Reptile & Amphibian Forums

I introduced my male Bearded Dragon to my female tonight. Both dragons had been transported in the car, and I put them into their aquarium together.

The male immediately flattened out, as if trying to warm up. But he also flattened out and turned his back sideways, as if to display to the female that he is "big"?

Then they went to the basking spot together, and both of them did mouth gaping, nipping at each other, and sitting still while waving their "hands" in the air in a slow motion. It actually looks like they are "waving" at each other. They alternate feet during the waving motion.

I am worried about the nipping at each other, because both of my Dragons have fingers, toes, and tails in perfect shape.

Is this normal territorial display? Is it related to the Dragons warming up after being chilled during transport? Is the biting at each other a normal adjustment to an introduction?

I am turning their light off now... hope someone answers before 9 am when the basking light comes on...!
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KITKAT

0.0.1 Bearded Dragon
1.0 African House Snake
0.1 Albino Corn Snake
0.1 Red Sided Garter Snake
0.0.1 Oregon Red Spotted Garter Snake
0.1 Peromyscus leucopus (White-footed mouse)
2.5 Turkish Angora (show) cats

Antioch Turkish Angoras
PuRRS Rescue

These two dragons are three months old. The female has been living alone for the past two months, the male has been living in a group.
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KITKAT

0.0.1 Bearded Dragon
1.0 African House Snake
0.1 Albino Corn Snake
0.1 Red Sided Garter Snake
0.0.1 Oregon Red Spotted Garter Snake
0.1 Peromyscus leucopus (White-footed mouse)
2.5 Turkish Angora (show) cats

Antioch Turkish Angoras
PuRRS Rescue

you really shouldnt house a male and a female together unless you are breeding. 3 months old is too young for breeding and they might get territorial and hurt each other and the male may try to impregnate the female which is bad because she is so young. I suggest moving them into seperate cages immediately.

Sounds like a mixture of territorial and 'getting to know each other' behaviors as well as displays of stress from traveling.

Your female was never housed with another dragon now suddenly finds herself with a stranger, of course she's going to react not knowing how dominant he would be etc. He is in the same boat, though he has been housed with other dragons before, he is now with a new dragon.

In either case, both should be separated before the male is 6 months old. Once he is around the age he will be reaching puberty and could try and mate with your female, which would be very bad for her health.

I have never heard of a male trying to mate when only 3 months old so I don't think there is any mating behavior going on now, but definitely get them separated before he is 6 months old. Separate earlier with either show signs of stress or not eating after they have settled into their new home.
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PHLdyPayne