Bearded dragons are among the most popular pet lizards in America. They’re easy to care for and come in a variety of colors, which is why they’re such a popular choice. But sometimes bearded dragons do things that aren’t normal like scratching the floor or walls.
So why is my bearded dragon scratching the floor? There are a number of reasons including: If they are prepared to lay eggs or if they are in fear or they are bored. They might even be looking for food!
In this blog post, we’ll explore some of the possible causes and solutions so you don’t have to worry about what’s going on in your beardie’s world anymore.
What Does it Mean When a Bearded Dragon Keeps Scratching?
Scratching is a quite normal behavior in bearded dragons. So let’s first dive deeper into 9 possible reasons why your dragon might be scratching the floor:
Preparing to lay eggs
If you have a pregnant bearded dragon, and you see her scratching the floor, it could be a sign that they are getting ready to lay eggs. Bearded dragons can lay infertile eggs without mating with a male – in this case, she will lay infertile eggs. Gravid bearded dragons could also have a poor appetite until the end of pregnancy. Therefore, scratching behavior can happen unexpectedly in female beardies.
Too Small Enclosure
Bearded dragons are active creatures and need a lot of space for all of their normal activities such as climbing, basking and resting. If your beardie’s tank is too small, it can get annoyed and bored. Reasoning this, it might dig to look for extra space and activity. However, an adult bearded dragon needs a minimum 40-gallon breeder tank to itself.
Seeing Its Reflection
If your bearded dragon is able to see its own reflection in the glass, it may think that it’s another bearded dragon. This can cause stress or interest in this new dragon and attempt to challenge it. The easiest solution is that you can place something on the sides to cover the sides of the terrarium. Read more about stopping reflection here.
Bored
Most baby and juvenile bearded dragons have lots of energy and they tend to do a lot of physical activities. If everything else is fine, scratching glass might be the energy outbreak. Keep in mind that bearded dragons love to play too.
Out of Fear
Your bearded dragon gets scared if you keep two or more bearded dragons in one tank. Your dragon is afraid of other dragons and animals such as dogs and cats. Beardies can smell other animals and may be interpreted as a threat, making them scared and want to escape.
Wants to Find a Mate
If everything is good within the bearded dragon’s environment, it might be hormones. During the breeding season, your bearded dragon might attempt to break out of the tank and look for a potential companion. The possibility is higher when its beard turns black.
Looking for Food
In any case, when you underfeed your bearded dragon, its instincts tell it to drive in search of food. So the realistic response is to escape the enclosure by climbing out the walls.
Also read: How many mealworms to feed your bearded dragon
Temperature
If the temperature is too high, your bearded dragon will begin scratching to discover a cool spot and will be panting. But with low temperatures, your bearded dragon will be acting lethargic and won’t be able to digest food.
• General climate: 80-85 degrees Fahrenheit.
• Basking Area: 95-100 degrees Fahrenheit.
• Cool Area: 80-90 degrees Fahrenheit.
New Space
Glass scratching or glass surfing is common when a bearded dragon is moved to a new enclosure as a baby or juvenile as they are considered to be instinctive animals. Therefore if this happens a lot after switching to a new place, give the dragon some time to adjust.
Why Does My Bearded Dragon Keeps Scratching Corner of the Viv?
After being confined in a cage for hours, scratching the corner of Viv may simply be a sign that they need to shift out of their tank, desire to pay time with you, or they’re needing enrichment and merely exhausted.
Related Questions
Why is my bearded dragon digging in the corner?
If your bearded dragon is over 12 months old and starts digging, the most familiar explanation is that they are struggling to find a favorable basking spot and getting ready and for brumation.
Why are my bearded dragons scratching and hiding?
Like we humans get sick and rest in our beds, it’s identical with bearded dragons. Their resting place is wherever they can find a hiding spot.
This hiding is its body’s way of struggling to heal. If you discover something unusual with your bearded dragons such as a visible wound, multiple droppings or odd behavior, it may be time to take your bearded dragon to the vet.
