One of the big reasons why beardies are such popular pets is their sweet, patient dispositions. They rarely bite, claw, or tail-whip, and since they’re naturally laid-back, they love to snuggle. That being said, bearded dragon taming is still essential.
Setting Expectations
Through the process of bearded dragon taming and handling, remember that each has its own personality and will act accordingly—no matter what you do. But here are some general guidelines to keep in mind:
Bearded dragons have claws. Because they have claws, they do scratch bare skin sometimes. It’ll leave a red line at first, but that goes away soon enough.
A stressed, frightened dragon will do anything to get away from you. Making sure that your dragon is well-fed, familiar with its environment, and familiar with you is key for long-term trust. Understand that this takes time and effort.
Bearded Dragon Taming
When you first bring your beardie home, resist the temptation to immediately start cuddling him/her. You’re huge compared to a bearded dragon, and s/he needs time to figure out you’re a friend, not a predator. Most sources recommend letting your dragon settle in for 2 weeks before handling. It’s torture, but worth it.
Once your beardie has established confidence in his/her new home, you can introduce yourself. Let him/her get comfortable with your scent by placing an old, used shirt in the terrarium. Offer him/her food from your fingers (I recommend dry food like greens; wet stuff like melon or cucumber will get you bitten). Let your hand rest in the terrarium and allow the dragon to familiarize itself with your hand. This may involve quite a bit of licking.
After your bearded dragon has stopped running away from your hand and seems calm in your presence, you can handle him/her. But just because you have reached this step does not mean your dragon trusts you. Trust and friendship (as far as it goes for lizards) takes time and daily handling.
Handling Techniques
Since they’re so light, handling bearded dragons is an easy task. Here are some tips to make it a positive experience for both of you.
Support all four feet. If one foot is left out, s/he will feel off balance and start to thrash to regain it.
Use slow movements. Large, fast movements remind them of predators. Small, quick movements remind them of prey. Either way, it’s distracting.
Petting is tolerated and even appreciated, but do so gently. Never tug, pull, or tap. Also resist rubbing against his/her scales.
If your beardie is shedding, resist pulling at the loose skin. You may pull off scales that haven’t completely detached yet.
Adventuring
Allowing your bearded dragon to roam around gives him/her an opportunity to become completely confident in your home. You can even take him/her to the park if the sun is out and there aren’t many people around. This is great exercise, mentally stimulating, and an excellent source of UVB, so give him/her an opportunity to get out whenever possible. Make sure to keep an eye out, though!
You may be able to prevent your dragon from being stepped on, but part of letting your bearded dragon roam free is becoming proficient at Hide-and-Seek. You can reduce the likelihood losing him/her by “reptile-proofing” your home and being aware of trouble zones.
Underneath cabinets, couches, beds, etc.
Behind the refrigerator
Behind anything
Clothes/blankets on the floor
Closets
I know, that’s basically everywhere. But the good news is that your home is cooler than his/her terrarium, which means s/he eventually has to get tired and take a nap somewhere. So once you’ve checked a spot, you can cross it off the list. Over time you will become familiar with your dragon’s favorite hiding spots.
Bearded Dragon Body Language
Time for a quick lesson on bearded dragon body language. Becoming fluent takes a little while, but soon you’ll be able to read not only general body cues, but the moods specific to your beardie’s personality.
Black/dark beard — Something’s not right. It could be pain, cold temperatures, or general irritability. Maybe you took him/her outside and s/he doesn’t like it. A dark beard is always a bad thing. But if you have a male and there’s a female nearby, he’s just showing off.
Flexed beard — Feeling territorial. Your beardie will expand his/her beard if s/he feels like someone else is getting in his/her personal space. If you have a male and there’s a female nearby, he’s just showing off again. Beard flexing is also a normal behavior in the morning, as they do it to stretch.
“Sexy Leg” — An endearingly cute behavior that is nothing more than a good stretch.
“Pancaking” — If your bearded dragon suddenly flattens against the ground, spreading out his/her body, s/he is feeling frightened. There may have been a sudden movement that s/he didn’t like, or maybe s/he is outside. This is a defensive maneuver dragons use to hide from predators. It also hardens their side spikes.
