Reptile & Amphibian Forums

I just introduced another 10 week old Dragon to the other one I have of the same age. After only a half hour of being in the same cage, my original beardie has been arm waving. This is new behaviour to me, so I was curious if its normal for such young animals. The new Dragon is a bit larger than my first one. Is it a submissive gesture? Just curious. Thanks in advance.

Don

Yes, it's a submissive gesture.
Do you know what sexes the dragons are? Only 2 females will ever work (and not recommended), and then there is no gaurantee that they won't fight. Your smaller dragon may start hiding and not eating since it is being submissive to the larger dragon. If it gets stressed, coccidia levels can rise and make your dragon ill...They really are solitary animals.
Did you quarantine the new dragon to make sure it was free of parasites and have fecals done before you put them together?
-----
www.classylizard.com

____

Signature file edited. [phw 9/2/04]

We are pretty sure both are females, and am keeping a close watch on both of them to see if there is any trouble. Thanks for the info. I assumed they would be ok together, especially at this young age. I read they are social animals, so took it that they can live together peacefully. Looks like I will be shopping for another cage, lights etc. soon.

Thanks again

at least you are learning now... not later.

"Social" is such a general term...

all animals are in some way "Social"

but the real questions are more like

is this animal "Communal" ?

for example herding animals like sheep, cattle are communal.

then there is the question of predation - wolves.

so for example Crocs are social and predators and *NOT* communal
they will eat each other if food is lacking. they will fight for food or mates.
-----
This space reserved for future use...

it is the larger dragon telling the smaller newer dragon he is the boss and to submit to his rule.

really I would say that you should not have 2 young dragons to gether.

this is a common mistake. a growing dragon is going to try and eat anything that moves and can fit in it's mouth.

this may include the smaller dragons tail, leg, head or any combo of them.

dragons are "Omivores" which means "Eats many things".

an adult dragon can even eat small mice, snakes, lizards, toads and other items.

often a pair of adult lady dragons may get along in one habitat.

but almost 100% of the time two males will fight and one will be hurt or killed.

a young dragon has to do as much growth in 6-12 months as a human does in about 16-18 years. so it will have to eat a *LOT* to grow from nothing to 15-20 inches in 6 months (give or take a bit)

so *PLEASE* get a seperate home for the new dragon.
before bad things can happen.

also search on the board about dragons and the whole housing thing and the sex stuff, a male and fem. will breed -- to soon for the lady and too often ....
-----
This space reserved for future use...

whups!

arm waving = submisive.

head bobing = dominate.

my bad!

-----
This space reserved for future use...