Reptile & Amphibian Forums

In may of 03' I purchased 2 baby beardies of the same size and age from a VA herp show. (Which at the time they were about 2 months old and several inches). As I brought them home, I established them in a 10 gal. with proper lighting and heating. They were both fed crickets and greens on a daily basis. (As much as they would eat at a sitting). And for the first few weeks everything was fine. Until one day I came home to notice that one of them was very lethargic looking and not basking with his tankmate. Upon closer inspection, I noticed that his front forelimbs had been bitten many times. So I immediately separated them.

In a nutshell, the attackee's forelimbs on his front legs ended up drying up and snapping off like dead sticks. BUT, he did make a full recovery and began to eat/drink again. Sadly, he only lasted a few months like this before he finally passed on.

My point is that I have read (and SEEN) that several babies can live together. The fact being that I only had TWO and that one attacked the other surprizes me.

I am curious as to why this occured. Can anyone explain?!?!

My survivor is now a 12" male, I would like to keep him with females of equal size, but am afraid that because of his past, he might strike again. (If he did it when he was just a baby, why wouldn't he do it again!?!"

Thanks,
Nick

Um, what size are you considering a "baby"? My first guess is that it was the tank size stressing one out and causing him to become aggressive. 10 gallons is too small for even one baby, IMHO. And absolutely no tankmates for any males. Only Females can live together.
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1.0.0 Bearded Dragon (Zeo)
0.2.0 Leopard Geckos (Vienna, Chomps)
1.0.0 Golden Retriever (Rocky, 11 y.o.)

They were both between 5-6", (only a month or so old). Neither had been sexed at the time so it was unapparent to me that I had what turned out to be an aggressive male.

Is it still possible to get females of the same size as my surviving male to be his tankmate(s)?

~Nick

I don't think you want to put any female the same size as your male in that tank or you will have a stressed out female because that male will most likely try to breed and the female would not be mature enough. I have a male and female siblings and have already had to separate them because of the male 'trying to breed' with my female.

n/p

When I purchased my beardie at 5 months old, I was forewarned by the breeder that he was more aggressive than most. As a baby, he bit the leg off of one clutch-mate and bit on the head of another. He suggested that I never keep another dragon with him, unless it were to be an adult female.

He has never really grown out of his aggressive state. He doesn't care to be held or messed with. And I will never put in another beardie with him, not even to breed.

The first time he saw a mirror, he became completely pi**ed off, turned black, and tried to attack the mirror. It took him hours to calm down.

This is enough negative behavior to know that he will never belong with another beardie. Some just prefer to be left alone.
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1.0 Bearded Dragon - Telamon
0.1 House Cat - St. Stephen

1 Saltwater Aquarium
1 Freshwater Aquarium

Nope....leave him as a single.....also, what are you feeding him and how much, what about lighting and supplements. 12 inches for a 10 month old is quite small. You might have had the problem inititally because you were underfeeding them.
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Tracey
Tracey's Beardies
www.beardiecrazy.com

My male is a little less than 10 months old, and as of an official measuring (today) he is 14inches long. He lives in a 55 gal. now with a ceramic heat emitter on 24/7, a 24' UVA/UVA florescent light, and is fed daily on either dusted crickets, or a combination of dried prepaired food and greens. He is in perfect health and am possibly looking to breeding him in the future. He is a calm animal and has no problems being handled or when he sees himself in the mirror.

Guess he'll have to live out the rest of his days as a loner. (Except for the few 'wild' nights ) Thanks to all...

Nick

Yes, several hatchlings can live together, but need to be separated quite early.

Personally, I don't find it the least bit strange that your two dragons started fighting, one injuring the other seriously, being in a tiny 10 gallon tank (that's barely enough for one small baby beardie). I hope at least that was a lesson to you, and a reminder to anyone reading this post thinking about doing the same thing. Bottom line:

- Beardies do best on their own, even when they're small.
- Beardies need space. Claustophobia leads to stress and aggression.