What if a bearded dragon bites you

This is where we get into the reasons that need to be addressed more seriously. As you might imagine, a bearded dragon bite is far more likely to occur if they feel like they need to defend themselves. There are a number of situations that can make bearded dragons feel unsafe or threatened. This could be the first time you bring them back from the pet store, or even if you upgrade them to a new enclosure. Anything that throws them out of their comfort zone can increase their levels of stress and result in a potential bite.

Simply let them acclimate to their new home before you try and resume handling. There are a number of different things you can do that will make a bearded dragon bite you, and most of the time it comes from poor handling techniques.

They might also turn their beard black or puff themselves up. This will not only make your bearded dragon more comfortable with you more on that in the section below , but it will improve your handling skills as well. Just like people, the mood of your bearded dragon will vary. When a bearded dragon is young, everything is very new to them.

As you might expect, this lack of trust will keep them on edge. Work your way into it. Even though these lizards have tiny sharp teeth, it really just feels like a brief pinch or sting. We break down what you need to know about the bite of a bearded dragon below. A bite from adults or full-grown beardies is different, though their row of tiny, sharp teeth are duller from chewing, they do have full biting power from their jaws.

Their bite may likely break your skin and it will hurt a bit but it will more likely hurt from the surprise or shock of being bitten than anything else. Threatened bearded dragons usually hiss or puff up their beards which can be precursor signals to a bite. However, they can also bite you accidentally during meal times. You can avoid this by using tongs to feed them or slowly getting them accustomed to eating off your hand.

Any situation that puts your beardie in stress can also cause it to bite so pay attention to its environment as well. Bearded dragons will not bite just to do so, they usually have a reason for doing it which can range from hunger to stress. Learning the reasons behind biting is a good way to understand what your beardie may be trying to tell you. This will allow you to address its needs further and adjust for proper care. Hunger is probably the most common reason that bearded dragons bite especially when they mistake your fingers for food or prey such as worms.

This happens especially when you hand feed them during meal times and they get too excited and accidentally nip at you instead of their food. You can also try using tweezers or tongs to feed them their wormy treats.

To prevent this, adopt the good practice of washing your hands before and after you handle your bearded dragon for both its and your safety. If for any reason, your beardie feels threatened then its self-defense instincts will kick in and attempt to bite the threat to protect itself. This often happens if your beardie is not yet fully used to being handled.

You can prevent this by regular handling as tolerated by your bearded dragon so that it gets used to you. Also, always avoid startling your bearded dragon.

Make sure it sees you approach the enclosure before you reach in and grab it. However, since most tanks have a screen top, a good technique is to reach from the front or the side to grab your beardie.

You should also let it be aware of your presence in the tank first before reaching out to grab it. You should also work slowly and be careful in introducing them to other animals if needed.

You also need to know the telltale signs that your beardy may bite so that you can take proper precautions, either wearing gloves or leaving him alone. The dragon in the following clip is clearly showing these warning signs and should be left alone.

When displaying these signals, if they can reach you and take a nip, they probably will. There is a rumor that if you try to handle your beardie in these circumstances and try to comfort it, you may strengthen your bond. But if you are going to attempt this, make sure you are wearing gloves! Many owners report that when they have been bitten mostly during feeding time that the bearded dragon is very quick to stop, appearing to realize it was a mistake.

Bearded dragons have very sharp teeth that are serrated like a knife. The bites can feel very different depending on the age and size of the bearded dragon.

Some say that it is just a small stinging sensation in the case of juveniles. Others will say that it will pinch very hard and may even draw blood. The other variables that could cause a difference in the bite are if they are actually trying to hurt you from feeling genuinely threatened or they simply nip by trying to go for some food. In the case of attacking you, they will still only draw a small amount of blood. Though it may or may not hurt, the infection could still get to you, and any indication of your beardy biting you on purpose is obviously bad news.

The bites of bearded dragons are not usually dangerous. The most dangerous aspects come from the ability to become infected due to the bearded dragons carrying lots of bacteria. The most serious problem is the risk of salmonella; the mouths of bearded dragons can carry salmonella bacteria. These bacteria will transfer to humans if bitten. Being infected with this can lead to serious intestinal problems. This is why it is so often stressed how important it is to disinfect your hands and scrub them with antibacterial soap and hot water before and after you handle the dragon to avoid getting this infection.

Note : If you are bitten to the point of drawing blood, contact your doctor. It may be recommended that you get a tetanus shot if it has been 5 years since your last one. Bearded dragons themselves do produce venom, but the amount of venom produced is very small and harmless to many animals, including humans.

There is no need to worry about getting poisoned from these bites. This one should be obvious, but it surprises many beardie owners. A hungry beardie, like any other hungry animal, may bite. There are several reasons for this, but keeping your dragon on a regular feeding schedule and ensuring they are well fed is a tremendously good step towards preventing a bite. Sometimes it can be as simple as the bearded dragon mistaking your finger for food. This can happen because they are used to you feeding them by hand.

It can also happen because your finger kinda sorta looks like a tasty worm! This can also happen if your hand smells like food.

Beardies have keen senses and if it smells like food, a hungry bearded dragon may try to eat it! If you have just handled food or feeder insects , make sure to wash your hands before reaching for your bearded dragon.

Washing your hands prior to handling your beardie is a best practice anyway. This is just one more reason to make it a habit! Beardies, in the wild, are prey animals. They make a tasty snack for all types of predators from birds to various ground dwelling animals. If your bearded dragon mistakes you for a predator, they may try to defend themselves by biting you. If you do, you could risk a bite.

This is a great sign that your beardie is feeling threatened and this might not be the best time to reach in and handle them. If your beardie is acting this way, stay back and let them calm down. Leave them be for now and come back when they are calm. Never force the issue. As I mentioned before, a good breeder regularly handles their babies and juveniles just for this reason. They do not know that you mean them no harm. To them, you are a threat and until they feel otherwise, they may get very aggressive.

This is one of many reasons to source your beardie from a reputable dealer. Our beardie, Bacardi, is a rescue. Fortunately, she was handled regularly and is not aggressive towards us at all. Many rescues have been mistreated or ignored for their entire lives.

We recommend adopting a rescue if at all possible, but make sure you know their temperament and what it might take to work with and handle them before adopting them!