premammalian
Hatchling Member
For until now, for nearly four and a half years, we all thought my bearded dragon was a female. The one who gave it to the previous owner at the age of two months thought that it was a female. Then, I got her at two years of age from the previous owner, who told me it was a female. I asked recently and told me he never checked it, he just trusted the one who sexed it. Me too as well. I never checked him. Until now, it had the name Annabella – the previous owner called it Bella, and every part of its behavior was interpreting on the basis of being female. For example it took long hibernations, and I thought it did it because all females hibernate for more. Or then in spring it could get quite active, and I interpreted it as searching for a male. Also it was eating a lot, eating bits of cuttlefish bone for calcium, and I thought it did to prepare herself for eggs. Compared to other males I had seen, it had a narrower head and I think less of a beard. I haven’t seen any females, except for one for just a little, so I cannot compare. Its behavior was very calm and consistent to that of females. It rarely head-bobbed, even more rarely black-bearded, and usual it was calm and lazy. I had her like a little, plump, lazy female. I was inquiring about males to mate it and produce offspring.
Finally recently I brought her to another keeper for breeding Mine is normal, and his own is a hypo leatherback male, maybe only a third of my own in size. My own now is 500 g, and I thought she was plumped for egg production. The problem was, that whenever we introduced them, they didn’t mate. Instead the one was running on the other, bobbing their heads, black bearding, though no real fighting. Once his male bit my own on the neck, but then he released it. Mine has been housed for most of its life alone and presumably doesn’t know how to fight or whatever. He tries to avoid the smaller one, but he still head-bobs and black-beards, making the smaller one keep his distance. Sometimes it gets over the smaller one. Then we separate them.
Three days before I went to check them. The other owner was absent for not much time. I re-introduced them again, with the same results. Then, just from curiosity, I raised the tail of the small male to check it and see how different it is from my dragon. He had two bumps. Then I raised the tail of my own and it was the same! Just less noticeable, but still present, and with a dent in between. Does that seem like a male?
Initially momentarily I was shocked. Still I want to confirm it, and also get my bearded dragon back. I will do that tomorrow or the day after tomorrow. Still I haven’t gotten over it. What I do now? Is my dragon normal? Is having a relatively narrow head and not head-bobbing and black-bearding often normal for a male? Do females like humans more, and males are more antagonistic? The only good thing is the potential he can live more than a female. Now I am suddenly as any other bearded dragon owner. Before, I thought I would find a male and reproduce my own. Now my dragon has zero chances of reproduction, as most animals kept are males. Why does that happen? Why does everyone keep males?
Finally recently I brought her to another keeper for breeding Mine is normal, and his own is a hypo leatherback male, maybe only a third of my own in size. My own now is 500 g, and I thought she was plumped for egg production. The problem was, that whenever we introduced them, they didn’t mate. Instead the one was running on the other, bobbing their heads, black bearding, though no real fighting. Once his male bit my own on the neck, but then he released it. Mine has been housed for most of its life alone and presumably doesn’t know how to fight or whatever. He tries to avoid the smaller one, but he still head-bobs and black-beards, making the smaller one keep his distance. Sometimes it gets over the smaller one. Then we separate them.
Three days before I went to check them. The other owner was absent for not much time. I re-introduced them again, with the same results. Then, just from curiosity, I raised the tail of the small male to check it and see how different it is from my dragon. He had two bumps. Then I raised the tail of my own and it was the same! Just less noticeable, but still present, and with a dent in between. Does that seem like a male?
Initially momentarily I was shocked. Still I want to confirm it, and also get my bearded dragon back. I will do that tomorrow or the day after tomorrow. Still I haven’t gotten over it. What I do now? Is my dragon normal? Is having a relatively narrow head and not head-bobbing and black-bearding often normal for a male? Do females like humans more, and males are more antagonistic? The only good thing is the potential he can live more than a female. Now I am suddenly as any other bearded dragon owner. Before, I thought I would find a male and reproduce my own. Now my dragon has zero chances of reproduction, as most animals kept are males. Why does that happen? Why does everyone keep males?
, they confirmed that she is a female. the things with dragons is that they never show signs of anything, it's like they want us to figure it out. (dang you lizard). but yeah, i was the same, you will start to accept it later. 
