So, do bearded dragons bite?
The name “Bearded Dragon” can lead people to imagine an aggressive monster, but owning one of these magnificent reptiles couldn’t be further from the truth. Bearded dragons are peaceful reptiles and are not known for their acts of aggression, although on rare occasions they may show aggression if provoked or whn they feel threatened. But do not let this deter you from bringing a bearded dragon home, you will find that this is true of every creature on the planet, as they will protect themselves when they feel threatened by some danger.
Bearded dragons that come from a pet store or from a breeder are used to human handling and interaction from birth, and they have no reason to see humans as predators or any kind of threat at all. You need have no fears or reservations when considering a bearded dragon as a pet, bites are very rare and even those could usually be prevented.
Do bearded dragons bite, and does it hurt?
First, let me say again that bites from bearded dragons are very rare, but if you are unlucky enough to be bitten, you can expect a bit of pain. Any bite from an animal/reptile will hurt to some degree and bearded dragons are no exception. The degree of pain you can expect depends on the age of your pet. Obviously, baby and juvenile bearded dragon bites do not hurt as much as one from an adult mature animal.
The bite you would feel may have to do with a gasping sensation rather than an actual bite that you would feel by a dog. The shock of being bitten may be worse than the actual bite itself. It is possible in rare cases to see a little blood from a bite by a bearded dragon, but this again depends on the age of your dragon and the severity of the bite.
Do bearded dragons bite, how likely is it?
It is very unlikely that bearded dragons will bite their owner and as long as you care for your dragon properly, I would be surprised that this will ever happen to you. By nature, bearded dragons are very relaxed and calm. That’s why they are an excellent choice for anyone looking to bring a reptile into their home for the first time. Bearded dragons are also perfect for younger owners who are not used to taking care of pets.
If your bearded dragon tries to bite you, something is clearly wrong with them. It is important that you can figure out the reason for this so you can prevent it from happening again.
What can cause a bearded dragon to bite, do bearded dragons bite?
As we just mentioned, bearded dragons will probably never bite you, but it is important to know the situations in which your dragon may feel threatened or angry enough to bite you. Knowing these situations in advance will help you avoid them and maintain a happy and friendly relationship between you and your bearded dragon.
Let’s look at the main reasons why a bearded dragon might bite you.
Improper handling can cause your bearded dragon to bite you. It is possible to get bitten if you handle or grab your bearded dragon incorrectly. Some new owners have little or no experience with handling bearded dragons, everyone has to start somewhere, but if you fall into this category, you should get some advice on how to properly handle your bearded dragon. Children can often get excited when dealing with a bearded dragon, such as when showing their friends their pet. Always tell children to stay calm and handle the dragon gently and with care.
If a bite occurs due to mishandling by the owner, 99% of the time it is because they are in discomfort and the bite is just to let you know you are hurting them. By taking the time to learn how to handle your bearded dragon, you can have a great relationship with them and reduce the chances of beeing bitten.
Fear can cause your bearded dragon to bite, do bearded dragons bite when they are scared?
If your bearded dragon is intimidated and feels threatened for a certain situation, they will usually try to run away or hide before they would bite. If they cannot do either of these two things, they may feel they have no choice but to bite you out of self defence. This would really be a last resort and a situation you should see coming before it actually happens because of certain behaviors they will show, such as blowing up their beard, blackening their beard, bobbing their head, trying to run or hissing. Bearded dragons can exhibit this behavior for several reasons and not just when they feel intimidated, but if you’re not sure, you might consider not grabbing them until you determine the reason for this behavior.
Here are some reasons why your bearded dragon may feel intimidated or aggressive:
-Other pets in the house
-Other bearded dragon nearby
-A small object in the house mistaken for a predator
-New environment
-If you have a tank with shelters and small caves, your dragon will feel safe and less exposed if there are situations where he feels threatened.
Some breeders do not have the time to carefully handle all their bearded dragons and teach them all the human interactions. This can lead to them being very afraid of people. The longer this takes in a bearded dragon’s life, the less confident the dragon will become when having contact with humans. Ideally, you want to buy the bearded dragon from a breeder at an early age and handle them a lot.
If you buy a bearded dragon from another home, this is usually not a problem if they have been a caring owner for their pets, but you should still ask as many questions as you need to until you are sure the animal has been handled properly. This should minimize the risk of bringing home an untamed bearded dragon and getting bitten because they are uncomfortable with human interaction.
Hunger can cause a bearded dragon to bite, do bearded dragons bite when they are hungry?
On rare occasions, your bearded dragon may accidentally bite you while eating their favorite food. If this happens, it would usually be a very light bite as they are just trying to grab the food out of your hand. This is more likely to happen to baby and juvenile dragons, as they often get too excited and they do not yet have full control over their mouth movements when trying to eat from your hand. They should have a good diet. Do bearded dragons bite when they are hungry?
Adults can still make mistakes when they are very hungry, but you will find that most excited eating habits come from younger dragons. The best way to control this behavior is to maintain a regular feeding schedule and don’t leave them hungry for to long. This way, you will reduce the chances of your bearded dragon ever becoming hungry and therefore getting too wild during meals. It will also help to always have a bowl of fresh, chopped vegetables in their tank, as they can eat in between meals if they start to get very hungry. Will bearded dragons even eat meat? Read here.
Through the mating season, a bearded dragon may bite
During a certain time of the year, when a bearded dragon feels the need to mate, they can be very excited and change their behaviour. They can become quite territorial and don’t want to be held anymore. If you notice this kind of behavior, you should give them some space until their hormones calm down a bit. Do bearded dragons bite because of their hormones?
If you do not respect their wishes and you invade their space or keep trying to pick them up when they clearly want to be left alone, there is a chance they may bite. This is a very small chance and they will usually give you many signals beforehand that they feel this way. You have no reason to keep harassing them if they just want to be left alone. Mating season for males in particular can be very ego-based and they often want to prove to the female that they are the dominant male.
How should you treat a bite from a bearded dragon?
If you are unlucky enough to experience a bit from a bearded dragon at some point in your life, it’s important to treat the bite with care. The first thing you want to do is clean the area with an antiseptic wipe for hygiene. This is something you should still do even if the bite doesn’t break the skin and there is no blood. Bearded dragons carry bacteria in their mouth. In fact, every time you touch your dragon, it is a good practice to wash your hands afterwards as the skin also contains bacteria.
The next step will depend entirely on whether the bite broke the skin and if it bleeds. If the skin is not damaged, you don’t really need to do anything special. If the skin is damaged, it is advisable to cover the area with a band-aid and use an antiseptic wipe regularly ot clean the wound. When you notice that the bite is becoming infected, it also makes sense to get it checked out by a doctor. This will rarely happen.