There has been no stopping the popularity of bearded dragons within the reptile keeping community recently as more and more people add a pet bearded dragon to their family with each year that goes by.
With the number of people keeping a pet bearded dragon drastically increasing, the number of questions that we see from the community about keeping a pet bearded dragon is also increasing too.
We have already published a large number of articles going over various questions that we have seen people from the bearded dragon keeping community ask but there has been a number of people asking about their bearded dragons tongue sticking out recently so we wanted to publish a dedicated article on the topic.
The most common causes of a bearded dragon sticking its tongue out are usually nothing to worry about so the odds are in your favor but in some cases, you may need to get a vet to check your bearded dragon over but we will cover all of this below.
Is It Normal For A Bearded Dragon To Stick Its Tongue Out?
The answer to this question is both yes and no!
It is perfectly normal for a bearded dragon to stick its tongue out from time to time as they use their tongues to help them gather information about their surroundings as well as to catch food.
However, if your bearded dragon is constantly sticking its tongue out or you notice that its tongue is hanging out of its mouth then this could be a sign that something is wrong and you should seek advice from a reptile vet.
Why Does My Bearded Dragon Stick Its Tongue Out?
We have our short bullet point list below going over why your pet bearded dragon may stick its tongue out but we will cover each of these in more detail throughout the article:-
- Controlling Body Temperature!
- Examining Their Surroundings!
- Stress And Anxiety!
- Hunting For Food!
- Metabolic Bone Disease!
Other than Metabolic Bone Disease (MBD) the other problems are actually pretty easy to correct in most situations.
Controlling Body Temperature!
Bearded dragons are ectothermic animals which means that they rely on their environment to help them maintain their body temperature.
They will often use basking spots and shade to help them regulate their body temperature as they will bask in the heat to warm up their bodies and then move into the shade to cool down again.
When basking, you will often see bearded dragons moving their heads from side to side as they are trying to find the perfect spot where they can basking and soak up as much heat as possible.
You will also see them sticking their tongues out while they are basking as they use their tongues to help them regulate their body temperature.
Examining Their Surroundings!
As we briefly mentioned above, bearded dragons will often use their tongues to help them examine their surroundings.
They will flick their tongues in and out of their mouths constantly as they are trying to pick up on various smells and tastes that can give them information about their environment and the things around them.
This is why you will often see bearded dragons sticking their tongues out while they are exploring as they are trying to take in as much information as possible.
Stress And Anxiety!
Bearded dragons can get stressed and anxious just like any other animal and this can often lead to them sticking their tongues out.
There are a number of things that can cause stress and anxiety in bearded dragons such as being handled too much, not having enough hiding spots, being kept in too small of an enclosure, and many other things.
If you think that your bearded dragon is stressed or anxious then you should try to figure out what is causing the problem and correct it if possible.
Hunting For Food!
Bearded dragons are constantly on the lookout for food and this can often lead to them sticking their tongues out.
They will use their tongues to help them smell and taste the things around them in order to find something that they can eat.
This is why you will often see bearded dragons sticking their tongues out while they are exploring as they are trying to find something to eat.
Metabolic Bone Disease!
Metabolic bone disease (MBD) is a serious problem that can affect bearded dragons and other reptiles.
MBD is caused by a lack of vitamin D3 and calcium which leads to the bones becoming weak and deformed.
One of the most common symptoms of MBD is tongue protrusion which is why you should seek advice from a reptile vet if you think that your bearded dragon has MBD.
Other than Metabolic Bone Disease (MBD) the other problems are actually pretty easy to correct in most situations.
How Can I Stop My Bearded Dragon Sticking Its Tongue Out?
If you are concerned about your bearded dragon sticking its tongue out then there are a few things that you can do in order to stop it.
First of all, you should make sure that your bearded dragon has a proper basking spot where it can warm up its body.
You should also make sure that your bearded dragon has a proper diet that includes enough calcium and vitamin D3.
Finally, you should make sure that your bearded dragon has plenty of hiding spots where it can feel safe and secure.
If you follow these tips then your bearded dragon should stop sticking its tongue out.
