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As I approached the bearded dragon’s pelvis, I noticed that it was moving its head up and down rapidly. This head bob may seem to come out of nowhere, but there’s usually a reason. Rocking your bearded dragon’s head back and forth is a fairly normal behavior for pet reptiles, and there are several explanations as to why.

Showing Dominance

In their natural environment, male bearded dragons will bob their head to show dominance to a female bearded dragon—or another male. For example, if a male bearded dragon wants to declare dominance over a smaller male, it will give several quick head nods. If the other dragon submits, it will respond with several slower head nods. If it doesn’t submit, there will usually be a fight. That brings us to some words of advice for bearded dragon owners: Give your beardies their own living spaces. Two male dragons in the same enclosure will usually lead to a fight for dominance.

Signaling Submission 

The downside to dominance may be that bearded dragons shake their heads to show submission. Do you have other pets that roam outside of their enclosure, like cats or dogs? Especially if you recently brought your dragon home, the head shaking could also be directed at you. It is normal for dragons to shake their heads to show submission or acknowledge the presence of other animals until they become familiar and comfortable with their surroundings. Signs of Stress In some cases, your dragon may be restless in its cage or shake its head in response to something that makes it feel stressed or uncomfortable. If your dragon is stressed, it is very important to investigate and identify the cause of the stress. Start by answering the following questions:

• Is your bearded dragon sharing its enclosure? As we said above, it is important to give your dragon its own living space. If you want to bring home another beardie, make sure you are also prepared to set up a separate enclosure.
• Is your bearded dragon comfortable? We recommend referencing our bearded dragon care guide to ensure that its enclosure is set up properly. Check things like lighting (full-spectrum and basking light), proper heating sources, and temperature control.
• Is your bearded dragon eating a proper diet? Your beardie should be enjoying fresh, dechlorinated water, a variety of live feeder insects like Dubia roaches and mealworms, leafy greens, and a selection of fruits like papaya, mango, and prickly pears. If your bearded dragon isn’t eating, it may be time to visit your local veterinarian.