Why Do Bearded Dragons Scratch? 21 Reasons inside!


If you’ve recently acquired a bearded dragon as a pet, you might be wondering whether scratching and digging are part of a routine. Even those who have kept bearded dragons for a long time sometimes panic when their pets suddenly start scratching at various surfaces.

Is it Normal for Bearded Dragons to Scratch?

Yes, scratching is a natural phenomenon in bearded dragons.  In their natural habitats, these reptiles are natural-born diggers that scratch, dig, and burrow for various reasons. However, bearded dragons sometimes display discomfort, agitation, fear, or stress by scratching.

Let’s explore some common reasons bearded dragons scratch at different surfaces:

Why Do Bearded Dragons Scratch the Floor?

We’ve already established that your bearded dragon could be scratching at the floor of its enclosure as an instinct.

Here are the most common scenarios for a bearded dragon to scratch the floor:

●       Seeking Comfort

Naturally, bearded dragons dig into the ground to create a bed for themselves. Similarly, a bearded pet dragon naturally scratches at the floor to create a comfy spot to lie.

This behavior is typical in bearded dragons that are picky on spots to sleep on.  Ideally, this only lasts a few seconds, and scratching the floor for longer indicates a different issue with your bearded dragon.

●       Preparing to Lay Eggs

A female bearded dragon instinctively scratches the floor when preparing to lay eggs in a bid to dig and create a safe nest. Even when your bearded dragon pet has been confined in its enclosure with no contact with a male, it will still want to lay eggs at 12 months or older. Nevertheless, the eggs will be unfertilized, so they can’t hatch.

The easiest way to stop a bearded dragon preparing to lay eggs from scratching the floor is by placing a safe and convenient lay box inside its tank. Alternatively, you can introduce substrates on the floor to help your pet dig easier and nest.

●       The Terrarium is too Hot.

Bearded dragons are exciting creatures in their natural and domesticated forms and habitats. They scratch, dig and burrow into the ground in their natural habitat to regulate their body temperature.

Naturally, burrows below ground level are cooler than the ground, so bearded dragons burrow underneath in colder areas to cool off. In contrast, the pet reptiles burrow and bury their bodies underneath hot sand to warm up if the surroundings are too cold.   

A bearded pet dragon instinctively scratches its tank floor when the temperatures rise beyond comfortable levels to try and cool off. Ideally, a bearded dragon’s terrarium should be between 92° and 110°Fahrenheit on the hot side and approximately 70° on the cold side. However, bearded dragons thrive best in a cool terrarium of around 80° Fahrenheit.

The most crucial point to note is that temperatures outside the recommended range can hinder bearded dragons from self-regulating their body temperature. Consequently, the reptiles can potentially fall ill and die.  

●       Foraging for Food

A bearded dragon can also scratch the floor due to insufficient food or a deficiency of critical nutrients in their diet: Either you are underfeeding your pets or not feeding them right. Either way, your beardies are scratching the floor to try and dig through in search of insects and other natural food substances.

It’s worth noting that some bearded dragon foods, such as fatty worms, are addictive to these pets. As a result, consider slowly taking them off your bearded dragon diet if you can’t supply them constantly.  

●       Insufficient Space

Bearded dragons naturally move around a lot, exploring and burrowing into their surroundings. That’s why a beardie naturally gets bored or agitated if its tank is too small. As a result, it may scratch the floor to dig for extra space or as a form of staying active.

●       Stress or Agitation

Suppose your caged bearded dragon suddenly starts scratching the floor erratically. It could be a sign that it’s disturbed by external factors such as uncomfortably bright light, potential predators, loud noises, or unfamiliar visitors.

Moreover, your beardie lizard could be stressed by its cage-mate, and separating them is a great way to solve the problem. Still, not all bearded dragons respond the same, as some turn aggressive instead of cowering when threatened. 

●       Getting Ready for Brumation (Hibernation)

Brumation is the bearded dragon equivalent of hibernation. Although not all beardies go through it, it’s a natural and instinctive phenomenon in most 12-month or older bearded dragons during the extreme cold season.

Similarly, pet bearded dragons sometimes scratch the floor when the time for brumation nears. However, you can regulate the temperature in your pet’s terrarium to keep your beardie awake and active even when their wild counterparts are deep in brumation. 

bearded dragon scratch

Why Is My Bearded Dragon Scratching at the Glass?

