Do bearded dragons like music?

Bearded dragons have some of the best hearing abilities in pets. They can perceive all types of sound, including music. But, can they actually know its music and either enjoy or hate it? The answer is a very interesting one.

Most bearded dragons enjoy music and will respond positively to it. However, they prefer soothing music at a low volume instead of loud and high-pitched music. They like it if you play music and they become or remain calm. However, they don’t like it if they become aggressive when it’s played.

Do bearded dragons like music?

do bearded dragons like music

The ears of bearded dragons are quite sensitive to sound and can detect a wide range of frequencies. It is not known whether they prefer or dislike music, but it has been observed that their movements change when they are exposed to certain types of sounds.

For example, classical music will often cause them to become still and slow their breathing. They may also sleep longer while listening to this type of music than other types (e.g., heavy metal).

This can be explained because classical music usually has lower levels of bass than many other styles, making it less stimulating for the animal’s brain than louder, heavier rock songs with higher amounts of bass and other sounds.

Do bearded dragons have a music preference?

First, they love sounds that are low and calm in general. They like it when the music is at a lower volume (I guess they don’t want to be disturbed). They also tend to like different music genres but at all at low volume.

The answer to the type of music your bearded dragon likes can vary depending on your pet’s mood. If they have just eaten, there is no point in playing some heavy metal because this will only make them feel nervous and stressed out.

Other times, it may be playful and want some upbeat music, but the volume should still be low to prevent annoying.

To know the type of music they love, try out several types (reggae, soul, rock, classical and others) to denote their response to the music.

How to tell if a bearded dragon is enjoying music

You can tell your beardie loves a tune when they fall asleep when the music comes on. Signs of relaxation include the following:

  • Beardie is propped up on their elbows with their head tilted back.
  • Eyes are closed and they’re not moving around as much.
  • The body has become still; it may be swaying to the music, rocking side to side, or sitting in a trance-like state.
  • The dragon may also move closer to the sound of music.
  • The dragon may even start to drool.
  • Beardies that enjoy music will often become more active and animated than usual when listening to it. They might also show signs of relaxation by yawning, stretching or crawling into your lap for a snuggle.

If you want to test if the bearded dragon is enjoying the music but they have stopped moving around as much, try bumping up the volume slightly and observing the response. If there’s no change in behavior after turning the volume up, then chances are good that your beardie doesn’t like what you’re playing.

What if they don’t like the music?

When the music is too loud or annoying to the bearded dragon, you will notice the following signs of aggression:

  • They will hiss.
  • They might “beard” or puff up their beard to look bigger and scarier. This is called an aggressive display of dominance, which they only do when they need to defend something (usually food) that you’re taking away from them. It also means they feel threatened in some way by what you’re doing.
  • The bearded dragon may try to scare the noise maker with a big open-mouth head shake, where they tilt their head back as far as possible so all of the bottom teeth are showing at once (this is one type of defensive behavior).
  • They might also try moving away from the music or sound source.
  • They will sometimes develop stress marks on the sides of their mouth or the scales that cover them.
  • It will also sway in a circular motion, which is not normal behavior for bearded dragons.
  • If they are really stressed out, their pupils may enlarge and even hiss at you.

If you observe these behaviors, your bearded dragon will be stressed and likely need to be calmed down or left alone for a while to recover. It will also show you that the music you just played isn’t its favorite.


READ ALSO: Bearded Dragon Noises and What They Mean


How do I calm down my bearded dragon?

You can calm down a bearded dragon in the following ways:

  • First, shut down the music completely to allow them time to relax.
  • Then, introduce music gradually in the background.
  • Play music that is calming to humans, such as classical music or soft rock.
  • If your bearded dragon does not enjoy music, introduce it a little at a time and observe their reaction; if they do not like it, turn down the volume or stop playing music altogether.
  • In addition, you may need to make other changes before introducing any new stimulus. For example, place the pet where there are fewer stimuli (e.g., away from TV noise). Do more frequent feedings with smaller portions of food so they don’t feel hungry anymore. Finally, create an environment where one part has higher foliage and another area with lower leaves for them to hide/escape into when stressed out.
  • It would help if you also tried spraying mist into their enclosure around once an hour during the day when they are awake but not moving much. This can help keep them cool and relaxed at all times rather than just when you’re playing with them.
  • You can also pet them by rubbing their belly. This can also calm them down and make them feel better even if they’re not trying to be actively petted. Only pet a bearded dragon if they allow it or they might bite or scratch you.
  • Bath them. Bearded dragons love bathing and should be calmed by it.

The right steps will calm them down.

Should I play music for my bearded dragons?

It would help if you played music for your pet lizard when you can. Playing music for your bearded dragons works best for bonding with the lizard as well as for your pet to calm down.

What music should I play?

Choose music that has a steady beat and is pleasant sounding; this could be classical or jazz music. Do not choose anything too loud, such as heavy metal music, which can excite your lizard instead of calming it down.

They prefer music in low rather than high frequencies, so the sound will travel through the ground better without having any high-frequency waves from putting them on speakers or putting headphones around their tank. Please don’t place a speaker inside their tank since it’s a foreign object that may startle it.

While you play music for your bearded dragon, pet it with damp hands every few minutes and offer them a treat. Repeat this process until your bearded dragon is calm, then remove music or leave it on at a low volume if you are leaving the room for a while to complete other tasks.


Read More: Do Bearded Dragons Like Being Pet and Held?


What happens when my beardie isn’t in the mood?

If your pet does not seem interested during music time, try changing between different types of music, such as soft jazz, before returning to classical music again. Some lizards might be more stimulated by high-frequency sounds because they can hear them better than humans so you may want to experiment on what type of music works best for your bearded dragon.

For how long should I play music for the bearded dragon?

How they react can tell when the bearded dragon is enjoying the music. They will move their head and body to music in a swaying motion, bob their heads up and down or if you’re lucky enough to have one that dances like we do, it may dance around with its tail raised over its head.

However, they may get overloaded by the music and could become aggressive. It is suggested that music for bearded dragons be played sparingly and in moderation to avoid this from happening.

Playing music for too long can make them anxious because of how their hearing works. They are most sensitive at lower frequencies so playing music below 100-150 Hz will help keep them relaxed since it mimics what they hear naturally when sleeping during daytime hours.

Once you notice the dragon getting agitated, please turn off the music and leave it alone to recover before trying it another day. Done right, music can be a great bonding exercise between you and your bearded dragon. Each time you wish to bond with it, turn on its favorite music first.


READ NEXT: Why Does My Bearded Dragon Close One Eye?


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