The bearded dragon, as its name suggests, is a dragon-like spiny reptile that has spike-like beards on its chin. The spike-like beard rises and falls depending on the dragon’s state. Bearded dragons are sometimes called beardies. The bearded dragon is one of the most famous reptiles kept at home as a pet. They seem to be docile, curious, and active during the day.
However, your male dragon might exhibit behaviors like digging that may leave you wondering, “Why is my male bearded dragon digging? Well, various reasons explain why your bearded dragon is digging:
1. Exposure
Male bearded dragons tend to hide a lot. When the habitat provided for it is not suitable and comfortable enough, it will resign to digging for its hiding place.
2. Regulating Its Body Temperature
Temperature is another reason why your bearded dragon is digging. A male bearded dragon would dig to cool off from excess heat and bask whenever it felt cold.
3. Small Space in the Tank
When the tank in which you keep your bearded dragon is too small, the male bearded dragon tends to dig in response to the stress and anxiety caused by the feeling of being trapped; thus, it digs to get space.
4. Dormancy
This commonly happens in places experiencing winter. The bearded dragon digs to prepare a place to sleep during hibernation. This is the period when the bearded dragon becomes inactive.
5. Natural Behavior
Why won’t my male bearded dragon stop digging?
Bearded dragons can burrow into the substrate because it is in their nature.
Burrowing is normal for male bearded dragons. It is a natural behavior. So you should not be alarmed when you see your beardie always digging and not stopping.
6. Searching for Food
Your bearded dragon might burrow into the substrate due to insufficient food in the tank.
Why Is My Bearded Dragon Digging at the Glass?
You might notice that your bearded dragon is digging at the glass, so the concern that may ring in your head is, do bearded dragons dig when stressed?
Yes. When the temperature is not correct, when a new mate is introduced, or when there is a change in diet, the bearded dragon is likely to dig because of nervous tension or anxiety.
Additionally, your beardie may dig at the glass because it is much colder than the rest of the tank, giving it the cooling effect it needs.
Male Bearded Dragon Digging in Corner
Due to temperature variations, bearded dragons dig in corners because they are always cool and offer a suitable temperature for the bearded dragon. Additionally, corners are spacious, so they find enough room for brumation.
The bearded dragon digging in a corner at night for various reasons:
1. Body Temperature
A bearded dragon knows from its inner thoughts that the ground is cooler, so they burrow to regulate their body temperature when the surrounding area or the tank is hot.
2. Hibernation
Constant burrowing at night signifies that your bearded dragon is about to go into hibernation. The burrowing will also help it regulate its temperature.
3. Tension
Your bearded dragon might be experiencing more anxiety when another male bearded dragon is introduced to the same tank.
4. Predators
A bearded dragon can burrow because it feels exposed to its enemy and digs to hide.
5. Getting Comfortable
A bearded dragon may dig to be more relaxed in its tank, mainly when the substrate is poorly managed.
Why Is My Bearded Dragon Digging and Not Eating?
This may be due to the following factors:
1. Inappropriate Diet
A common reason for the bearded dragon not to eat is that you give it incorrect meals. A beardie eats mainly plants and, at times, insects. However, when you feed them a lot of insects, it may result in constipation.
Additionally, some insects have hard coats that may obstruct the intestines. Try giving various vegetables and insects to the beardie to improve its diet.
2. Lack of Vitamins
Vitamins A, D, and E are essential to the bearded dragon’s health. The absence of vitamin E, for example, can lead to anorexia. So ensure that your bearded dragon’s diet consists mainly of green plants because they are rich in vitamins.
3. Accidents
Injuries cause the bearded dragon to stop eating. Some causes of these injuries are fights between two male bearded dragons put in the same tank, sharp objects found in the tank, and even insects that get inside the tank.
4. Diseases Carrying Organisms
Bearded dragons are at greater risk of being attacked by parasites. This causes a lack of appetite and diseases that hinder the bearded dragon from eating.
5. Ecdysis
The bearded dragon sheds its skin occasionally as it grows. During this time, they tend to eat less or not.
6. Brumation
The bearded dragon goes into a period of dormancy. At this time, the beardie loses its appetite as it tries not to lose energy during hibernation.
7. Extreme Ambient Temperature
When the environment around the bearded dragon is too cold, it doesn’t eat until it’s warmed up.
Bearded Dragon Digging Box
This is an enclosure that is prepared for the female bearded dragon to lay her eggs in. All the conditions required for laying are provided in this box.
It is always prepared just after breeding. However, female bearded dragons can lay eggs without even breeding.
Bearded Dragon Digging Substrate
This material is placed on the bearded dragon’s dig box floor to act as bedding and a laying nest. There are various types of substrates, namely:
1. Grained/ Loose Particles
These include sand, wood chips, and alfalfa pellets. They are not highly recommended for substrate because the chances of the baby bearded dragon eating them are high.
Additionally, they harbor pathogens because they tend to hold moisture.
2. Non-Grained Particles
They include rubber shelf liners, reptile carpets, and even newspapers. These are more advantageous than the former since they do not pose a risk of being consumed by the bearded dragon.
Moreover, they are easy to clean, so hygiene and sanitation maintenance is high, reducing the chances of pathogens surviving.