Bearded dragons typically puff up their beards to display hostility toward someone or something, much like the fur on a cat’s tail or a dog exposing its fangs when threatened.
Bearded dragons often blacken and puff out their beard to intimidate whatever they regard as dangerous. They believe they can fend off the threat if they make themselves appear larger, and thus more threatening.
However, bearded dragons can puff up without their beard ever turning black. They have the option of dealing with the threat in whatever way they see fit.
It doesn’t necessarily indicate they’re afraid if they’re puffing up or going black- They can even do so when they are in a safe or non-threatening environment.
With dragons exhibiting this strange behavior in all sorts of situations, you may be asking yourself the question, “Why do bearded dragons puff up?”
Knowing the answer to this question will ensure that you, as a beardie owner, can recognize when your pet needs your assistance and when it does not.
What is “puffing up?”
A hostile cat would usually stand with its tail up, hair up, and pupils dilated. A cat that exhibits these indications should be avoided since it could be hazardous. Bearded dragons, like cats, will express their aggression through their behavior.
If you’ve ever seen a dragon expand its beard, it’s just puffing up, but understanding the other indicators can help you figure out what’s wrong with your beardie.
A bearded dragon puffing up could be caused by a variety of causes, including whether the dragon is in a stressful or non-stressful scenario.
Because beardies can puff up in a non-threatening setting, this behavior is even more mystifying. In addition to their beard, bearded dragons will puff out other parts of their bodies, particularly the abdomen.
With that in mind, consider the following scenarios in which bearded lizards are likely to puff out.
What makes a bearded dragon puff up?
If you are new to caring for bearded dragons, you may be alarmed the first time you notice them puffing up. Many owners become concerned that something is wrong. But to be clear, when this happens, there is usually no cause for concern.
This puffing up has no effect on the animal and could simply be their instinctual manner of feeling safe when threatened.
When bearded dragons are anxious, they puff out a lot. A bearded dragon puffs up to appear larger and more threatening to warn off predators, similar to how a cat fluffs up its tail and arches its back in the classic “scared” position.
When a bearded dragon wants to appear hostile, its beard might turn black. The beard does not usually get dark when it swells out. There’s some debate about why this may happen, but one popular theory is that they’re just in a good mood.
If you’re caring for a baby bearded dragon, you may notice that it puffs up every now and then. One popular explanation is that they are not yet at home in their new surroundings.
As a result, you might try to help them acclimate to their new environment. Make sure you give them an area that is similar to their native habitat.
Firstly, they would require appropriate housing. Secondly, provide them with a lovely substrate and include trees, pebbles, and other accessories to make them feel more at peace in these surroundings.
After you’ve ensured that your bearded dragon’s tank is properly set up and that you’re feeding them correctly, make an attempt to bond with them so they’ll accept you as a friend and owner.
Speak gently to them and offer them a reward such as a yummy treat. They should soon feel better in their own home, and the puffing induced by discomfort should stop. More than stress, there are a few other reasons why bearded dragons puff out.
When humans and other animals awaken from a nap, they occasionally yawn and stretch. A bearded dragon can do the same thing by puffing up.
There are many reasons why bearded dragons puff up, but here’s the most common
1. To show dominance
If you keep a male and female bearded dragon together, you will notice them puffing up all the time. It is typical for male dragons to demonstrate dominance over females by requesting that they submit to them.
During the breeding season, males puff up more than females. Bearded dragons breed all year; after brumation, they are ready for mating after about a month.
During this time, male bearded dragons will puff out their beards to attract females, indicating that they are ready for mating. Females will then reply to males by waving their arms or bobbing their heads.
Female bearded dragons will puff up their necks in rare situations when they are attracted to males, but this is always a male strategy.
So, when they are confined together and not out of fear, the guys puff up their beards to impress a beardie of the opposing sex.
2. As a sign of shedding
Bearded dragons are intelligent reptiles that are constantly aware when it is time to shed. As a result, when the beardies are about to shed their old skin, they prefer to puff up in order to relax their skin and speed up the shedding process.
When your lizards start puffing up their neck and body more regularly and then start shedding, they shed quickly.
However, not all bearded dragons puff up before shedding their skin. Don’t be concerned if you haven’t noticed your pet puffing up during this time; it’s quite natural.
3. They’re scared or stressed
In the animal kingdom, using a defense mechanism is a widespread activity. By becoming larger and more aggressive, the animal attempts to frighten off a prospective predator.
A cat arching its back and puffing out its tail, for example, or a dog growling and flashing its teeth.
If your bearded dragon has a habit of inflating their beard in a specific location or room, put yourself in their shoes and keep an eye out for anything that could be dangerous to them.
A piece of clothing, furniture, or even a toy that is entirely innocuous to you may appear like a predator to your bearded dragon. Remove any objects that may be causing them distress to see if they settle down.
During this process, it is best to avoid excessive handling. Though unusual, their elevated stress levels can enhance their tendency to bite you out of fear.
Another pet staring intensely at your bearded dragon’s tank may trigger it to puff up as well. This is due to their apprehension of such a massive animal (in comparison to them).
