Bearded Dragon is like a starter Pokemon for pet reptiles.
Experts say bearded dragons are calm and love to spend time with people, so they may be a great choice for people who’ve never kept a reptile before and are looking for an easy-to-care-for pet. According to the American Reptile Breeders Association, bearded dragons are growing in popularity and are a great option for people with limited space or whose allergies are aggravated by dogs or cats.
“As you can see, bearded dragons are very laid-back,” Michelle Thompson, who owns a shoulder-sitter named Nabby, told USA Today in a recent video interview.
According to the American Veterinary Medical Association, about 6 million households across the U.S. keep at least one reptile as a pet, with bearded dragons being the most popular among them, according to recent internet search data, Reptile Magazine reported in 2021.
“Among all reptiles, this animal is near the top of our most popular pets and we would recommend it to anyone who has never kept a reptile before and wants to try it for the first time,” said Whitney Miller, head veterinarian at Petco.
Here are some of the cutest common bearded dragon behaviors, according to pet advocates, as well as some of the biggest mistakes bearded dragon owners make with their reptiles.
Reptile “Golden Retriever”
“When bearded dragons are happy, they’ll sit quietly on your lap for hours, soothed by their body heat because they’re cold-blooded,” said Thompson, who volunteers as treasurer for the Bearded Dragon Foundation in Las Vegas. Sometimes they’ll bury their faces in your neck or other areas for extra warmth, Thompson said.
“They’re like the golden retrievers of the reptile world,” says Thompson, 38. Bearded dragons like to hang out with people who sit on the couch watching TV, says Phil Goss, president of the American Reptile Breeders Association, and he’s heard of families who have their dragons sit on the table during board game nights, making the animals part of the fun.
“They’re happy to be around people,” said Goss, who is based in southern Indiana. “They’re a part of a lot of people’s daily lives.”
Bearded dragons are so docile that they’re the only reptile Petco sells Halloween costumes for, Miller said.
Bearded dragons also have strong prehensile claws, which allows many owners to walk around with them on their shoulders, Goss said.
Goss said kids who own bearded dragons can easily take their pets to a friend’s house next door or check the mail with the lizard on their shoulder. Goss said the lizards, affectionately called “beardies,” just stay close to their owners.
Don’t feed only insects
Goss and Thompson say that contrary to popular belief, bearded dragons don’t just eat crickets like other reptiles: Although insects are fatty and rich in protein, bearded dragons also need lots of leafy vegetables, they say.
Bearded dragons apparently love eating bugs, and some owners overfeed them: “They eat bugs all day, so you can tell they’re enjoying it,” Thompson says.
“They are avid junk food eaters,” she said, adding that another food, mealworms, are the equivalent of a “cheeseburger.”
With proper nutrition, bearded dragons can live up to 15 and sometimes 20 years, Thompson said.
“Looking at their waste is actually very important,” Miller said, explaining that a bearded dragon’s “poop” is a big indicator of health. When reptile and bird owners take their pets to the vet, Miller said the vet will likely ask for a sample, no matter how gross it sounds.
According to Mill, bearded dragon feces should be solid and brown and white in color — the white part is actually uric acid, a solid part of urine.
Thompson says reptiles will eat a variety of vegetables, provided they aren’t overindulged by too many bugs. Dark green leafy vegetables like arugula, collard greens, mustard greens, bok choy, and turnip greens are best for reptiles. They also like sweet potatoes, bell peppers, butternut squash, and kidney beans.
Thompson said dogs love fruits like strawberries and blueberries, but they should only be given small amounts because they have too much sugar, and Goss said citrus fruits should never be given to dogs.
Urogyptiaca needs UV lights and bulb replacement
Bearded dragons need ultraviolet or UVB light to stay healthy, as this light source helps them metabolize nutrients such as calcium. They also need a light bulb as a source of heat.
In the worst cases, bearded dragons that don’t get enough UV exposure can develop serious bone defects and disease.
One big mistake people make is thinking that just because a UV light keeps emitting light, it might have stopped emitting UV light, Thompson says. To maintain the proper levels of UV, bulbs should be replaced every six to 12 months, even if they appear to be working properly, Thompson says.
“The common refrain is, ‘It still worked, so we didn’t replace it,'” Thompson says.
While maintaining adequate UV light in your bearded dragon’s enclosure is important for their health, spending time with them outside of their enclosure allows these creatures to truly bond with their owners.
“He’d be happy to be here with me and just observe things and enjoy what’s going on in the world,” Thompson said.