How to Tame a Bearded Dragon | Taming a Bearded Dragon (2024)

FAQs

Can all bearded dragons be tamed? ›

Bearded dragons are not instinctively tame. Their natural instinct is to protect themselves by acting aggressively, running away, puffing themselves up, or trying to bite when you attempt to handle them. This is a natural and healthy self-defense tactic. However, it is possible to tame a bearded dragon over time.

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.

Do Bearded Dragons Bond with Their Owners? Yes! 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.

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.

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.

Getting to know your dragon

Try dropping food in their enclosure with a pair of tweezers and talking to them in a calm voice for a few days. Make sure you repeat their name often during feeding time. Once they're used to you, feed them a few snacks and pet them gently as they eat.

Try holding your reptile 15 minutes a day. As it gets used to being handled, you can extend these periods for as long as your pet looks comfortable. Some dragons don't enjoy being held for a long time while others love it and will allow you to hold them several times a day.

You can hold a bearded dragon for as long as it will tolerate being held. Start with 15 minutes once a day and as it gets used to being handled, you can hold it longer. Some dragons enjoy being held several times a day for several hours. When the beardie becomes restless, it is time to put him back.

Although bearded dragons are not generally aggressive by nature, they may become mad and show signs of aggressive behavior if they feel threatened, they may feel threatened should you mishandle them or if they interpret something as an act of aggression even when it isn't.

What stresses a bearded dragon? ›

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).

Bearded dragons use their beard as a defense mechanism. When they are scared they open their mouths wide and puff out their beard which instantly turns jet black. This shocking sight gives predators a second thought about messing with this otherwise docile reptile.

Play safely: Don't kiss or snuggle your bearded dragon, and don't eat or drink around it.

Bearded dragons are able to imitate other bearded dragons to open doors. “The ability to learn through imitation is thought to be the pinnacle of social learning and long considered a distinctive characteristic of humans.

Continue to love your dragons as if they are loving you back. They do not recognize love but they recognize you and feel the pleasure that you give them when you're giving them that fat hornworm!

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.

How often should I feed my bearded dragon? Most young bearded dragons eat once or twice daily, while older lizards can be fed once daily, depending upon each pet's individual appetite.

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.

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.

Unlike lizards who are active at night, bearded dragons are awake during the day. They often like to climb branches and sit on logs to bask in the sun. As a result, they make great pets for people who want to interact with their pets during waking hours.

Can bearded dragons watch TV? ›

Bearded Dragons, or “Beardies” as some like to call them, aren't lazy pets. It's just that they are known to enjoy cuddling up with their owners while they watch TV.

Pogona vitticeps

Bearded dragons get their name thanks to a "beard" of spikes found under their chin that can puff up, indicating several "moods". ZooMontana is currently home to the Central Bearded Dragon, one of eight different species.

Bearded dragons are diurnal, visually oriented lizards. They spend the hottest time of the day in underground burrows. They do see colors and are attracted to green food. They also use their sense of smell, both to detect danger and to “sample” potential food items.

The answer is it's situational, but the worst-case scenario really isn't that painful. Even though these lizards have tiny sharp teeth, it really just feels like a brief pinch or sting. The age of your bearded dragon when it bites you will impact how much their bite hurts too.

Latin music is popular among bearded dragons because it causes them to bob their heads in time with the beat, much like they would when basking under a heat lamp. This type of music also encourages them to forage and hunt naturally.

Make sure you don't use vinyl or linoleum, which are too slippery for your bearded dragon's claws to gain any traction. The other issue with those materials is they retain a lot of heat and there is nowhere for it to escape in your dragon's tank, so it can burn your dragon.

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.

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.

Their nails grow fast, so regular clipping (once a month) is necessary to prevent scratching or them getting their nails caught on something and damaged. Cutting the bearded dragon's nails is not always necessary, though.

Baby bearded dragons that are 3 months old or younger usually poop one to three times a day because their diet is rich in proteins. A young bearded dragon (4 to 18 months old) will have a bowel movement every day or so, while you can expect those older than 18 months to poop 1-7 times a week.

