Reptile & Amphibian Forums

i have an adult male beardie that we adopted about three years ago, jimi. he has always been a very easy going dude, as we rarely get him out since we know he doesn't much care for it or unless he needs to be out to clean or for a bath or whichever. but i am often by the tank w/ my hand in there cleaning, or feeding him and he never ever showed any signs of irritation with me.

but the other day, i came home from work and i was looking at my snakes (all herps share a reptile room). i turned around to look at him and his beard was pitch black and he was obviously very agitated. i approached him and he flattened out and tilted to the side some and gaped. i couldn't believe how angry he looked. every time i tried to sooth him he would just get more livid. so i dropped some crix in and left him alone. i came back an hour later and he immediately turned black and angry.

the next day, he was back to his normal laid back self. does anyone have any clue why he would get so emotional one day, but be fine the others? nothing in the room had changed, and i am in that room several times a day checking on things and feeding, etc., so he is accustomed to my presence.

he is, or was, in a 55 gln tank at the time of the 'beardie black out', i just moved him to a smaller sterilite. the temps were the same. any insight into this behavior would be great. many thanks!
-kristin

How old is the beardie? I have seen mine do that one because they see them selves in the glare of the glass or if he is coming of age i have also seen mine do this as "practice" for battle as part of going into sexual maturity. We also have a male that hates me and me only because he see's me as a threat to his females, he loves my wife and even other men but me he hates, he sees me moving and taking care of his females and thinks im trying to take them from him. So basicly there could be many reasons he is doing this you just need to feel out the situation. Hope it kind of helps, scott

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The only time I see my beardie do that defensive behavior is if he sees my snake. If I hold my snake up to his cage he does exactly what you describe: puffed, black beard, gaping mouth, flattened body tilted to the side. He's trying to make himself look big and mean.

Were you holding the snake? Or do you have a black beard? Having a black beard could agitate him as well.

The other things hes afraid of are birds, but when he sees those he gets really skinny and darts for cover. Completely different behavior from when he sees a snake.