If you are a new bearded dragon owner, they may be intimidated by your presence. Try a couple of movements to get them used to you.
To begin, make them feel more at ease with being handled. Start by inserting your hand into the cage and holding it there for a minute or two. It may take a few tries, but they will gradually become accustomed to the smell and vicinity.
When the bearded dragon wants you to approach him, place your hand under his chest, supporting his legs and tail. Stop if they puff up, but if they invite you to take them up, maintain a firm yet delicate hold.
If they begin to wriggle, give them a break and try again later. They should quit squirming and allow you to treat them more readily in the future.
For the first month or two, try to spend at least 30 minutes a day with your beardie—even more, if you have the time. Spending regular quality bonding time with your bearded dragon will eventually lead to them accepting you as a caring owner.
4. They’re hungry
Although there hasn’t been much research on bearded dragons puffing up during or after a meal, there are a few suggestions as to why this might be the case.
The first is that by puffing up, the bearded dragon creates more space in its stomach, allowing it to consume more food. Remember that wild bearded dragons must struggle for their food, which might be tough to come by at times.
As a result, they must consume enough food to sustain themselves until the next meal.
If you begin to notice a link between puffing up and feeding time, give them a smaller portion for the following meal and watch to see if they puff up.
After you’ve given it a chance to see whether it makes a difference, feed the remainder of their regular portion a few minutes later.
Additionally, bearded dragons might also puff up to frighten their prey as well as to appear larger and more threatening to a predator that might challenge them for food.
This behavior is more typical in captivity when bearded dragons eat live food, like insects.
5. They’re excited
When a bearded dragon is at ease, it puffs up. This is a good sign that bearded lizards may puff up not only in dangerous situations but also in happy ones while engaging in their favorite hobbies.
If you observe your pet puffing up during reward or playtime, the beardie is attempting to reassure you that it is content, but some owners misinterpret it as bragging. Besides, the beardies’ only way of communicating with you is through what they do.
When the beardie swells up and nothing stresses it out, and it isn’t shedding, your pal is simply content. If the beardie is in good condition, it doesn’t affect you at all.
6. They’re just stretching
Stretching the body after a long period of resting, sleeping, or relaxing is necessary to improve muscular function. The same is true for bearded dragons, who will stretch their bodies to feel more at ease.
We yawn in order to wake up our bodies, boost blood supply, and become more aware. Yawning also causes our ears to explode when we are in an elevator in a high-rise building or on a plane.
Bearded dragons, like humans, puff out and relieve themselves by pressing on their ear canals. When the beardie is stretching and puffing, its mouth may open. It can do this even while relaxed and in a quiet setting.
7. They’re basking
Bearded dragons typically bask in the morning to warm their bodies after being exposed to frigid weather. Beardies are cold-blooded animals, therefore they warm up by basking.
When the bearded dragon’s body temperature exceeds a specific threshold, it normally opens its mouth, which is often followed by puffing up the beard.
If your beardie is behaving in this manner, check if the tank temperatures are within the typical range of 95-110°F. If they aren’t, make the necessary adjustments.
8. It’s time for a bath
Your beardie could be puffing as a reaction to being in the bathtub. The bearded dragon may not be able to enjoy the water since it is too deep.
As a general rule, I don’t recommend bathing your bearded dragon on a regular basis unless he or she has filth or fecal matter that won’t come off or needs assistance with impaction or shedding.
The puffing up in the bath is caused by a fear of drowning. They puff up in an attempt to float.
9. They’re babies
Puffing up the beard is normal in baby bearded dragons, especially when they move into a new environment where everything is unfamiliar to them. They will do this to demonstrate that they do not feel safe in their new environment.
But don’t worry; let the beardie have a few days to explore its new environment, and it will eventually adapt.
When your beardie recognizes that you are not a predator and that the world is safe for it, the puffing of the beard should subside. You’ll want to interact with your new dragon as soon as possible and get it comfortable within its enclosure.
If everything goes to plan, your pet will be at ease within a few days. They should also feel happier and more secure.
However, you should be concerned if the baby beardie continues to puff up and exhibits other signs such as black bearding, refusing to go to the toilet, declining food, and becoming sluggish.
Don’t keep silent about it; speak with your reptile vet right away to seek their opinion.
Should I be concerned about my beardie puffing up?
No. You should not be concerned about puffing up. It is a natural trait bestowed upon beardies. As a result, it is beneficial and enables the beardie to deal with a variety of problems.
It helps them in responding to predators, saving themselves when in deep water, supporting some biological processes, and resolving many issues.
However, if your pet is constantly puffing, you may need to be a little concerned. If this is happening to your beardie, it could mean that something is stressing it out. Perhaps it’s something in the tank or in your surroundings.
So, make sure you inspect your environment for anything that might be irritating your lizard. Remove all questionable objects until you’re certain that your beardie has broken his puffing-up habit.
Conclusion
It’s important to note that just because your dragon is inflating up doesn’t necessarily signal that something is wrong or that you should be concerned. Keep an eye on your dragon’s beard to see if it goes black or not, and then try to figure out what might be causing it.