Beardie Attack!!

[archaic37]

So I have 3 baby bearded dragons in a 40 gallon tank. They were all the same size when we bought each one (the first one is now a year, the second one is about 9 or 10 months, and the third is about 7 or 8 months). The youngest one (Pandora), who we think is/or is part german giant, is a few inches bigger then the other 2. The oldest one (Jagger) has mbd. And the middle aged one (Borneo) is just fine. Well earlier today, I caught the oldest one (Jagger) being grabbed and thrown around by the youngest one (Pandora). Pandora is now seperated from the other two. Does anyone have a clue why this might have happened? I was thinking either the size factor, or maybe Pandora is coming of breeding age. (By the way, we don't know the sexes of Borneo or Pandora. Jagger is a male.)

 

[shinedown]

There is a simple explanation. Bearded Dragons are solitary animals. When houses together they can seem okay, until out of the blue this can happen. Each dragon should have its own living quarters.

 

[bltkpo]

I know it's recommended by all the experienced beardie owners here to never house bearded dragons together. They are solitary animals, who don't do well to co-habitation. Perhaps it would be best to have them all seperate? Otherwise there's domination, aggression, and the submissive beardies will suffer for it.

 

[Lauram63110]

Beardies really need to be housed separately! Gender plays no role in this, they just need to be separated, otherwise, you will see more of this behavior. Pandora's being a couple inches larger than the others gives her the advantage and you were lucky to have caught them before someone was killed or eaten. The largest will dominate the others, taking food and basking spots, and may even eat the others despite the fact that they are not much smaller than she is. Somebody on here lost one earlier this summer that was just a couple inches smaller than the agressor. There was not much difference in size and yet it was eaten! Even if you are looking to breed a pair, leave them together only for a short while (it doesnt take long!) and then separate them, or he will continue trying to breed her until she is injured. Another sign of agression is missing toes or tail nips on the lower ranking dragons. Separate them!

 

[archaic37]

I actuallly seperated Jagger and Borneo from eachother, for a while, and they both refused it eat. Now that they are together again, they are both healthy and fat (not obese though).

 

[Kalec]

They refused to eat because of a new environment, not because they missed each other. Please, separate your dragons asap. You really don't want to come home to a maimed or dead dragon. They are solitary animals and do not need other dragon friends. You will do just fine as their companion.

 

[Dracosmommy]

Separating them 'for a while' isn't going to do it. They should all have separate enclosures like the other posters are saying!!!! I don't mean to be rude but everyone is telling you to separate them. The next 'attack' might be deadly!!!!! They will learn to eat on their own. Again I apoligize for being a little upset with people that ask advice and then just keep doing what they are doing. Sorry

Edit: I want to apoligize to the OP. I shouldn't have wrote this when I am not feeling so well. I'm very sorry. Please if you can separate them for their sake.

 

[jjh1]

1 beardie = 1 viv and thats the way it should be bearded dragons are solitary animals and I have 3 they all have separate vivs.

This is for the safety of the beardies because beardies are territorial they try to get the best basking spot, food.
Also a 40g breeder is not big enough for 3 beardies 40g for 1 is great so suggestion is to get 2more tanks.
Please read this for more information , I belong to a BC reptile club and this is something that was written up by a member there... its very informative

The answer to the Heading Question is a resounding NO!
This is a subject that I am quite familiar with personally, through my own experience, experience of personal acquaintances with these creatures & extensive research.

Bearded Dragons are a dominance oriented species, solitary creatures, this is Hard Wired into their character. In their natural habitat, they do not cohabit, travel in pairs or groups, they are loners & have absolutely no familial ties. Breeding is of opportunity, not planning or emotional ties.
They do not need or want buddies. Do not get lonely. It is a proven scientific fact that they have a Severely underdeveloped portion of the brain that governs, among other things, emotion. That cute looking stacking that we often see pictures of, is not them together for warmth (Cold Blooded ), hugging each other, closeness, friendship, Love or anything similar to these.
It is them vying for dominance, the better heat, the better basking spot, coveting a spot just because the other has it, to be King or Queen of the castle. This is their instinct, to dominate, the weaker ones are dominated or eliminated & it is not in their nature to be submissive.
Attitudes & demeanors can change in a split second, very aggressively, to often too fast for intervention to prevent possibly very serious injury. Many BDs with missing toes, limbs, tails or worse are frequently the testimonial to this. We cannot be monitoring them 24\7, even if we could, their possible quick, seemingly unprovoked aggressive nature towards each other, at times completely out of previous character, can be, again, too fast for intervention, with devastating, possibly deadly results.
Periodically, the right combination of 2 females will be successful, but more often than not, fail sooner or later. Males should never be housed together. Male/Female combinations should only be for breeding purposes, only until the deed is done (Generally minutes to a week), then immediately separated.
It only takes ONCE for serious injury to occur, no matter what the cause or motive, many times there is no apparent reason. There is not only the physical aspect, but the stress factor which affects their all round well-being, as well. While you may not notice physical problems (BDs Are notorious for hiding, not showing problems until too late, Dragon down) it can & will shorten their over all life expectancy. Another aspect to consider is illness, should one get sick or have medical problems, very likely there is the possibility you will have two sick animals or at least have to have the other checked also. The price of one Vet visit, fecal & medications, would generally, pretty much cover the cost of a new setup, if you shop properly.
Please take this into consideration, when contemplating cohabitation. More times than not, it is complications in the making, sometimes with very drastic consequences. You may come home to carnage that you won’t soon forget.

Cohabitation of BDs is for the benefit of the Keeper, whether it be for their viewing pleasure, or cost\room effectiveness. It is not in the best interest of the animal’s health & well being.