Watching bearded dragons scratching or clawing at the glass, also called ‘glass surfing’ or ‘glass dancing,’ is a fun experience. It entails a caged bearded dragon standing on its back legs with the front legs clawing at the glass.

Meanwhile, the lizard’s belly rubs against the glass as they paddle their front limbs, attempting to climb the glass wall despite slipping and failing repeatedly.

Nevertheless, your beardie is probably stressed or bored if they start frantically scratching at the glass. Moreover, if your beardie pet accompanies erratic glass scratching with frantic running around their enclosure, it’s usually a sign that something is amiss.

Besides, there are a few other reasons your bearded dragon could be pawing at the glass or wall. They include:

●       They Don’t Realize Glass is a Barrier

Your bearded dragon might not comprehend that the glass is simply a barrier, particularly if they’re new to that cage or terrarium. Thus, they might scratch at the glass to get through to the other side.

For instance, the beardie could be attempting to find a suitable spot to burrow through and hide beyond the glass wall.  Alternatively, they could be reaching for extra morsels of food, such as insects outside the enclosure.

●       They’re Observing their Reflection

In most cases, dragons mistake their reflection on the glass for another beardie. As a result, they scratch the glass in attempts to interact with, face off, or flee from the ‘other’ bearded dragon.

●       Boredom has Set in: Your Bearded Friend wants Play Time Outside their Shed.

Bearded dragons are natural-born explorers and sight-seers. Keeping them confined in their enclosure for too long eventually takes its toll on the pets. Therefore, scratching the glass could simply signify that the lizard wants you to let it outside the cage to beat boredom, exercise, or play with you.

Surprisingly, it’s easy to resolve this issue if boredom is the leading cause of your beardie scratching the glass- put the pet in a large enough enclosure.

Moreover, providing sufficient enrichment for your beardie inside its cage is easy to keep them engaged to avoid boredom and consequent stress.  

●       Something is Amiss in their Habitat

Bearded dragons are easily affected by the environment inside their tank and their surroundings. Consequently, they could be scratching at the glass tank to escape the perceived danger or resulting stress.

For instance, inappropriate lighting, a small cage, and unsuitable interior décor for the beardie are some common triggers for the pet to scratch the glass. 

But that’s not all. The location you place the bearded dragon’s cage can also lead it to claw at its glass tank. The cage placement usually determines what the beardie sees and responds to. For example, placing the cage where the beardie can see larger animals, strange surroundings, or other bearded dragons can cause them to scratch the glass.

Further, the temperature and humidity inside and around the tank affect the beardie’s behavior. Temperatures and humidity levels above the comfortable range will most certainly cause your bearded dragon to scratch the glass walls and floor of the tank. These are attempts by the beardie to find a cool spot to cool off its body.  

Luckily, solving humidity and temperature-related glass scratching in bearded dragons is a walk in the park. Simply tweak the temperature regulators to ideal ranges and set humidity between 35-40%, and your beloved pet will revert to its normal behavior.

●       It’s the Mating Season!

When on heat, bearded dragons naturally seek out mates to recreate with. Similarly, a caged beardie experiences the urge to look for a mate to reproduce with. In the process, they may scratch the glass to escape from their artificial habitat in search of a suitable mate.

The breeding season for bearded dragons comes in early spring, just after brumation. Besides frantically scratching the glass tank, your bearded dragon may indicate the onset of the breeding season by its beard turning black. If these two signs accompany each other, your beardie is likely trying to look for a mate.

●       The Beardie can’t Thermoregulate Properly.

Unlike humans, bearded dragons are exceptionally sensitive to seemingly minor environmental variations. That’s why you should maintain various recommended temperature ranges in specific spots to help your beardie thrive.

Ideally, caged bearded dragons should be able to dash between the basking, general, and cooling areas in their tank without difficulty. This helps the beardies to Thermoregulate efficiently, whereas uniform temperature throughout the tank prevents efficient thermoregulation. As a result, the lizards scratch the glass walls to get outside to places with more conducive temperatures.

Ideally, the temperature in the general area should range between 80° and 85° Fahrenheit. Further, you should maintain the basking area at 90°-115° Fahrenheit while temperatures in the cooling section should range between 75° to 80° for the pet to thrive.

