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Are bearded dragons good pets? Yes, Bearded Dragons are good pets. They are a great pet for beginners, intermediate, or any advanced pet keepers. They have basic requirements when it comes to care and can be affectionate pets to their owners. Bearded dragons also live between 10-12 years which is a good amount of time for a pet.
This is one of the most common questions we get from people looking to get a reptile for a pet. Are bearded dragons good pets?
It isn’t the same as getting a new puppy or a bird but getting a bearded dragon can be really rewarding.
In this blog post, you will learn more about the bearded dragon’s personality and what makes them a good pet.
Are Bearded Dragons Good Pets?
Bearded dragons are not aggressive; they are shy, passive, calm, and are good with children. They live long, with a life expectancy of between 8 to 15 years.
It means the beardies will be around for a long time to be adored by all their owners.
Bearded dragons can be leashed and taken for walks just as you would with other pets on a leash and would never bite unless threatened.
They interact well with people of all ages, and it is not uncommon to also see them line up by the dining table with long stares eagerly awaiting a toss of their share from your plate.
Are Bearded Dragons Good Pets For Beginners?
As they are popularly called, Beardies are suitable for beginners as they are pretty easy to handle.
Their rare but unique look is one of the reasons they are loved by many. If you’re considering having a reptile for a pet, a bearded dragon should top your list of choices.
They are suitable for a first-time pet owner. Beginners have nothing to worry about making a bearded dragon their first pet.
Bearded dragons are calm, easy-going, affordable, friendly, and great with kids, and they live longer.
If you don’t have a budget that can cover the cost of a cat or a dog, you’ll agree that a bearded dragon is a cheaper option.
Their diet is relatively more affordable than most pets’. Their omnivorous abilities allow owners to switch or balance between plant-based and animal-based meals, and caring for them is easy if you follow the basic guidelines.
This is what makes Bearded Dragons good for a variety of different age owners.
What Makes A Bearded Dragon A Good Pet?
There are several things about bearded dragons that make them good pets for kids and adults alike.
Great Personality
Bearded dragons are known for their great temperament and personality. They are generally happy and fun pets to have.
They enjoy being held and let out of their enclosure for some free roam time around the house (be careful if you have other pets) and of course, they enjoy just lounging around with their owners while watching some television.
Life Expectancy
Bearded dragons are one of the best pet reptiles to get when it comes to life expectancy as most dragons will live between 10-15 years if provided with the proper care, nutrition, and attention.
This is a good amount of time for a pet that isn’t a dog, cat, or even a larger animal such as a horse.
Just provide your bearded dragon with the proper care, and attention, and you should have a happy and healthy dragon for years to come.
Simple Care
Despite bearded dragons being somewhat of an exotic pet they do have a pretty simple care regimen that makes them a great pet choice for even beginners.
They just need a well-balanced diet of insect protein, a daily mixed salad, regular dusting of calcium, the occasional bath to aid in shedding, and your dragon should be happy.
Alongside these basic care requirements, you will need the proper setup to keep them happy and healthy.
The proper setup should include a large enough tank or enclosure to accommodate the size of your dragon, the proper heat lamps and/or heat pads to set up a cool zone, warm/humid zone, and basking spot for your dragon so that they can regulate their temperatures.
Smart Pet
Bearded dragons are incredibly smart in comparison to other pets you can for the first time.
Bearded dragons can get to a point where they recognize their owners when they walk into the room, know when it is feeding time, and more.
Affectionate
Bearded dragons are affectionate animals and enjoy just laying around with their owners watching tv or just sitting with their owners.
Feeding Is Easy
When it comes to feeding bearded dragons it is pretty easy as they eat a variety of different foods including leafy greens, fruits, vegetables, and feeder insects like super worms, crickets, and dubia roaches.
When you have as many choices as you do with bearded dragons it makes feeding time easy as you simply place a chopped salad of greens, fruits, and vegetables in their food dish.
Then once they have eaten enough of their salad for the day you can toss in some gut-loaded dubia roaches or super worms so that they can get their protein for the day.
Not Too Big, Not Too Small, Their Size Is Just Right.
Bearded dragons are just the right size for most new reptile or lizard owners as they do not get as big as a green Iguana that regularly reaches (6 feet long) but still reaches a good size where the dragon owners are proud.
They can still brag to their friends that they have a bearded dragon and it’s huge. Most bearded dragons reach 18-24″ inches long which is a manageable size where you do not have to have an entire room to devote to your dragon.
A good size glass aquarium will be plenty big for your dragon and still not take up to much room in your house.
