded Dragons?

There are many things that can irritate bearded dragons since they can be picky animals. Here are a few illustrations:

  1. Too much handling: Bearded dragons often dislike being handled frequently or over long periods of time. Aggression may result from stress and discomfort brought on by this.
  2. Loud sounds: Bearded dragons might be startled and irritated by loud noises like music or yelling.
  3. Sleep disruption: Bearded dragons are diurnal, which means that daytime hours are when they are most active. Bright lights at night might stress them out and interfere with their sleep.
  4. Overcrowding: For bearded dragons to feel comfortable, there should be enough room. They could grow upset if their cage is too tiny or too crowded.
  5. Unclean surroundings: Bearded dragons are often highly clean creatures and prefer to reside in an unpolluted setting. They may experience tension and discomfort in an unclean cage or environment.

To keep your bearded dragon happy and healthy, maintain a clean, cozy habitat and pay attention to their wants and preferences.

Do Bearded Dragons Get Mad Easily?

Each bearded dragon has a unique personality and some may become upset or annoyed more quickly than others.

Although bearded dragons are often quiet and gentle pets, there are several circumstances that might make them react negatively. For instance:

  1. When being handled, a bearded dragon may act aggressively if it feels threatened or uneasy.
  2. Bearded dragons can become aggressive against other bearded dragons or pets and become territorial, especially during mating season.
  3. A bearded dragon may appear more agitated than usual if it is in pain or uncomfortable as a result of health problems.

To avoid tension and unfavorable behavior, give your bearded dragon a cozy and stress-free environment as well as the necessary care and attention. Regular engagement and handling can also promote trust and reduce hostility.

Why Does My Bearded Dragon Try to Bite Me?

Bearded dragons may attempt to bite their humans due to:

  • stress
  • poor socialization
  • incorrect handling
  • feeling threatened
  • being territorial
  • thinking your fingers are food

In order to avoid bites and foster a good relationship with your bearded dragon, try the following:

  1. Get your bearded dragon accustomed to being stroked and lifted up, handle them gently and regularly starting at a young age.
  2. Avoid making loud noises or quick movements that can shock your bearded dragon.
  3. Make sure the cage is the right size and has enough places to hide and to bask for your bearded dragon.
  4. Give your bearded dragon lots of opportunity for physical activity and mental challenge.
  5. To stop biting tendencies, give your bearded dragon a balanced diet and refrain from hand-feeding.
  6. Consult a certified reptile behaviorist or a reptile doctor if your bearded dragon bites often.

Do Bearded Dragons Get Calmer With Age?

Age-related calming down in bearded dragons is possible, although it depends on the beardie’s temperament. While some bearded dragons may continue to be wary or frightened as they become older, others may grow more submissive.

For your bearded dragon to feel secure, you should give it a cozy, stress-free environment with lots of hiding places and a regular daily schedule.

Regular handling of your bearded dragon from a young age can also assist you and your pet become more used to one another.

Always be kind and careful while handling your bearded dragon to avoid stressing it out and provoking defensive or aggressive behavior.

Why Do Bearded Dragons Flatten Out?

  • Body Heat
  • Dominance/Submissiveness
  • Aggressiveness
  • Mating

In order to control their body temperature, bearded dragons frequently flatten down their bodies. They will flatten their bodies to increase their surface area and absorb more heat when basking in the sun or beneath a heat source.

In order to show authority or obedience, bearded dragons may flatten down as a further behavior. When performing courting rituals with females or to demonstrate their superiority over other males, male bearded dragons may flatten out and expose their beards

A subordinate bearded dragon, on the other hand, could flatten down and show its belly to a more dominating person as a symbol of submission.

What Scares Bearded Dragons?

Sudden movements, loud noises, or strange things in their environment may easily shock bearded dragons. The following items might frighten your bearded dragon:

  • an image
  • a TV screen
  • large or unusual items
  • brand-new furnishings
  • decorations
  • unfamiliar creatures or humans
  • handling or communication that is excessively abrupt.
  • flashing lights or bright lights
  • fragrances or cleaning products with strong aromas

Giving your bearded dragon hiding places, careful handling, and a regular schedule might make it feel safer and less frightened.

Conclusion

Recognize the signs of an angry bearded dragon to avoid getting bitten or attacked. Some common signs include hissing, gaping, puffing up their beard, and flattening their body.

Understanding why your bearded dragon might be angry, such as feeling threatened or stressed, can also help prevent future incidents.

As responsible pet owner, it’s important to approach our bearded dragons calmly and with caution if we suspect they are angry or stressed.

By taking the time to understand our pet’s behavior, we can provide a safe and comfortable environment for them to thrive in.

 

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.