Keeping temperatures inside the tank too high will make the bearded dragon scratch the glass walls, pant excessively, and potentially kill the pet. On the other hand, exposing the beardies to shallow temperatures makes the lizards lethargic, causes digestive problems, and is potentially fatal.

●       Your Lizards are Hungry

Although this is uncommon, some caged bearded dragons scratch the glass tank due to hunger pangs. They’re simply trying to get your attention and signaling you to feed them.

Although not the most likely, similar to cats and dogs, scratching the glass could signify that they are simply hungry and are trying to signal to you to feed them.

●       Preparing to Lay Eggs

It’s normal for 12-month or older female or gravid bearded dragons to lay eggs once a year. However, not all female beardies lay eggs.

Beardies that lay eggs will doubtlessly scratch their tank’s glass walls and floor if you don’t provide them with a safe and conveniently-placed lay box inside the cage. They’re only to find a safe and comfy spot to lay and nest their eggs.

●       It’s Time to Clean up their Poop

Surprisingly, some bearded dragons start scraping and scaling their tanks’ glass walls immediately after pooping. Experts and seasoned bearded dragon owners advise that this is a signal from the beardies to clean up the mess pronto!

So, What does a Bearded Dragon Scratching at the Glass Mean?

Additionally, multiple symptoms such as loss of appetite, darker body coloration, increased physical inactivity, and the presence of stress marks could indicate that they’re extremely stressed out.  However, if you have difficulty identifying the reasons for your lizard’s glass surfing or correcting the underlying issue, it’s best to schedule a vet appointment for your bearded dragon.

Why Is My Bearded Dragon Hiding and Scratching?

Scratching, digging, burrowing, and hiding are natural behaviors associated with bearded dragons in their natural form and habitat. Mostly, they’re instinctive responses to various external stimuli in their surroundings.

Likewise, caged bearded dragons respond to various external elements in their artificial surroundings by scratching and hiding. Nevertheless, scratching and hiding in bearded dragons sometimes shows an underlying issue out of the norm. Here are some instances:

●       Preparing to Lay Eggs

12-month and older female and gravid bearded dragons instinctively hide and scratch when preparing to lay eggs. This is a natural behavior to create a soft, safe, and convenient nest to lay and hatch their eggs. The best remedy is to place a suitable box conveniently inside your beardie’s tank.   

Without a safe lay box or nest, bearded dragons could fail to lay eggs and become egg-bound. Consequently, this might require a surgical procedure to dislodge the stuck eggs and is potentially fatal. 

●       They’re Scared

Most bearded dragons scamper away and hide from any form of perceived danger. Likewise, a caged beardie will most probably hide and scratch to try and dig a burrow to hide in when threatened by an unusual sound, sight, or experience.

The best way to stop a scared bearded dragon from hiding and scratching is to eliminate the perceived danger. You can simply relocate the beardie’s tank to a more secure and convenient locale. In addition, keeping strangers away from the lizards also helps the pets to feel safe and comfy.

●       They’re Agitated, Bored, or Stressed up

Keeping a bearded dragon confined in one cage or location for too long may breed agitation, boredom, or stress. These lizards are natural explorers, so they love sight-seeing as long as they feel safe. Thus, monotony and inactivity quickly cause beardies to get bored, and they hide and scratch.

Further, extremely bright light, stubborn cage mates, sudden and loud noises easily agitate and stress up bearded dragons. Remember, beardies are solitary and competitive reptiles, so placing them in the same cage causes fights, injuries, and stress. As a result, they’re more likely to hide and scratch as they seek a way out or away.

●       Their Tank is too Hot

When the temperatures inside the tank are higher than the comfortable range, bearded dragons will attempt to escape to a cooler place by scratching. If the substrate or tank floor doesn’t allow the beardies to dig through and burrow underneath, the lizards instinctively hide to escape the scathing heat.

Moreover, temperatures too high for the beardie are usually characterized by severe panting as the reptile tries to Thermoregulate. The best and easiest way to solve this problem is by setting tank temperatures at their optimal ranges for the general, basking, and cooling areas.

●       Preparation for Brumation

During the cold season, Brumation is expected in 12-18-month old bearded dragons. It’s similar to hibernation in many other hibernating animals and can last three or four months.

