Bearded dragon bite injuries
Bite injuries in Bearded dragons are probably the most common type of injury keepers will come across. Bite injuries are usually to the tail, the legs or the neck of other Bearded dragons.
Tail & leg biting injuries
The most common bite injury is probably tail and leg biting. Tail biting injuries are most often due to overcrowding, too little food being offered or due to different sized Bearded dragons kept in the same enclosure. From the age of about six weeks (the initial juvenile stages), batches should be separated into smaller, similar sized groups. The feeding frequency should also be increased to at least two to three times a day. Greens should be available all the time.
Image Renier Delport (CC-BY)
Neck & lip biting injuries
Neck biting is usually due to vigorous mating behaviour. During the breeding season, a male Bearded dragon will attempt to mate by biting onto the neck or lip area of a susceptible female. The incidence of these Bearded dragon bite injuries can be reduced by introducing more females to the group or to allow proper rest periods during the breeding season.
Female Bearded dragon with bite marks on her lips & beard because of aggressive mating behaviour. Image Renier Delport (CC-BY)
Male dominance
Male dominance, or territorial behaviour in Bearded dragons can also be seen by biting injuries. During the breeding season, or less often during other times too, male Bearded dragons become territorial and aggresive towards each other. Adult males will often fight for the ability to mate with females.
Treating bite injuries in Bearded dragons
Most of these injuries will need little intervention from the owner, except when bleeding cannot be controlled or when infection sets in. The incidence of infection can be reduced by applying antiseptic ointment or starting a course of prophylactic antibiotics, available upon clinical examination by a reptile friendly veterinarian.
F10 has a wide range of products including wipes, hand soaps, sprays and contact cleaners and safe and effective to use with most pets, incl. Bearded dragons. F10 products are available from certain veterinary clinics and hospitals.
Related Bearded dragon products
Please support Bearded Dragon Care Info by using these links to purchase these awesome related products online from our partner websites. You can also use the Amazon.com or BangGood links to shop for other, non-Bearded dragon related products. Also see other ways to support Bearded Dragon Care Info. Links to other websites will open in a new window.
F10 Antiseptic Liquid hand soap is a fast-acting broad spectrum, and persistent antiseptic, containing preparation that substantially reduces the number of micro organisms on intact skin.
F10 Antiseptic Skin Wipes are multipurpose, biodegradable, individually wrapped cleansing wipes impregnated with F10 Skin Prep solution. Perfect for disinfecting Bearded dragon related items and hands.
Broad spectrum contact disinfectant used to kill a wide range of potentially harmful micro-organisms to Bearded dragons and their owners.
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