Affordable
Bearded dragons are reasonably affordable to get your first dragon and everything they will need to live comfortably in your house.
Here is a list of the things you will need to get for your bearded dragon:
- Reptile tank or aquarium
- Substrate (either carpet or sand)
- Hide
- Basking Rock or branch
- Heating mat
- Basking/Heat Lamp
- UVA / UVB Combo Bulbs
Good Pets For Kids
Bearded dragons are a great first reptile for kids as they are friendly, affectionate, and relatively easy to care for.
They are pretty straightforward in what they need as far as their enclosure, daily diet, and interaction with their owners.
Are Bearded Dragons Good For A Ten-Year-Old?
Bearded dragons are not recommended for super young children, but bearded dragons are suitable for ten-year-old children under adult supervision.
They are like any pet that you can get your ten-year-old. You will have to supervise to make sure that the animal is being taken care of at times and offer help when needed.
Ten-year-old children are old enough to feed, water, and even bathe their Bearded Dragon on a regular basis with little supervision.
You should be able to teach your child what to look for to know what the pet needs and how to properly care for their dragon.
Proper washing of hands before and after handling the beardie is essential. Bearded dragons are peaceful natured pets and are easy to care for; once they are socialized, they are fun.
Are Bearded Dragons Good For A 12-Year-Old?
Yes, Bearded Dragons can be good pets for 10-years and older as they can usually take care of their own pets if reminded or given a little bit of help in the early days.
Bearded dragons are very clean reptiles, and it is expected that a 12-year-old handling one should wash their hands thoroughly and wipe them dry before and after handling the beardies.
The bearded dragon’s life expectancy of about 8 to 15 years allows them to grow with the 12-year-old children into adulthood.
Are Bearded Dragons Dangerous?
Bearded dragons are calm and friendly creatures. Some can be dangerous under some circumstances. You must learn to understand the body language of bearded dragons to minimize or prevent any destructive behavior from them.
If a bearded dragon is moved from a previous home to a new home, it could be touchy, aggressive, and want to be left alone.
They will perceive every person around them as a threat. You can tame them, but the period between the taming process and their movement to a new environment is crucial.
If not correctly handled and warning signs adequately understood, you might get a bite, a scratch, or even a slap from their tails, though without really drawing blood.
If you notice signs of aggressive behavior in your beardie, learn about their body language and save yourself from its bite.
Are Bearded Dragons Friendly?
They are friendly and unique creatures that have become endeared to humans, especially in the United States, and they have different personality traits. While some may be very laid-back and relaxed, some may be aggressive.
Bearded dragons recognize their owners, and they will move fast in their owner’s direction when they sight them.
Adult bearded dragons might show aggressive behavior when they are around other males to protect their territory and can be aggressive to females that are unsubmissive to them.
Beardies are good with children, but adults around the beardie should supervise underaged children.
Underaged kids could put the bearded dragon’s poop or try to put the beardie in their mouths. Children must be taught and watched before handling bearded dragons.
Are Bearded Dragons Cuddly?
Bearded dragons are cuddly and enjoy being held. It’s the same way you pick your cat and cat to cuddle that you can also gently pick your beardie to cuddle it.
One of the ways they’ll show they enjoy a person’s persona is by going up to that person affectionately and relaxing on their lap.
They don’t have the type of fascial grin or muscle to show their owners that they enjoy cuddling.
But when some bearded dragons are being cuddled or gently scratched on the ear, they show signs of enjoying that moment.
While the adult bearded dragons are the expressive ones, younger ones might be very reserved.
Do Beardies Get Attached To Their Owners?
Bearded dragons recognize their owners through scent and sound. There are ways a bearded dragon can identify the arrival or the presence of whoever they are attached to; humans and other pets.
Beardies recognize the feel or touch of their owners. When they snuggle close to you in a calm and relaxed state with their eyes closed, it indicates that they have a good bond with you.
They have an underdeveloped hypothalamus, a part of the brain that handles feelings and emotional responses.
Because of this naturally- underdeveloped state of this part of their brain, they don’t show the emotional reactions associated with cats and dogs.
Bearded dragons usually get attached to their owners if the owners spend quality time with them. Take them out of their terrarium to play with a ball or a toy.
Let your beardie enjoy a warm swim in the tub—also, a facetime in front of a mirror. Your beardie will get attached to you as long as you spend quality time with it.
In Conclusion
Bearded dragons make great pets for people of all ages. They are easy to care for, and love to be around their human family.
If you’re thinking about getting a pet, we highly recommend considering a bearded dragon! Thanks for reading our post on why bearded dragons make good pets.