Since beardies eat little to nothing and rarely move during brumation, scratching and hiding behavior could indicate that they’re searching for a convenient spot to stay through the brumation period.

Why Does My Bearded Dragon Keep Digging in the Corner?

Digging and burrowing are common and normal in the daily lives of bearded dragons. Mostly, beardies dig into the ground to regulate their body temperature, hide from potential perceived danger such as predators, or do it for sheer fun and exercise. 

However, a bearded dragon digging in the corner often signals a few specific situations that include:

●       Insufficient Hiding Spots

Bearded dragons have no trouble digging convenient hide spots in their natural habitats. On the other hand, pet caged beardies have more limited options- they can either hide under the log pieces, rocks, or other hides in their artificial environment or burrow under the substrate.

Lack of good hides in the tank instinctively prompts a caged bearded dragon to dig in the corner to create a hiding spot. This mostly happens when other factors such as stress, boredom, and brumation also drive the lizards to scratch or dig into the floor.

●       Gearing up for Brumation

If it’s nearing the time for brumation, your bearded dragon might have identified one corner as a convenient resting spot for the cold season. They could be digging in that corner to create a comfy, warm, and hidden spot for brumation. 

●       Hunger Pangs

Underfed and malnourished bearded dragons often dig around their enclosure and corners in search of food or essential nutrients lacking in their diet. Additionally, beardies can dig in their enclosed corners to forage for addictive bugs such as fatty worms.

Usually, you can stop hungry and undernourished bearded dragons from digging in the corner by feeding them with sufficient amounts of balanced-out diets.

●       The Enclosure is too Cramped.

If your bearded dragon finds their enclosure too cramped, they might start digging in the corner to try and escape, beat boredom, create more room for exploration, play, exercise, or hide from perceived danger such as predators. 

Ideally, an adult bearded dragon should stay in a 55-70-gallon tank; the more spacious, the better. This way, your beardie can roam, play, explore, or exercise to their satisfaction without digging in the corner. Besides, a larger cage makes it easier to create a suitable temperature gradient and conveniently place accessories such as hides and UVB tube lights.

●       Excessive Energy Bursts

Like other creatures, bearded dragons sometimes turn to increased physical activity to burn off excess energy. In such cases, your pet is more likely to scratch and dig around the enclosure and the corners of the cage.

If everything is OK with the beardie, their tank, and surroundings, their heightened physical exercise is most likely their way to dissipate excess energy. Besides, these lizards are mighty play lovers, and digging in the corners could simply be a way to stay active and beat boredom.

bearded dragon scratch

Frequently Asked Questions About Bearded Dragons Scratching and Digging

1.     Is it Normal for Bearded Dragons to Scratch the Glass Tank?

For the most part, scratching is normal in bearded dragons. In most cases, the beardies scratch and dig into the ground to regulate their body temperature, forage for extra food morsels, hide from perceived hazards or prepare a nest to lay their eggs.

2.     Do Bearded Dragons Need A Dig Box?

Naturally, bearded dragons love scratching, digging, and burrowing in the wild for many reasons. Thus, it would be ideal for including a dig box in your terrarium for your pet to indulge in their natural instinctive digging. In addition, ensure you have a safe and conveniently-placed lay box for the female beardies to lay and nest their eggs. 

3.     At What Age do Bearded Dragons Start Laying Eggs?

Female and gravid bearded dragons typically start laying eggs at 12 months old.

4.     Do Bearded Dragons Hibernate?

Yes, some species of beardies undergo brumation during the cold seasons to conserve their energy and body fat levels. The lizards eat little to nothing and rarely move around in such times. Nevertheless, pet bearded dragons rarely undergo brumation as you can regulate their artificial habitat conditions to keep them active throughout the year.

5.     Are Bearded Dragons Solitary or Social Animals?

These lizards are naturally solitary and competitive reptiles. Thus, keeping multiple beardies in the same enclosure is a recipe for fights, injuries, and undue stress to the creatures.

Final Thoughts

Pet enthusiasts keen to learn, observe, and interact closely with their animals might find bearded dragons amusing companions. However, these reptiles require detailed observation and care to thrive in enclosed habitats. Thus, learning their scratching, digging, and hiding tendencies is a great and essential way to identify the factors that influence their growth so you can best help them to thrive in a tank. 

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