Reptile & Amphibian Forums

I have 2 adult WD's, a male and female, and they are housed together. They produced an offspring about a year ago. I had the baby out of its cage on the floor in the same room, and I guess the female saw it, and started to bob her head and wave her right arm. This lasted for only a couple of minutes. She has never done this before, that I have seen. Is it because she saw the baby WD, and was being territorial? Or what?

Yeah, she is just showing the baby dragon that she is boss. Arm waving can also be a submissive gesture, but combined with head bobbing I would say she was trying to be intimidating.
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A mans got to do what a mans got to do. A woman has to do what he can't.

Mom to:

1 little boy born 7/19/04
2 male RES, born 1999
1 ribbon snake, age unknown
3 FBT, ages unknown
1 female bearded dragon, born 5/2002
1 male lab mix, born 5/24/03
1 female calico cat, born 6/7/04

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sig file edited 1/29/05 [phw]

So, do you think she is recognizing the baby wd as another female? The baby is just a year old, and I'm not sure myself if it is a male or female yet.

Female waterdragons are necessarily just territorial against other females. They are basically looking to dominate and protect their territory from any intruders, male or female when they feel that they are the dominate animal, i.e. they are bigger.

she used to be bigger than the male and was very dominant over him until he grew up and got much bigger than her. So I guess she's happy to see someone smaller than her again! Thanks for the info.