Reptile & Amphibian Forums

Howdy ya'll. I just bought a baby bearded dragon a few weeks ago and he's been a really great pet. He's very active, eats like crazy, and I mist him often. However, I've noticed that he'll do this really weird behavior once in a while where he'll bulge his eyes out for a few seconds and then go back to normal. I'm guessing this is some sort of thermo- or water regulatory behavior and I shouldn't be too concerned because he doesn't do it very often. I'm just wondering why he might do that and if I should ever be concerned. Anyone out there know why a bearded dragon may bulge his eyes out??? Any help is greatly appreciated!

tool_u2@yahoo.com

It's normal. Mine do it when they are getting ready to shed around the eyes. It loosens up the skin. Some will do this too even when not shedding. I think maybe it's a way for them to moisten the eye and clean the eye a bit.
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Mystical Dragons

Bulging eyes are caused by a constriction of the jugularis vein. This allows the lizard to keep blood in it's head, allowing it to warm before pushing it back into it's body and replacing it with cooled blood. Ever notice how many lizards will just stick their heads out to bask? Extreme bulging is also used to remove shed skin from around the eyes as Mattman pointed out.

Peter

to find some reading that will explain some of these things in detail but the only thing I can find on Beardies is general breeding, husbandry and natural history.

I read there are over 70 documented physical gestures the beardies use to communicate but I'll be darned if I find where any of this documentation is.

Is all this info locked up somewhere, maybe someone's hiding it or has there just been no one to publish any of it?

I am just amazed at the lack of detailed info on these critters. Granted, there are wonderful people in these forums that know a ton of info. I just don't want to post all kinds of unimportant questions that may take time away from the problems people need help with.

Thanks,
Rob
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Rob

lemme know if you find anything! Im in the same boat. He'll do all kinds of strange things, that I wonder about, but I don't want to post every ten minutes, asking if anyone knows what such and such means, if it isn't really important!

I was just going to ask about this! Thanks for posting about it. My little guy did it this morning and it scared the crap outta me! Thought his head was exploding!! lol