What is a badass name for a dragon? ›

Edna — Hebrew meaning “fiery red.” Hydra — Greek meaning “many-headed dragon.” Iormungand — Originates from the Old Norse Jörmungandr, which means, “giant pole.” This is the name of the Midgard Serpent/World Serpent, which lives beneath the earth below the ocean. Kaida — Japanese origin meaning “l*ttle dragon.”

Extremely rare, the zero bearded dragon morph is completely lacking of patterns and colors. These white bearded dragons are growing in popularity.

Bearded dragons typically only hiss when they feel threatened. If your dragon is new, he may need some time to get used to the new environment and you. Your dragon may also hiss if he sees his reflection, or if you are reaching for your dragon from above.

Anger, stress or anxiety

A bearded dragon may turn black to let you know he is upset. Many factors can contribute to a bearded dragon's stress—shedding; a new terrarium; frightening decor; or noise such as loud traffic, music, or a blaring TV.

Bearded dragons will flatten their body in response to various things, including fear, stress, improper body temperature, and illness. This behavior is instinctual and does not cause harm to the dragon in and of itself. Most importantly, this is not a sign of trust but a sign of stress.

Turtles, tortoises, bearded dragons, iguanas, and chameleons are some common examples of reptiles that need UVB light. This helps prevent animals from developing hypocalcemia (or lack of calcium). UVB lights should be kept on during the day and turned off at night and should be used along with calcium supplements.

Seeing your beardie frantically pawing at or window surfing, in most instances, is usually a sign of stress, but could also mean they're bored too. There are, however, several other factors attributing to this kind behavior so let's first dive deeper…

Predators and Threats

Snakes, birds, dingoes, goannas, and crocodiles are all predators of a bearded dragon.

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.

If at some point you are no longer able to care for your pet reptile or amphibian, you have several options that are discussed here - releasing it is NOT one of these options. Never turn a pet reptile or amphibian loose outside.

Do all bearded dragons like to be held? ›

Some bearded dragons are a little more skittish than others and maybe resistant to petting. But in those cases, the bearded dragon may prefer laying on your body or being picked up and held without petting. You can learn how to handle a skittish bearded dragon.

Bearded dragons are often touted as “easier” reptiles because their care requirements are often less than other reptile species. But in reality, they aren't easy to care for in a person's home! Instead, it underscores how broken our relationships with wild animals are.

Bearded dragons are gentle-natured and easygoing pets, and are quickly tamed, even by owners who aren't familiar with the pet. Once your bearded dragon becomes familiar with you and its new surroundings, it'll soon enjoy your company.

Pick up the beardie.

Gently put your hand, palm upturned, under its body and scoop it up. Use your thumb and forefinger to support the front arms while the body rests in the palm of your hand. Make sure that all of the dragon's legs are supported. You might place a second hand under the tail as well.

Yes. If you've ever walked around a PetSmart store you know they sell critters like snakes, iguanas, mice, rats, hamsters, and other cool creatures. If you find yourself in a situation where you need to return one of these animals you have 14 days from date of purchase to do so.

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.

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.

As a general rule, always pick up a bearded dragon from the front or side and never directly from above. Then slide your hand under them, ensuring you support their chest and front legs. Hold the bearded dragon firmly so they feel secure and cannot jump away.

Keeping your beardie's nails trimmed neatly or clipped is very important for comfortable and safe handling. Their nails grow fast, so regular clipping (once a month) is necessary to prevent scratching or them getting their nails caught on something and damaged.

Combined with their nearly ideal body size, this makes them some of the most enjoyable lizards to handle in the reptile-keeping hobby. Typically, bearded dragons don't mind interacting with humans and they'll tolerate regular, brief handling sessions without becoming stressed or objecting very much.

Can bearded dragons make you sick? ›

Bearded dragons can carry Salmonella germs that can spread to you and make you sick. Always take steps to stay healthy around your bearded dragon. Bearded dragons can carry Salmonella germs in their droppings even if they look healthy and clean.

Many beardies don't like drinking from bowls, but will happily slurp up their bathwater. Baths are of course also important for hygiene. Plus, they help with shedding and constipation. Last but not least, many lizards simply enjoy a good soak!

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.