baby with an individual space.
Personality and Intelligence
Bearded dragons are like any other pet, such as dogs, cats, horses, and birds, in that they vary in personality. Some are more personable and responsive than others. Some show more signs of intelligence. Some are even spunky and full of attitude from the time they are very young, readily displaying an open mouth in readiness to bite, even right out of the egg! There are very few occurrences of mean adults; the vast majority of bearded dragons are calm and friendly. Bearded dragons can become very attached to their owners, and most will rapidly become a central part of the family, much as a dog or a cat would. They have intriguing qualities and behavior that endears them to most new owners right off the bat. For example, we use a dribbler to offer water at the end of each day, and many of our dragons will lick their lips at us when they are thirsty. Additionally, for people with fur allergies, a bearded dragon is a perfect alternative.
The intelligence level of bearded dragons has been compared to that of dogs, and we believe this to be true in many cases. Our adults know and become excited by certain words and phrases, such as “pool day!” Many will scratch at the doors of the enclosures to be first. By adulthood, most bearded dragons know their names.
Adding a bearded dragon to the family means committing to its proper care.
But the most incredible sign of intelligence we have seen in our fifteen years of breeding was displayed by a very closely bonded pair. The female would accept only one male, year after year. One day, the male was near the glass door, licking his lips. I went over to offer him water from the misting bottle. He refused, but he turned his head to his mate behind him, who immediately drank. At first, I thought nothing of it until an intern we had here said, “Do you realize what just happened? He called you over to satisfy the needs of his mate.” We were stunned. Was it a coincidence? Perhaps. But it did make us wonder if the true intelligence potential of bearded dragons has yet to be discovered.
The bottom line is that beardies can vary greatly in personality and intelligence. It is this writer’s opinion that intelligence should be as important a factor in selective breeding programs as vigor and color.
Size
For a first-time owner, a 6–8-inch juvenile that appears to be in good shape is a better long-term survival prospect than a 4-inch baby and is well worth the extra cost. If good color is important to you, ask to see photos of the parents and note the genetic line. Keep in mind that juveniles will change color as they grow and shed to adulthood, some quite dramatically. Baby color is not adult color.
Occasionally, breeders offer older dragons past their reproductive prime but with several good years left as pets and family members. Keep in mind, though, that it is very difficult to judge the age of an older bearded dragon. You may be considering what you are told is a two-year-old dragon that really five years old and will not be with you very long or could cost quite a bit in vet bills.
Selecting a healthy bearded dragon is the first step in a rewarding relationship with your new pet.
Signs of a Potentially Healthy Bearded Dragon
Many owners purchase bearded dragons through online breeders. Often, you can get a feel for the quality of a breeder’s animals just by assessing his or her website. Prices can also alert you to the difference. As a breeder, it costs a good amount of money to raise high-quality dragons. A good breeder will take the time to coach you before the sale and after your dragon arrives and be available to answer questions in the future.
Price should never be the deciding factor. Remember that you get what you pay for. Many first-time owners will buy the cheapest dragon they can find and then fill up an adult-sized enclosure with hundreds of dollars worth of backgrounds, expensive substrates and basking bulbs, a plethora of rock formations, hammocks, and play items. Many of these items are detrimental to the dragon’s health by keeping the juvenile under constant stress. This, to me, is like buying a $50 puppy and spending $300 on a leash that chokes the puppy. We have received countless calls from people who purchased their first dragon from a pet store, a show, or an irrepsonsible breeder in this way. In two weeks or soon after, the dragon is dead, and the several hundred dollars’ worth of cage items are useless. This situation is traumatic to you and the family and did not turn out too well for the dragon, either.
Instead, spend as much as you can afford on investing in a good-quality dragon and then simplify the setup. Your dragon (and your bank account) will thank you. Bearded dragon juveniles need only a very simple setup in a 20-gallon long tank. This allows them to find food easily and make the enclosure their home territory.
If you purchase a dragon at a pet shop or reptile show, there are some things you can look for. Healthy hatchlings may open their mouths and threaten to bite when a large hand approaches them. This is normal behavior for a healthy baby. Babies who appear to be sleeping in your hand may actually be listless and ill.
Look for belly marks, which are dark striations or patterns on the belly of the dragon. These dark markings are a sign of stress. Like people, bearded dragons kept under constant stress will become ill.
Stressed-out babies are dark and thin.
Look for an animal with rounded body contours and without visible skeletal outlines, particularly along the hipbones and spine. Make sure that the digits and tail are intact. Your dragon should be bright-eyed and either active or resting comfortably under a basking bulb with its head and upper body raised. It should be bilaterally symmetrical: both eyes should be the same size, and the dragon should not have a kink or bend in its back.
3: MAKING A HOME FOR YOUR DRAGON
We strongly urge you to keep your bearded dragon within a suitable enclosure. Allowing a dragon to roam free in your home or even in a single room may appear at first to be a good thing, but what may be perceived as freedom for the lizard can become a death trap.
Dragons that are loose in households fail to keep themselves adequately warm and hydrated and thus can become immune-suppressed, potentially falling ill from infections. Moreover, humans might step on loose dragons, or household dogs and cats may treat them as prey. They may receive serious or fatal electrical shocks from wires or equally serious trauma from toppling books, lamps, and the like. Loose dragons risk setting fires by bringing combustibles, such as curtains, into contact with hot items, such as light bulbs. Responsible bearded dragon owners who are dedicated to providing the best for their pets keep their dragons in appropriate enclosures and let them out only when they can be supervised closely or share time with the family.
Consider the number of dragons and their sizes when planning an adequate habitat.
Enclosures
Bearded dragons are moderately sized lizards that, as they grow, require larger enclosures. When deciding
