How to pet dragon

Bearded Dragon: Species Profile

Characteristics, Housing, Diet, and Other Information

Bearded dragons, or «beardies,» are moderately sized lizards native to Australia. They range in color but are often a light tan to brown with a long, thick tail and a spiky, beard-like collar around their neck. While they are generally considered good pets, even for beginner reptile owners, they do have fairly complex nutritional and environmental needs. Special equipment and a fair amount of time are needed to care for bearded dragons. However, they are generally social and easy to tame, and they show a range of fascinating behaviors that make them interesting to watch.

Species Overview

Common Names: Bearded dragon, central bearded dragon, inland bearded dragon

Scientific Name: Pogona vitticeps

Adult Size: 16 to 24 inches long

Life Expectancy: 6 to 10 years

Bearded Dragon Behavior and Temperament

Bearded dragons get their common name from the spines that encircle their necks. These spines usually lie flat. But if a dragon feels threatened, its throat will expand and the spines will stand up. In captivity, however, bearded dragons are generally docile, so owners rarely see their aggressive displays. These animals are active during the day and typically learn to tolerate handling well. Many even enjoy perching on their keepers’ shoulders. However, male bearded dragons should be housed separately, as they can be territorial.

Click Play to Learn More About the Fascinating Bearded Dragon

Housing the Bearded Dragon

For a single adult bearded dragon, a 55- to 75-gallon tank, along with a secure screen top, is ideal. Smaller tanks can be used for juveniles, but they will quickly outgrow them.

Bearded dragons are semi-arboreal (tree-dwelling) and sometimes like to perch off the ground. A selection of sturdy rocks, half logs, and branches can give them something to climb on, especially in the part of the tank used as a basking area. There should also be hiding spots, such as hollow logs, for your bearded dragon to feel comfortable.

Proper temperatures in the tank are extremely important. As with other reptiles, a temperature gradient should be provided for your bearded dragon, as well as a basking spot. The gradient should go from 80 to 85 degrees Fahrenheit on the cool side, up to a basking temperature of around 95 to 105 degrees Fahrenheit. Nighttime temperatures can fall to approximately 65 to 70 degrees Fahrenheit.

Heat can be provided via an incandescent light, ceramic heater, or a mercury vapor bulb in a dome reflector hood. You might need to experiment with wattage and distance from the tank to provide appropriate temperatures.

Use thermometers in the tank to monitor the temperatures at the basking spot, as well as at either end of the thermal gradient. Never rely on estimates. If necessary, an under-tank heater can be used to supplement the heat, especially at night if the room temperature is very low.

Light

Exposure to UV lighting is extremely important for pet bearded dragons. Special fluorescent bulbs can be found at pet stores that provide UV light. Your bearded dragon should be able to get within 12 inches of these lights to benefit from the UV emitted, depending on the type of bulb. Follow the manufacturer’s recommendations. Moreover, the lights should be directed through a screen top rather than glass, as glass filters out some UV rays.

Maintain a consistent day-night cycle by providing roughly 12 hours of light and 12 hours of darkness each day. Placing the lights on a timer can be helpful.

Exposure to sunlight can also be beneficial. If time outdoors is provided, shade and shelter must be available, so your bearded dragon can thermoregulate. Never place your pet outside in a glass tank, as overheating will quickly occur in the sunlight.

Humidity

Bearded dragons prefer a humidity level of around 35% to 40%. This mimics their natural arid environment. Usually this level is only difficult to maintain if you live in a high-humidity area. But if you do need to raise the humidity, you can mist your bearded dragon. Monitor the tank humidity using a hydrometer.

Substrate

Substrate is the material you place on the floor of your bearded dragon’s enclosure. It helps to maintain humidity in the environment, and it can give the tank a more natural look and feel.

For juveniles, loose substrate, such as sand, should be avoided. There is too great a risk of ingestion either accidentally or out of curiosity, and this can lead to intestinal impaction. Paper towels or reptile carpet can be used instead.

For adults, washed play sand (not fine silica sand) can be used, though paper towels or reptile carpet works fine, too. Do not use wood shavings, corn cob, walnut shell, or other substrates that could cause problems if swallowed. If sand is used, feces can be scooped out with a cat litter scoop. Sand allows bearded dragons to dig and burrow, which they enjoy.

Food and Water

In the wild, bearded dragons are omnivores, eating a mixture of invertebrate and vertebrate prey, including insects and smaller animals as well as plant material. In captivity, they should be fed a combination of insects and vegetables. Bearded dragons generally should be fed at least once every 24 hours, depending on their age. Baby bearded dragons often eat three times per day. Consult your veterinarian for the proper quantity of food, as this largely depends on your animal’s size.

