Bearded dragons seem like the friendliest pets out there but some reptiles are known to be extremely territorial. They are so adorable and tameable so they shouldn’t be that territorial right? Are bearded dragons territorial creatures or are they okay with sharing their space?
Bearded dragons are very territorial creatures who hate sharing space. Male bearded dragons will fight for their territory if placed in the same tank but females are more lenient. With that said, they will still need their personal space, or else it will stress them out.
People tend to think that just because an animal is friendly and sociable, they wouldn’t mind sharing their living space as well. Resources are scarce in the wild, so bearded dragons would prefer if they don’t have to share anything.
Let’s explore why bearded dragons are territorial in this article.
Why Are Bearded Dragons Territorial?
Reptiles like bearded dragons are very territorial creatures mostly because of their upbringing. They may seem like the friendly roommate that doesn’t mind sharing anything. But bearded dragons are territorial by nature.
Here are a few reasons why bearded dragons are territorial.
No Tendency to Group
Bearded dragons are loners in the wild. Unlike some animals that walk in packs and have a social concept, bearded dragons prefer to work alone. They don’t form social groups in the wild even though they love the company of humans when in a domestic setting.
This is because it’s easier to move alone as packs are usually larger targets for predators to find. Most packs are either huge enough to overcome larger predators or consist of animals that are on top of the food chain.
Bearded dragons are small little creatures who are mostly at the bottom of that food chain despite their namesake. So you can see how grouping up just prepared them to be eaten like a buffet.
Scarcity In Resources
In the wild where everyone is fighting for every single resource available, not every animal has the luxury to share it with everybody.
Bearded dragons have it the worst because their main source of food is at the bottom of the food chain where many animals are out there to hunt for. Since their food is so scarce already, why would they want any other animals to share it with?
It’s not that they are anti-social. Bearded dragons are just doing their best to preserve themselves as it is the most basic instinct that animals have.
Knowing the reasons why bearded dragons are territorial, just how territorial are they?
How Territorial Are Bearded Dragons?
Bearded dragons are territorial to the point where they absolutely hate it if they find another bearded dragon in their area. This isn’t just limited to other male bearded dragons but also females and babies too.
Male Bearded Dragons
Male bearded dragons have femoral pores that release a certain scent into the area to mark their territories. This is the same as how a dog would pee in a certain area, marking places or even things as their own.
When that happens, no other bearded dragon is allowed in that area unless they are looking to fight for it. They guard their territories very well, so don’t expect them to go down without a fight.
When a fight does happen, the stronger one will stay while the weaker one will leave. This only applies to males beardies as females entering a male bearded dragon’s territory gets a different reaction.
Females are usually pursued by males for the sake of mating. After laying their eggs, females will still leave the area to find their own territory again. Two bearded dragons that are done mating will part ways and probably never see each other again.
Thus, we can conclude that the only time bearded dragons will meet is if it’s mating season. Even baby bearded dragons aren’t safe as their first instinct after hatching will be to scurry away to find their own food source and area.
Female Bearded Dragon
With all that said, female bearded dragons aren’t as territorial as male ones and are perfectly capable of living with another female bearded dragon in the same area. That doesn’t mean that they are happy to share their personal space with others though.
If there isn’t enough space for them to live in, female bearded dragons will still attack each other. They live very solitary lives in the wild too so it’s not a surprise to know that they shouldn’t be together just because you want them to.
Rare Exception
Though in rare occurrences, there are bearded dragons that love to live with others simply because of their personality. They are very sociable with other animals as well which can be read here in this article.
What Are The Territorial Traits of A Bearded Dragon?
Since some bearded dragons can get along with one another, it’s hard to tell if they can coexist or not unless you pay attention.
Here are a few traits to look out for when deciding whether or not your bearded dragon is territorial.
Gaping & Puffing
Animals in the wild know that larger means meaner. When they are trying to be aggressive or intimidating, they will try to make themselves larger as a result.
This can either come in the form of gaping or their infamous beard spread that gives them their name. It is a sign of warning and a sign of domination shown to their adversaries even though it isn’t that harmful.
Head Bobbing
This is a very common behavior seen among bearded dragons that can mean a lot of things. The thing is… if you have just newly introduced a bearded dragon into an existing bearded dragon’s tank, they might do this as a sign of territorial behavior.
Slow head bobbing is associated with peace as they try to show just how harmless they are to the other. On the other hand, fast head bobbing is a sign of aggression.
When two bearded dragons start to do it together, it’s a way of communicating who is the dominant one in the area.
Hissing
This is their verbal way of showing aggression. If your bearded dragons start to hiss at each other, it’s a sign that they really don’t like the company of one another and should be separated immediately. Though bearded dragons rarely become physically involved, it is still not unheard of, so better not take the risk.
Stacking on Each Other
Sometimes, bearded dragons will stack on top of each other as if they were cuddling or getting along but don’t be fooled. This is a very bad situation because the one on top is actually showing dominance to the one at the bottom.
As a result, the submitting bearded dragon will be oppressed and stressed, which will eventually kill them. The one on the bottom will likely not get enough heat to bask in which deprives them of their important functions.
We all know how important heat and UVB are to a bearded dragon, so make sure you separate them right away.
Can Male Bearded Dragons Live With Females?
Yes, they can. Though male bearded dragons are very territorial, it only occurs to other male bearded dragons because of the scent they produce.
As we’ve previously mentioned, female bearded dragons are far less territorial and can coexist with others. Male bearded dragons tend to protect females too and will even allow multiple females to mate with them.
This protective behavior may make coexistence sound like a good idea but it is still a wrong assumption. Just because they can coexist doesn’t mean they should because they are perfectly capable of living alone.
This will be completely up to your judgment as some bearded dragons are more sociable than others.
Can Bearded Dragons Live With Other Animals?
Yes, bearded dragons are very sociable with other animals. They can get along very well but it does take some time for them to get comfortable. With that said, they shouldn’t be put in the same tank as another animal.
It’s easy to think that just because they are sociable that they can live in the same enclosure with other animals, but that isn’t true at all. Just keep them apart and they’ll appreciate it very much.
Conclusion
Bearded dragons are very territorial creatures even though they are considered to be the most sociable reptiles out there. They are territorial in the wild and that has transferred over even in domestic settings because it has been hardwired into them.
Not all bearded dragons are as territorial though and some do exhibit the willingness to share living areas with others. Look out for certain signs to be sure that your bearded dragons are not trying to fight each other for territory.
Male bearded dragons are less territorial against females and other animals but that doesn’t mean you should immediately put them together. See their reaction and respond accordingly so that you don’t make the mistake of stressing them out.
Well, the good thing here is they will never fight you for territory though. So just enjoy your friendship with them while living under the same roof.
