If you are thinking about getting a bearded dragon, or you already have your own little beardie, then you may be wondering if these creatures can bite.
As you probably already know, bearded dragons make great pets and are typically very used to being handled by humans, making them great with people!
So, do they actually bite, and what do you do if you get bitten by a bearded dragon? Our guide will tell you everything you need to know about bearded dragon bites!
What is a Bearded Dragon?
Bearded dragons are medium sized lizards that are native to the wilderness of Australia. Bearded Dragons, or beardies, are one of the most popular lizards kept as pets and in captivity.
With an armor of spiny scales and a beard of spikes that make this lizard look rather ferocious, you can understand why they are called dragons.
However, these creatures may not be as dangerous as they look, and are often considered very calm animals. So, can they bite, and why would these lizards feel the need to bite?
Do Bearded Dragons bite?
Unfortunately, yes, bearded dragons can bite, but they do not do this very often, unless they feel threatened or provoked. Whilst they are very docile and calm creatures, they do know how to defend themselves if they feel that they need to.
In addition, many bearded dragon owners may find that their fingers are mistaken for grubs and worms, and their bearded dragons have nipped them in search of food, but this rarely hurts or draws blood.
For the most part, the more a bearded dragon is handled and treated with care and attention, the less likely they are to bite, and will become more docile, relaxed and calm companions to keep.
Why do Bearded Dragons bite?
In most cases, bearded dragons will only bite for one of three reasons. They are wild creatures after all, and will naturally defend themselves or bite if they feel threatened.
Feeling threatened is one of the main reasons that bearded dragons bite, along with poor handling, hunger, or if the bearded dragon has not been properly socialized from a young age.
Self Defense
The most common reason a bearded dragon will bite is if it feels threatened. In these cases, the bearded dragon will react naturally, and will try to defend itself by nipping or biting at you as a warning.
In their natural habitat, bearded dragons can be easy prey for other animals such as predators and birds.
If a bearded dragon feels under threat, or that it is being preyed upon, it will try to defend itself. You may notice that the bearded dragon puffs up its beard, or turns black if it is about to bite, as this is a defensive action.
This often happens if you try to pick up the bearded dragon from above, as this is how it would naturally be attacked by predators.
Therefore, try to avoid coming at them from above, or surprising them when they are unaware, as this will result in a bite!
If you see signs of aggression, or the bearded dragon puffs up, then it is probably time to back off, or return it to its enclosure to cool off. It is best to leave it alone for a while, and try not to handle them for a little bit.
Hungry
Another common cause of bearded dragon bites is hunger. Bearded dragons can become a little angry and more aggressive when hungry or around food.
This is entirely normal, and is one of the main reasons why you should ensure your bearded dragon is well fed and has a regular feeding time and schedule.
Most bites in these cases can be accidental as they try to get at the grubs and food that you are providing. This can also happen a lot if you hand feed your bearded dragon!
On the other hand, it may happen because your fingers look like a delicious worm to your bearded dragon and they may try and take a bite!
In addition, if you have recently handled your bearded dragon’s food, or your own food, your beardie may pick up on this, and may smell the food on your hands. This can result in bites if they think that food is near.
To avoid this, ensure that you wash your hands thoroughly before handling your bearded dragon. It is also much safer to handle the bearded dragon with clean and sanitized hands, so this is a habit that you will want to keep!
Handling
Many people can suffer bites from bearded dragons due to improper handling. This is one of the most common causes of beardie bites, as they can be easily hurt if picked up the wrong way or not gently enough.
Bites are common for children as they are not sure how to pick up or hold the bearded dragon with enough care and attention, which can result in a few nips here and there. For instance, bearded dragons will bite if they are being handled poorly.
If your bearded dragon feels like it is being squeezed too tightly, pinched, or held in an uncomfortable position and manner, then it may just bite as a reflex to get you to stop.
This is why it is important that you learn how to handle a bearded dragon properly yourself, and inform others who want to hold your bearded dragon how to do it without harming the creature.
Finally, another reason why your bearded dragon may be prone to biting is if it has not been properly socialized since birth.
Most pet bearded dragons are bred in captivity, and are used to being handled by humans, so they should not show any signs of aggression, and are typically very calm and docile creatures.
However, some breeders will not handle the young and juvenile bearded dragons enough, which can result in a beardie that does not like to be handled much.
If a bearded dragon does not get a lot of attention and handling from a young age, then it can be prone to feeling threatened when touched, and may become aggressive when picked up or touched by humans. This can result in nipping and biting.
This is why it is paramount that you do your research before purchasing a bearded dragon, and only buy from a reputable breeder that knows what they are doing.
Most bearded dragons will not show any signs of aggression, unless it has been previously mistreated, disregarded or mishandled before.
By spending a little time with your bearded dragon, you will quickly come to know your beardie, and what their temperament is like. You can then gauge how much the dragon likes to be handled, or when it needs its space.
What is a Bearded Dragon bite like?
Despite their name, bearded dragons are not all that ferocious. Although they can bite, they most likely will not feel the need to bite if they are cared for and handled properly. But, what is a bearded dragon bite really like?
Well, if you have a young bearded dragon, or a juvenile bearded dragon, then the bite will probably not hurt at all. Even if they bite down rather hard, a juvenile bearded dragon bite does not have a lot of force or power to hurt you.
However, everyone experiences pain differently, and you may feel a pinch, nip or a small stabbing pain, but it most likely will not even break the skin or draw blood!
