The behavior of a bearded dragon is very hard to identify, especially for humans. That’s why you need to understand what your bearded dragon’s body language really means. What a lot of people don’t know is that bearded dragons tend to wave their arm to you quite a lot. Humans believe that arm waving is a sign of submission, but for bearded dragons, it’s the complete opposite. In fact, arm waving is a sign of dominance for these lizards.
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Do Beardies wave like humans?
The answer is no, not really. When a bearded dragon waves its arm, it’s actually trying to make itself look bigger. By doing this, the lizard is trying to scare off any potential predators or rivals. It’s their way of saying “I’m the boss around here!”
Of course, sometimes arm waving can also be a sign of excitement, especially if your beardie is waving at you. If you’re their favorite person, then they might just be trying to get your attention!
Meaning/Why bearded Dragons wave: 6 Reasons
As explained, beardies can wave for a few reasons. The most common reason is that they’re trying to show their dominance, but it could also be a sign of submission, excitement, or fear. Alternatively, the beardie might just be acknowledging the presence of other people or animals.
Exerting Dominance:
As explained above, waving is a way for bearded dragons to assert their dominance. However, it can also be a sign of submission. If a beardie waves its arm and lowers its head at the same time, then it’s probably feeling scared or threatened.
Submission:
If your bearded dragon waves its arm at you, it could be trying to show you that it’s submissive. This is their way of saying “I know you’re the boss and I accept that.” Of course, this could also just be a sign of excitement, especially if the beardie is waving its arm at you.
Scared Of Other Pets (Or Kids):
Another reason why your bearded dragon might be waving its arm is because it’s scared of other pets or kids in the house. If there’s another animal in the room, the beardie might wave its arm to try and intimidate it. Alternatively, if there are kids running around, the beardie might be waving its arm to try and keep them away.
Just their Reflection Tricking Them:
Bearded dragons are very territorial creatures, so it’s not uncommon for them to become aggressive towards their own reflection. If your beardie is waving its arm at its reflection, it’s probably because it thinks there’s another bearded dragon in the room!
Mating Behavior:
Male beardies will sometimes wave their arm during mating season to try and attract a female. So if your male beardie is waving its arm, it could be because it’s looking for a mate.
They’re Acknowledging Other Pets Or People:
Another possibility is that the bearded dragon is just acknowledging the presence of other pets or people. If you have a lot of people in the house, the beardie might wave its arm to let everyone know that it’s there. Alternatively, if there are other animals in the room, the beardie might wave its arm to show that it’s not scared of them.
Mating:
Bearded dragons will also sometimes wave their arms when they’re trying to mate. Male beardies will sometimes wave their arms to show off their dominance to the females.
How can you tell the difference in the different types of beardie wavings?
It can be hard to tell the difference between a happy arm wave and a scared one. However, there are a few things you can look for. If your beardie is waving its arm and also hissing or showing its teeth, then it’s probably feeling threatened. On the other hand, if your beardie is waving its arm and bobbing its head up and down, then it’s probably just excited to see you!
Should I worry if they wave a lot?
Suboptimal habitat or anxiety/nervousness can cause a bearded dragon to wave frequently. If your beardie is waving its arms a lot, it might be a good idea to take a look at its habitat to see if there are any improvements you can make. Alternatively, it could just be that your beardie is feeling anxious or nervous. In this case, it might help to hold and pet your beardie to help it feel more comfortable.
Waving is a normal part of bearded dragon behavior, so you don’t need to worry if your beardie does it occasionally. However, if your beardie is waving its arms a lot, it might be a good idea to take a look at its habitat or try to hold and pet it to help it feel more comfortable.
Other Bearded Dragon behaviors:
Tail movements:
Bearded dragons also communicate through their tail. If a beardie is holding its tail up high, then it’s probably feeling threatened. However, if the tail is lowered or held to the side, then the lizard is probably feeling relaxed.
Beardies will also sometimes puff up their beards when they’re feeling scared or threatened. This is their way of making themselves look bigger and more intimidating.
Head poping:
One of the most common behaviors you’ll see in beardies is head popping. This is when the lizard pops its head up and down quickly. Beardies do this when they’re trying to assert their dominance over other lizards. They’re basically saying “I’m the boss around here!
FAQs
Q: My bearded dragon keeps waving its arm at me, what does it mean?
A: There could be a few different reasons why your beardie is doing this. It could be because the lizard is trying to assert its dominance, or it could be scared of other animals in the house. Alternatively, it could just be excited to see you!
Q: My bearded dragon is waving its arm and also hissing, what does this mean?
A: If your beardie is doing both of these things, then it’s probably feeling threatened. Try to remove any other animals from the room and see if the behavior stops.
Q: My bearded dragon keeps puffing up its beard, what does this mean?
A: When a bearded dragon puffs up its beard, it’s trying to make itself look bigger and more intimidating. This is usually done when the lizard is feeling threatened or wants to assert its dominance.