How To Tell If A Bearded Dragon Is Male Or Female [Sexing Guide]

Are you trying to determine the gender of your bearded dragon but can’t tell the difference between male and female? Sexing a bearded dragon can be tricky for the untrained eye.

Fear not — with this guide on identifying the gender of your pet lizard, you’ll be able to determine if you’ve got a “Beardo” or a “Beardina” in no time (feel free to steal those name suggestions).

So without further ado, let’s dive into how you can easily sex a bearded dragon.

There are three ways you can easily tell the difference. The first method, examining the hemipenal bulges, is probably the easiest and most reliable.

The best way to tell if a bearded dragon is male or female is to examine the bulges on the underbelly close to the tail and vent. Nerds will note that these are known as the hemipenal bulges (but it’s fine if you can’t remember what they’re called; this won’t be on the quiz). These bulges indicate the presence of the dragon’s internal sex organs, and thus, reveal the beardie’s gender.

To find your dragon’s hemipenal bulges and determine their sex, follow these steps:

1. Lay your dragon down on a flat, horizontal surface.
2. Gently grab about two inches above base of their tail and lift the tailupwards to about a 90-degree angle.
3. Look closely at the base of the tail.
4. If you see two parallel, defined bulges running along the base of the tail to the vent (or cloacal opening), it’s a male!
5. If you see only one bulge, centered, running along the base of the tail to the vent (or cloacal opening), it’s a female!

Tip: Never grab a dragon by the tip of the tail, for sexing or any other reason. The tip can be more fragile and prone to breaking off. And, unlike other lizards, a beardie cannot grow its tail back.

See the two hemipenal bulges? That’s a male alright!

The first method is the tried-and-true, easiest way to figure out if you’ve got a boy or girl beardie, but there’s another way to sex them as well.

To sex a dragon by flashlight examination, you’ll need to do the following:

1. Find a dark area in your house (or turn out all the lights).
2. Lay your dragon on a flat, horizontal surface
3. Gently grab about two inches above base of their tail and lift the tailupwards to about a 90-degree angle.
4. Shine a flashlight (phone flashlights work great) at the base of the tail, look closely at the area on the underside of the base of the tail and cloacal opening
5. When held up to the light, you’ll notice the dark shadow of the hemipenal bulges
6. If you see two dark shadows, what you’ve discovered is your dragon’s internal male sex organs. Congratulations, it’s a boy!
7. If you see just one dark shadow at the center of the base of the tale, congratulations, it’s a girl!

Male (left) and female (right), sexing a bearded dragon is easy using the flashlight method

Another way to sex a bearded dragon is to compare the size and shape of the femoral pores.

Femoral pores are openings in the skin on the underneath side of a bearded dragon’s inner thighs. The pores are used to secrete pheromones and are present and noticeable in both female and male adult dragons.

Males typically have larger, more pronounced femoral pores, while females tend to have smaller, less noticeable ones.

It’s hard to describe the difference in size, but easy to tell which is which if you examine the femoral pores of a male and female specimen side by side.

This method will not work if your dragon is less than about 12 months old. The femoral pores are not fully developed and indistinguishable until adulthood.

Note: femoral pore sexing isn’t as reliable as sexing with the hemipenal bulges, but it’s still a useful tool!

Yes! Bearded dragons are known to show sex-related behaviors, particularly around mating season.

However, these sexual differences in behavior are more subtle than some beardie enthusiasts would have you believe. There are many myths and misconceptions out there, so here’s the facts.

Some people will tell you that only males display “black-bearding”, a behavior where the dragon darkens their beards in response to stress.

In truth, both males and females can display this behavior. Males might be more likely in general to black-beard, but this will vary greatly from dragon to dragon.

You might have heard digging is a tell-tale sign of a female dragon. Female dragons dig when they are preparing to lay eggs, but some males may also display digging behavior at times.

Side note: If you know your dragon is an adult female, be sure to provide a digging box with substrate. It’s in her instincts to dig before laying a clutch. This will happen about 3-4 times a year. You will have to supplement her diet with calcium as well during the egg-laying season.

Males and females do have disparate responses to breeding season.

Males may become very territorial and show more dominant behavior, such as head bobbing and constant glass-surfing (clawing at the sides of the enclosure like they want to escape). You may also notice your male displaying his spikes more often.

Females will also show different behavior, but not the same way males do — they tend to engage in a lot of arm waving and may become more receptive to male advances.

Male bearded dragons are larger than females, average.

Does this mean EVERY male will be larger than EVERY female?

Nope.

There are many factors that can influence size, including environment, diet and individual genetics. A female raised in an enclosure with the proper temperature, humidity, and diet will grow to be larger than a male in a sub-standard environment nine times out of ten.

So don’t rely on size alone to sex your dragon — use the other methods mentioned above!

There are some other reliable examples of sexual dimorphism in bearded dragons though. Males tend to have thicker tails and bigger heads. Females tend to have a pudgier belly to support egg production.

It is hard to tell the gender of a baby bearded dragon. Like all reptiles, bearded dragons sexual characteristics develop as the individual matures. The hemipenal bulges are not yet pronounced. You can not tell if it is a boy or girl until it is about 9 to 12 weeks old.

Sexing via femoral pore examination is only viable even later — once your beardie is an adult.

Experienced breeders might be able to sex a juvenile bearded dragon earlier than nine weeks (some even brag that they are able to spot gender differences in 1-week-old babies). Beginners should wait for more obvious sexing cues, though.

The sex of your bearded dragon is a personal preference.

Maybe you’ve always wanted to name your beardie “David” or something. In which case, go crazy, get a male!

Some people prefer the more laid back nature of female dragons, while others are entertained by their male’s more active and territorial behavior.

You shouldn’t be put off by the behavior of either males or females; both make great pets! Both the male craziness of mating season and females’ preoccupation during egg-laying times are passing phases.

Ultimately, it’s up to you!

If you don’t want a gaggle of baby dragons, the answer is no. Male and female bearded dragons should not be housed together, as they will mate and produce offspring. This is especially true during mating season.

Additionally, it’s not recommended that you keep multiple dragons in the same environment before adulthood. Dominating individuals will not hesitate to take food away from subdominant dragons, or hog the basking light, and this could lead to malnutrition.

If you do decide to house an adult male and female together, be sure to provide them with adequate space. A 120-gallon tank is not enough! Not guaranteeing comfortable living space and privacy for your beardies can lead to stress and related maladies.

Having difficulty sexing your own dragon?

Consult with an experienced breeder or veterinarian for personalized help. Your vet will be happy to sex your bearded dragon for you when you bring your pet in for an initial exam (which you should be doing within the first couple days of owning them).

Can bearded dragons change their sex?

Yes! Sex reversal is a common trait in reptiles and amphibians, and bearded dragons are no exception. Studies have shown that male embryos can become females if subjected to high incubation temperatures.

This is thought to be an adaptive technique meant to increase the number of egg-laying females in a generation born into a hotter (and thus harder to survive in) climate. This sex reversal happens only before bearded dragons are hatched and will not occur if eggs are incubated at the normal temperature.

So there you have it! Telling the difference between male and female bearded dragons is now a piece of cake.

The sexing process requires a little bit of observation, but with time and patience you can easily tell which sex your dragon is. Just remember to look for hemipenal bulges (two for males, one for females), femoral pores on the back legs, and sex-specific behaviors.

If you can’t figure it out on your own, don’t worry! Your vet is always happy to help sex your dragon for you.

Good luck!