Gaping — This is a normal behavior displayed by bearded dragons when they get hot. It’s like dogs panting. This is nothing to be concerned about unless s/he is doing it frequently, which means you should reduce temps a bit, or that s/he is sick. A big gape can be a warning that s/he is about to bite.
Tail up — Your beardie is feeling alert! This is typically displayed while hunting down bugs or adventuring. And it’s terribly cute.
Head bobbing — This is a territorial display, as well as a sign of dominance. Bearded dragons do this at other bearded dragons to tell them who’s boss. If a male is doing this at a female, he’s trying to impress her. If your bearded dragon is head bobbing but there’s no other beardie in sight, s/he’s just feeling good.
Arm waving — This is how a head bob is usually returned. Arm waving is a sign of submission, and is very deliberate, so you can’t miss it! If a male is nearby, your female is likely telling him that she is impressed by him. If your beardie is an only child, arm waving may be a sign that s/he submits to you. You can build his/her confidence by arm waving at him/her. S/he will likely give you a funny look, but do it every once in a while and s/he’ll get the message.
The tail curling gesture in bearded dragons signals alertness. Bearded dragons will curl their tails up when excited, chasing prey or running around for other reasons. They will also exhibit the tail curl as a reaction to warmth – when put in hot surroundings or in warm water.
Slowly place your hand around it's mid-section and lightly grasping the baby bearded dragon. Once you have a firm, yet gentle grasp on the bearded dragon, begin lifting it slowly from the habitat. It is important to keep a fairly consistent routine when taming your baby bearded dragon.
While not effusive and certainly not as emotional as dogs, cats, and other mammals, bearded dragons are known to show signs of affection to their owners. For example, they will remain calm when handled or sit still on their owner's lap. Bearded dragons are not social creatures by nature. In the wild, they live alone.
Bearded dragons usually tolerate handling better than other lizards. Regular handling helps bearded dragons get used to people, so you should handle your beardie daily. Doing so also minimizes stress during regular care, such as bathing or tank cleaning.
Beardies are known to enjoy sitting perched up on their owner's shoulders as they go out for walks around town. You can also carry them in a harness and then let them play in the grass or soil (as long as its pesticide-free.)
In the wild, Bearded Dragons mainly eat animals, they make up about 75% of their diet and can include crickets, co*ckroaches, worms and even small creatures such as mice however mice aren't fed to bearded dragons kept as pets. Greens, vegetables and limited fruit make up the other 20% to 25% of their diet.
Many new owner reports suggest it takes up to three or four months for the bearded dragon to get comfortable. With time, the beardie will trust you and look forward to your petting. They can go for several days or even weeks alone. We recommend paying close attention every day.
Some bearded dragons like to relax and lounge on their owners' laps while they're getting a little weekend reading done. Some bearded dragons respond positively to being picked up. Fully grown bearded dragons tend to be especially accepting of physical contact with people.
Commonly, bearded dragons like being petted in a few places. One such spot is directly between the eyes and on top of the head. Another is scratching their beards, or rubbing the spikes behind their eyes.
While bearded dragons offer a much different relationship from dogs and cats, owners can still develop close bonds and enjoy many similar types of interactions as other pets. The more attention you pay to your bearded dragon, the more you and your pet will get out of your relationship.
Beardies recognize and respond to their owners' voices and touch and are usually even-tempered. They can be great pets for someone who wants a reptile who likes to be held and taken out of his cage.
Don't - Keep your bearded dragon out of their habitat for too long. They don't necessarily enjoy being handled, even if they like you. You have to remember; people aren't just picking them up in the wild. They might not be upset, but they would most likely prefer to go back into their habitat.
As a general rule, bath time three times a week should be sufficient to keep your dragon clean and hydrated. If your dragon absolutely hates baths, then once a week may be a reasonable goal. If your dragon can't get enough bath time, you may want to do it more frequently, maybe even once a day.
The basic routine for cleaning out a bearded dragon is daily, with a little care which will remove the need to completely clean the vivarium out regularly. With this daily care, your bearded dragon's vivarium will need a full clean once every month or so.
When a bearded dragon reaches its thermal maximum, it will often sit with its mouth open. This behavior, called gaping, shows that the lizard is at its optimal temperature for basking. This gaping will allow a bearded dragon to dissipate extra body heat.
