Anyone who owns a bearded dragon knows that they are fairly smart reptiles. But did you know that they are smarter than you may have previously thought?
Bearded dragons feel emotional states and the physical feelings generated by those emotions. Bearded dragons are sentient beings capable of feeling pleasure and suffering, positive feelings, negative feelings and emotional pain as does any animal.
Many bearded dragons recognize their owner's voice and scent, and display various signs of comfort and familiarity around them. This can foster a really special bond even though it isn't technically love.
Because their eyes are pointed to their sides, they can't view directly in front of them as humans can. They can only see a tiny sliver. Imagine trying to see what's in front of you using peripheral vision alone. That's what it's like for bearded dragons.
Although they are not truly social creatures, bearded dragons do have ways of communicating their moods and intentions to other beardies, and even to you, a human beardie owner. Even more importantly – how your beardies look and what they do can tell you a lot about their health.
Since bearded dragons are naturally solitary creatures, they do not get lonely if placed alone in a cage or left for some time away from their keeper. They much prefer having their food and heat to themselves rather than sharing it with another bearded dragon.
Bearded dragons do like to be pet, as long as they've been socialized and are in the right mood. As long as you pay attention to the body language and behavior of your beardie, you'll be able to enjoy some fun petting sessions! Let us know if you have questions about any of the information above.
Baby beardies are more skittish and can panic when they are picked up. Try to keep the baby calm and keep one finger under its chin while holding it. Never grab or hold a bearded dragon by its legs or tail.
Hold Bearded Dragons Until They're at least 6-inches Long
As a rule of thumb, you'll want to avoid any unnecessary handling until your bearded dragon is about 6 inches long or so. By this time, they're usually sturdier and less likely to become injured during handling sessions.
Bearded dragons, or 'beardies', are one of the most popular lizards in captivity in the UK. Their lifespan is usually 10 to 15 years or more, so they're quite a commitment. It's important to replicate their natural habitat as best you can.
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.
Bearded dragons vary in their personality. Some are more personable and responsive than others. Some show more signs of intelligence than others.
Though an unlikely pair, Bearded Dragons and dogs can make good friends! Though they will need a little bit of time and work to get to know each other, they can be a compatible pair before long! Although even if they are the best of friends, it is important to never leave your pets unsupervised while together.
"Bearded dragons are highly social, friendly, animated, curious, docile, and gentle animals that are easy to tame and are very responsive to their owners." Bearded dragons are highly social, friendly, animated, curious, docile, and gentle animals that are easy to tame and are very responsive to their owners.
A happy bearded dragon with a lot of trust in its owner will often walk over to them. They might run up to the glass when you near their enclosure or saunter over to your hand when you're doing tank maintenance. If they have free roam of a safe room, they may even run to you when you place them on the floor!
Give your dragon a nice warm bath, followed by cuddles in a soft towel. Simply pause as much noise as possible to give your dragon some quiet time. Try turning off the lights until your dragon is more calm (of course you wouldn't want to leave the tank like this for too long so your dragon doesn't get too cold).
Bearded dragons are fascinating little reptiles that make good pets. They love basking in the sun and are active after sleeping eight to 12 hours daily. In the colder months, bearded dragons sleep up to 14 hours and may enter a state of brumation. So are bearded dragons nocturnal or diurnal?
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.
Bearded Dragon Bites
Dragons rarely bite. When they do, it's rarely serious. A dragon bite may be painful because their teeth are sharp. If you are bitten, the site may swell and bleed.
Don't kiss or snuggle your bearded dragon, and don't eat or drink around it. This can spread Salmonella germs to your mouth and make you sick. Keep your bearded dragon out of your kitchen and other areas where you eat, store, or prepare food.
Believe it or not, bearded dragons typically close their eyes when you pet or hold them because they're scared and want to get out of the situation. It's a coping mechanism and often acts as a warning to back off. If you don't, their behavior could progress to more aggressive actions.
Play safely: Don't kiss or snuggle your bearded dragon, and don't eat or drink around it. This can spread salmonella germs to your mouth and make you sick.
If you observe your lizard under their basking light and they have their mouth open, this is most likely normal behavior, and there is no reason to be concerned. Bearded dragons open their mouths to cool themselves down the way humans sweat to regulate body temperature.