Male vs Female Bearded Dragons – Which is Best?

We’re going to go through a quick male vs female bearded dragon checklist to see which sex would be best to suit you as the new member of your family.

Both males and females can make great pets but can differ slightly in appearance and temperament. Make sure you know whether you’re getting a ‘him’ or a ‘her’, so you know what to expect. 

It can be difficult to pick out a male from a female. It might be best to take your bearded dragon to a breeder, they’re experts on picking up on the little things.

Most baby bearded dragons display female traits anyway. They won’t usually display any masculine traits until they’re properly sexually mature. 

How do you Tell a Male from a Female Bearded Dragon?

On the face of it, both male and female dragons look the same. You really need to look closely to determine which is which.

But don’t worry, we’ve created a quick rundown so you can tell the difference. 

Tail Bumps

Bearded dragons obviously have different sexual organs. Males will display two bumps on their underside, just at the part where their body joins their tail.

They’ll have one at either side of the tail

Females will only have a single bump, right in the middle of their tail where it meets their body. 

Head Size

As expected, the males are generally larger than the females, but depending on the type of bearded dragon you get, that might not mean a lot, as they come in all different sizes anyway. 

Male heads are generally larger and much wider than a female’s. Female’s heads are thinner and narrower. 

Tail Thickness

Similarly, males have much wider, thicker tails than females. Male tails, at the base where they meet their bodies, will be about the same thickness as their hips.

Females, on the other hand, will start much narrower and will be much quicker to taper into a point. 

Beard Coloring

Bearded dragons get their names because they have extra spikes around their chins and their scales under their chin can change color depending on their mood or the time of year. 

Male bearded dragon’s chins turn black to impress a mate, or to display their dominance. 

It’s difficult to use this as an indicator in younger bearded dragons though, as their beards can’t change color until they’re sexually mature. 

Male Bearded Dragons

Generally, males are known for having more personality. They’re more outgoing and sociable.

That’s not to say that females don’t make great pets, but you tend to find that the males are a little more mischievous and interesting. 

If you’re looking for a bearded dragon that will want to come out and play with you, then a male is probably the best option. 

However, males are usually much more territorial, and this can cause a few issues during the breeding season.

Younger bearded dragons, especially those who have only just matured (1-2 years) maybe a little more aggressive for a few months out of the year.

You’ll notice when this happens as they will bob their heads up and down a lot. This is a sign of dominance and when they’re in this mood, it’s advisable not to handle them.  

Female Bearded Dragons

On the other hand, females tend to be more laid back. They’re the ones that won’t have a problem cuddling up with you to watch TV.

Though they might not be up for games as much as a male. 

Because they’re so relaxed, they don’t usually change their temperament during the breeding season as a male does.

You won’t see any extra aggression or moodiness. However, you might see that she still lays eggs during this time, even if there’s no male present.

These eggs won’t be fertile and can be thrown away once she’s finished burying them.

You’ll notice that a female bearded dragon will begin to dig a burrow a couple of weeks prior to egg-laying.

She’ll them lay eggs overnight in the burrow, covers them, and leave them. They aren’t excellent mothers, so she won’t go back to take care of them after this. 

They will wave their front legs as a sign of submission to a male in the wild.

It doesn’t really come with any mood change though, and it’s really amusing to watch.

Can Two Bearded Dragons Live Together?

You shouldn’t keep two bearded dragons in the same terrarium at all. As a species, they are quite territorial if they think someone else is taking up their space. 

Two males is a definite no-no. They will fight and it may cause injury and depression for both dragons. 

Although two females are usually acceptable with most other species of lizard, bearded dragons are different.

They might be okay together for a while, however, when it comes to laying their eggs, they will compete for the best egg-laying patches.

This could lead to the smaller one not getting enough to eat and not receiving the nutrients that they need from the food. Males and females should only ever be placed together for mating.

Once they’ve mated, which could take a couple of days, depending on how confident your male is, then you’ll need to remove him to his own terrarium as soon as possible.

Much like any relationship, they can get sick of each other’s company.

Summary

Both male and female bearded dragons make excellent pets. If you decide to get any bearded dragon, they’ll always be a great addition to your family.

However, it is a good idea to find out which sex you’re getting before you go ahead so you can keep an eye out for these behaviors.

Plus, you need to think of a name for them, so knowing if it’s a boy or a girl would be helpful. 

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