Crickets that are fed to a bearded dragon should not be very large, especially for baby bearded dragons. Never feed any items bigger than the distance between the bearded dragon’s eyes. For adult bearded dragons, you can offer a wider range of insects, such as waxworms, silkworms, butterworms, red worms, earthworms, newly molted mealworms, and superworms. Pinkie mice can also occasionally be offered to adults.

Insects should be gut loaded (fed nutritious foods that pass to your pet) and lightly dusted with calcium and vitamin D supplements to prevent metabolic bone disease. Dust with a complete multivitamin no more than once a week.

In addition to insects, bearded dragons should be fed a mixture of leafy greens and other vegetables and fruits. These items can be chopped and mixed together to make a salad, which can be fed in a shallow bowl. Leafy greens can also be clipped to the side of the enclosure.

Provide water to your bearded dragon in a shallow dish. If your dragon enjoys soaking in the water, you can offer a larger dish for it to climb into occasionally.

Common Health and Behavior Problems

One of the most serious ailments affecting bearded dragons is metabolic bone disease. This is the result of an imbalanced calcium-to-phosphorus ratio. It can lead to a softening of the bones, making them prone to fractures.

Like other reptiles, bearded dragons also are susceptible to respiratory infections. Symptoms commonly include wheezing or excess mucus around the nostrils and mouth.

Furthermore, bearded dragons are prone to impaction of the digestive system, often due to certain insects in their diet. This is especially true with crunchy bugs, such as mealworms. So it is best to feed these in limited quantities, especially to juvenile bearded dragons.

Choosing Your Bearded Dragon

Select a bearded dragon that is active with healthy-looking skin. Some red flags include swollen joints; discharge around the eyes, nose, or mouth; discolored skin; and runny droppings.

Similar Species to the Bearded Dragon

If you’re interested in similar pets, check out:

Otherwise, check out other types of reptiles and amphibians that can be your new pet.

Shine a flashlight—the one on your phone works just fine—through the bearded dragon’s tail. If it has two bumps inside, it’s a male. One, and its female.

There are a number of reasons why your bearded dragon isn’t eating. If it’s winter, it could be going through something called brumation. That’s when it has a period of dormancy and hides in its substrate. Your dragon might also be starting to shed its skin, and you may notice it has a papery appearance.

Does your bearded dragon get enough UVB light? Without it, they will have bone loss, and not have appetites. Your dragon might also be cold; so check to make sure its enclosure is heated correctly.

If it’s none of these, you might want to make a call to your exotics veterinarian, to find the root cause and fix it.

Bearded dragons need to be bathed a couple of times per week. Bathwater should be no deeper than its knees, with water that’s 85 to 92 degrees F. All you need to do is splash water on the dragon and let it enjoy itself in the water, no soaps are needed! After about 20 minutes, remove it from the bath and pat it dry. Get it back under its warm lights to make sure it stays toasty.

Where Do Bearded Dragons Like To Be Pet?

Petting your bearded dragon is a great way to build a better relationship with it. An important aspect of keeping pets for many people includes this bond, so it is important to know where you should pet the bearded dragon.

Most bearded dragons enjoy being petted, despite not being the most sociable animals. One of the best ways to do this is to gently stroke its head and to make sure that you only pick it up by the belly. If you notice that it’s stressed, make sure you put it back.

You will want to make sure that you move slowly and avoid scaring your bearded dragon as much as possible. With time, you will be able to build trust with your pet.

Now, let’s see some of the different ways in which you can pet your bearded dragon.

How to Pet Your Bearded Dragon

Some people believe that bearded dragons don’t like to be pet at all. This isn’t exactly true. There are plenty of bearded dragons that want to be handled by their owners.

One of the best things that you can do for your bearded dragon is to handle it in the right way. Some people go on to lift their bearded dragon by the tail, which is the worst way to build trust with your companion.

The first thing that you should do is approach your bearded dragon’s cage slowly. Try not to make any quick movements, and do your best not to stand right above it. And when you slowly move your hand inside its cage, really do your best not to move quickly. This is because bearded dragons are territorial creatures and might become afraid, or might attack you for “invading” their territory.

Once you have calmly and slowly put your hand inside the bearded dragon’s cage, you will want to gently start to pet it using your fingers. You may want to have a treat in your hand to help the bearded dragon feel safer in approaching you.