Quote:

Excellent post !



I can't tell you how many horror stories I have come across when people contact me for advice. No matter how many times I tell people Dragons should not be cohabitating, 95% of the people simply don't listen... until something tragic happens and I get a late night phone call from someone asking me to suture their dragons back together!
They don't take my strong advice, then expect me to jump up out of my PJs and rush over to save their dragon... Not a happy camper, but I did it to help the dragons because of their

OWNERS ignorance.
I can't tell you how many times I hear silly things like "My dragons are very bonded to each other and will die without each other" - Dragons don't think like that!
A dragons world is very simple - Heirarchy. There can only be ONE king or queen of the castle. Forcing other dragons into submission, living in constant intimidation, fear, getting the "crap" food left over... if allowed by the Dominant Dragon. They usually are thwarting off getting attacked, become injured and sometimes even die.
Many of these "forced submissive" dragons usually become depressed, lethargic, dehydrated, malnourish... and sadly many die.
Have I housed dragons in the past when I was breeding them... Yes I did. Females (together in pairs) & Hatchlings (in groups of 5 - 8). I was very consciencious about it, monitored constantly for any sign of issues. Eventually they were separated for everyones safety and peace of mind.
Trust me, when you make that mistake of having a dragon get severely injured, amputated by another dragon, eaten - You don't make that mistake twice, and its hard to forgive yourself because you were the one that forced them into that situation.
Remember Dragons don't show emotion well. It may look like everything is all rosie and buttercups... then WHAM out of no where for no particular reason... dragon down.
Please for the love of nature, and whatever may be holy upstairs DONT DO IT.

Robin

Exclusive Dragons

 

[midmichicer]

Nice post Joanne

 

[lilgreeneyes]

When my husband and I started getting into bearded dragons, we got 2 of them and figured, "Oh they are little they can live in the same viv together." Oh was that a BIG mistake! The beardies we got one was just a tiny bit bigger than the other. They were about 5.5-6 inches. We it came to the point where we had them both for about a little over a week, when we noticed the bigger one started not doing well and the smaller one was doing fine. After 2 weeks of having both beardies the bigger one died. We didn't know how it could have happened. A friend of my husband's recommended this site and he and I started reading and learning more and came to understand that it was the fact that we housed them together that caused the one to pass away.

Because of our experience, I would tell anyone who houses or plans on housing 2 beardies together, please don't. When we choose to take these special animals into our homes and hearts. We choose to do what is best for them including protecting them and caring for them.

I think a 40gal is too small for 3 basically full grown beardies. Think of it this way...Imagine yourself living in a room the size of a bathroom with 2 other people and that's the only room you sleep, eat and go bathroom at. That would be pretty crowded.

I wish you lots of luck with all 3 of your dragons

 

[tgolden]

I think it is easy for all of us to forget sometimes that dragons no matter how cute and docile are still wild animals. We can dress them up in cute little outfits and say they are tame but fact is they seem to just tolerate us. Mine will ''snuggle'' up between my leg and the couch cushion and it's easy to say she is showing affection when say is really just finding a warm spot. Showing dominance is part of the animal world, we do it as humans to.

 

[beardie parents]

I think it is easy for all of us to forget sometimes that dragons no matter how cute and docile are still wild animals. We can dress them up in cute little outfits and say they are tame but fact is they seem to just tolerate us. Mine will ''snuggle'' up between my leg and the couch cushion and it's easy to say she is showing affection when say is really just finding a warm spot. Showing dominance is part of the animal world, we do it as humans to.

Then there are those like our girls. They (especially Goldie Speedy) insist on shoulder time. Rosie Zoom is brumating most of the time, she did wake up - sort of - yesterday but both of them prefer to sleep on our shoulder and, if we have the living room light on at the time, we must get a shirt over their eyes so they can still sleep. Our girls don't "just tolerate" us, in fact, Goldie will insist on me holding her when I get home from work because she hasn't seen me all day. If I pick her up from our bed for a few snuggles, that's it, I must hold her all evening. I've even taken her with us to our Monday evening meeting because she insists.

 

[beardie parents]

About housing your beardies together, I wouldn't suggest it because of the problems you have already experienced. The first two we were given were best friends. Most people haven't experienced that and probably won't. The current two we have most of the time won't fight but once or twice a year Rosie Zoom Zoom attacks Goldie but this doesn't happen all the time. Because of that, we won't house them together, or leave them out when we leave them home and we aren't. The only time we leave them out of their tanks when we have to leave is late afternoon-early evening when they are asleep in our bed, all snuggled up together. Some owner-slaves can't do that as their beardies will fight just being out of their homes at the same time for a few seconds. Only by watching them can you know whether you can keep them together or not.

 

[Fortunate]

I used to house mine together when i started out - it didnt end well.
Please separate them.... my guy didnt eat when i 1st separated them but a few days later he was happier then i had ever seen him - all he needed was his own home!
Good luck with your 3 - they make amazing pets!

 

[tgolden]

Don't get me wrong '' breadie parents'' I'm not saying dragons are dumb by any means. All the ones i have been around are amazing animals, mine will do things from time to time that makes me wonder what is really going on in her head. She responds to my voice and she also will run up the glass when she sees me sometimes but the fact is reptiles have vary basic brains. They don't have emotions and desires or the need for contact with another living being. The reptile brain it's all wired to survive hence the dominating behavior. If they are dominant they get the best basking spot,the best food, and the best mate. These things is what make them tick. Everything they do has something to do with these things. It's survival of the fittest so to speak.
I know what i have said will be unpopular but it is are need as humans to put feelings into these amazing little critters to satisfied our maternal instinct. So ya'll don't chastise me to hard lol