On the other hand, an adult bite can hurt a little bit more as their teeth will have come in. Therefore, your bearded dragon will have a full set of sharp, small teeth that can pierce the skin, draw a little bit of blood, and may sting or hurt a little.
But, for the most part, it is not very painful, and over within a matter of seconds. The biggest problem is the shock of it happening, and you may be surprised by a quick nip or bite from your bearded dragon.
In the long run, a bearded dragon bite is nothing, and getting bitten by a cat, dog or another animal will be far more painful than a beardie bite!
Are Bearded Dragon bites dangerous?
If you have been bitten by a bearded dragon, then you are probably wondering if you need to worry or not, and if bearded dragon bites are dangerous.
In most cases, bearded dragons are not dangerous to humans, but it can be dangerous for the bearded dragon.
For instance, if a child is holding a bearded dragon and gets bitten, then they may drop the bearded dragon from a great height which can be dangerous.
If you are letting a child or a novice hold the lizard, then it is important that you let them pet and hold the bearded dragon on their lap in a safe environment.
The same goes for if you get bitten by a bearded dragon, you need to remain calm and try not to jerk your hands, as this could aggravate the problem.
You should also try not to react too negatively to the bite, as this could stress out the bearded dragon. Although the nip may shock you initially, it is a wild animal and you should treat it as such, and with a lot of respect.
Some bearded dragons can bite down with some real force, and it can be slightly painful. In addition, they may also bite down, or clamp down and not let go.
If this is the case, then do not shake your hands or fingers to get the bearded dragon off. Instead, keep calm, and gently remove the mouth from your hand, by opening the mouth and pulling it slowly off you.
Once the bearded dragon has bitten you, just put it back in its cage, and allow it to cool off, or calm down. This is to ensure that it does not become any more stressed, anxious or nervous.
They may have bitten out of fear or as a defense mechanism, and so they will need a little time to calm down.
Remember never to yell or get angry with the bearded dragon, as they have probably bitten for a reason, or if it felt threatened.
What to do if you get bitten by a Bearded Dragon
Most bearded dragon bites are nothing to worry about, however it is recommended that you wash your hands or the affected area after being bitten.
If you are bitten by a bearded dragon, then you should treat it as you would a cut or scratch. This means washing and disinfecting the bites to avoid any infection or further damage.
We also recommend using alcohol, or neosporin to treat the wounds, and apply a band aid if blood has been drawn. However, the typical bearded dragon bite is not that serious and will be fully healed after a few days.
Just ensure that you disinfect as bearded dragons can have harmful bacteria, and are known to carry salmonella. In addition, you may want to consult a doctor if you have not had a tetanus shot in a few years, just to be safe!
How to prevent Bearded Dragon bites:
If you do not want to get bitten by your bearded dragon, then there are a few things that you can do to prevent this from happening.
For instance, you will need to learn to pick them up correctly. Improper handling of a bearded dragon is one of the main ways that you can scare them and lead them to nipping and biting.
In order to pick them up correctly, you will need to come from behind or at the side, as these animals are used to predators coming from up above, and will react accordingly if you come from this angle too.
In addition to this, you should always ensure that you are feeding them enough, daily and proper food if you do not want to get bitten. A very hungry bearded dragon may be prone to biting you.
Finally, always make sure that you wash your hands before handling them, and remain very calm and gentle. This will ensure that they are not stressed at at all, and that they will not go on the defence.
One of the biggest pieces of advice we can give you is to get to know your bearded dragon. If you spend a lot of time with them, and have a good relationship with them, the likelihood is that they will never bite you on purpose!
Also, once you have gotten to know your bearded dragon a little better, you may notice times or behaviors when they are prone to biting. For instance, if you are about to feed them, they may be more prone to nipping when trying to get at their food.
On the other hand, you may notice warning signs if your bearded dragon does not want to be handled, in which case you can put them down and leave them alone before they try to bite you.
Frequently Asked Questions
If you have any more queries regarding bearded dragon bites, then this frequently asked questions section may be able to help you out!
Are Bearded Dragons’ teeth sharp?
For the most part, a bearded dragon’s teeth will be very sharp. However, very young dragons will have small bumps along their gums, and these types of teeth will not hurt very much.
As the bearded dragon grows and fully develops its teeth, they will be in a row of very small but very sharp teeth, which work to help them catch and break down their prey. So, a nip from a bearded dragon can be rather painful .
What happens when a Bearded Dragon is threatened?
When a bearded dragon feels threatened, it may start to use defence mechanisms to protect itself. This is a natural reaction that the beardie would do in the wild to prevent predators and birds from being able to see them and attack them.
As such, the bearded dragon will flatten its body out on a surface, and stay very still in order to not be seen. If under a lot of stress or duress, your bearded dragon may even attack and try to bite you.
Are Bearded Dragons venomous?
You may not be aware, but bearded dragon bites are actually venomous, however the venom is not toxic or dangerous to humans.
Bearded dragons secrete such a mild type of venom that it will not cause harm or pain in most people, however it may cause a little swelling, so it is a good idea that you thoroughly cleanse and wash the bite before treating.
Summary
To summarize, you should keep in mind that most bearded dragons make great pets and are very docile and calm animals, they do not attack or bite often unless under stress or they are being handled improperly.
A biting bearded dragon is not the norm, and the bites are not very painful or dangerous, so don’t let this sway you from getting a bearded dragon for yourself. These animals make wonderful, unique and very unusual pets that all of the family can enjoy.