Glass surfing is thought to be a result of stress and a bearded dragon may be stressed for several reasons: An enclosure or tank that's too small for it can stress a bearded dragon out. Another bearded dragon, even if they're not housed together, may be interpreted as competition for a bearded dragon and cause stress.
It's A Sign of Aggression. Bearded dragons are generally calm and docile lizards. However, if they feel threatened, angry, or afraid, they may open their mouths as part of an aggressive stance. When an animal feels threatened or afraid, it will go into a fight or flight response.
It spends much of its waking hours in bushes and trees, and basking on rocks. When it is extremely hot, the bearded dragon will burrow underground. The bearded dragon is diurnal (active during the day) and an omnivore (eats both plants and insects or small prey).
Dragons tend to puff their beards out when they feel stressed or threatened. Your dragon may be severely stressed out by something new in his environment. Or he may be too hot or cold, or something else may be off in the terrarium. It never hurts to consult your vet on this one, especially if the puffing is frequent.
Even the calmest bearded dragon will eventually become stressed out if you handle him for too long. In fact, it is important to understand that bearded dragons probably do not “like” being handled – they simply “tolerate” it. So, it is wise to avoid pushing their limits by keeping handling sessions relatively brief.
Beardies love their owners. They'll recognize you, look in your eyes, beg for food, and sometimes want to be held. Unlike furry friends, beardies don't need constant attention or handling. They need alone time but will miss you if you're gone for too long.
Loud noise, such as outside traffic, dogs, yelling, TV, music, or a crying baby. Vibrations and rumbling from loud noises can bother your dragon almost as much as the noise itself. A new pet (even a new dragon or reptile in another tank can upset your dragon).
A warm bath (85-92 F) will relax your beardie, as well as giving them a chance to clean and hydrate themselves. Offer food daily. Alongside their normal greens, offer food daily, even if they are disinterested. This will help the beardie to positively associate with you.
When bearded dragons become very stressed, dark markings can appear on its belly and chin. These marks are a sure indication of stress. It can be very common to bearded dragons that you have recently acquired. The stress marks may go away in a few days once it has become accustomed to its new home.
Using misters on bearded dragons not only is effective for providing them with water, but also for making the shedding process go more smoothly. If you mist your beardie's skin during shedding, you increase the moisture in the environment -- and on his skin -- and therefore facilitate the loss of the old skin.
What is the ideal temperature gradient for a Bearded dragon? During the day, the optimum basking area temperature for a Bearded dragon is 40-42°C (104-107°F) with the cool end sitting at around 22-25°C (71-77°F).
Bearded Dragons should be fed three times per day and given as many insects as they will consume in 10 to 15 mins. After the feeding time is done it is best to remove as many remaining insects as possible. A typical juvenile can eat 20 to 50 insects each day.
Do bearded dragons recognize your face? Bearded dragons can learn to recognize their owners, and do so primarily as a food source. While they are generally docile, they do develop preferences for certain people and are more comfortable and trusting when handled and cared for properly.
They display many signs of their mood, such as head bobbing, arm-waving, bowing, tail swinging, and yawning. These are all signs of a content and happy beardie.
Known for being territorial, adult bearded dragons may display their aggression to defend their turf from other males, fight for food, or compete for a female. Some males may also attack females if they don't show submissive behavior.
This includes fireflies, lightning bugs or any worms that can glow in the dark. The chemical responsible for these insects' glow is highly toxic to bearded dragons. Avocados should also be avoided because they're also poisonous to beardies.
You can absolutely say your Bearded Dragon is happy and likes you when it shows no signs of aggression and only affection. Beardies like to project their emotions, and an upset dragon will be biting, bobbing their head, puffing out their beard, and hissing at you.
The most common reason why a bearded dragon waves is as a sign of submission. Where head bobbing displays dominance, and will typically be shown by alpha males or females, waving is a submissive sign usually given by dragons who view themselves in a subservient or beta position.
Introduction: My name is The Hon. Margery Christiansen, I am a bright, adorable, precious, inexpensive, gorgeous, comfortable, happy person who loves writing and wants to share my knowledge and understanding with you.
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