You can, essentially, pet the beardie anywhere. Try to pet its head, and lightly pet it from head to tail. But don’t pet it backwards- so from the tail up to its head.

Picking up Your Bearded Dragon

If you have started to grow comfortable, and you notice that your bearded dragon has as well, you can carry it. Of course, be sure to examine how your bearded dragon is behaving before you do so. You really don’t want to disturb it if it is eating, and if you notice that your beardie is rather uncomfortable, then picking it up could make the situation worse.

Once you have decided that you should pick it up, here’s what to do.

As you are gently stroking your bearded dragon with your fingers, pay attention to how it is reacting. If it seems to be comfortable, gently place your hand under its belly to pick it up. It is very important that you never, ever try to pick up a bearded dragon by the tail or by its legs.

You need to make sure that its weight is balanced evenly. If your bearded dragon is a baby, getting picked up might cause it to feel worried. You can calm down some of its fears by putting your finger on its chin.

Now, let’s talk about how you hold the bearded dragon.

How to Hold Your Bearded Dragon

The best way to hold your bearded dragon in a way that will make it feel safe and calm is by holding it up to your chest. Since bearded dragons like to be in warm environments, and since your chest is warm, this is an ideal area for you to keep your bearded dragon near.

Continue to have your hand underneath its belly. A great way to have it positioned is to place its tail on your arm and hold its body with your hand. You can then pet it with your other hand.

Some other things you can do during this petting session is to reward your bearded dragon with a treat, causing it to feel much more trusting towards you. In reality, petting your bearded dragon will indeed establish a much more bonded relationship between the two of you.

If you live with other people, make sure that none of them speak too loudly or make sudden movements especially while the bearded dragon is out of its territory. Make sure to remind them to speak softly, move slowly, and if they also wish to pet the bearded dragon, instruct them how to, and how they can keep an eye on it to see if it is feeling stressed or agitated.

You can also play with your bearded dragon a bit. If you notice that your bearded dragon wants to walk around, you can allow it to climb on your arms. But make sure that it can’t fall.

It is important to keep an eye on how your bearded dragon is feeling. If you notice that your bearded dragon seems relaxed, then you’re doing great. However, if your bearded dragon starts to seem stressed or upset, that might mean it is time to put it back in its terrarium.

How to Put Your Bearded Dragon Back

It is important to also know how to put your bearded dragon back properly. You don’t want to cause it to feel unnecessarily worried, or even worse, you don’t want your bearded dragon to not feel comfortable with being around you anymore.

Once again, you have to make sure that you are doing everything slowly. This is due to the fact that bearded dragons are afraid of fast movements.

Once you recognize that your bearded dragon might be scared, upset, or simply doesn’t want to be pet anymore, make sure that you go to put it back in its cage. And try not to spend too much time with it, either.

Slowly take the bearded dragon back to its cage, holding on to the bearded dragon firmly (but not too tightly so as not to hurt it) so that it won’t fall out of your arms. When you approach its cage, slowly hold your arm out and into the cage, creating a sort of diagonal line with your arm.

This will allow your bearded dragon to be able to walk back into its habitat. You can perhaps give your bearded dragon a treat too to reward it for its splendid behavior.

With all of that, there are some very important things that you need to keep in mind about your bearded dragon’s body language, behavior, and the best ways for you to handle it.

What to Keep in Mind

One of the most important things for you personally to remember is that you have to wash your hands before and after you touch your bearded dragon. This is because, first off, you don’t want to get any foreign bacteria that you might be carrying onto your bearded dragon- after all, they are a different species, and what might not be harmful to you could be harmful to it.

And secondly, you must wash your hands when you are finished, because bearded dragons carry salmonella. Wash your hands very thoroughly. You should especially take good care with washing your hands if you get bitten or scratched by your bearded dragon- both are rare instances, but they do happen sometimes.

There are also things for you to keep in mind about your bearded dragon and its behavior.

Your bearded dragon might display behavior that will indicate that it is feeling stressed out or angry. If this is the case, you should not be petting your beardie at this time. Some examples might include if it puffs out its chin (often referred to as its beard), if it’s eating, hissing at you, or if it is trying to mate with its partner.

Bobbing heads is also an indication that you should not pet your bearded dragon at this time. This could either mean that it is preparing to mate with its partner, or they will soon start a fight for dominance.

Just as you would avoid bothering any other animal that seems to be stressed at the moment, you should not go on to bother your bearded dragon at that time. Wait until it feels calm, see what the problem is, and try to focus on being slow and quiet in the presence of your beardie.

If you do end up in a situation where your bearded dragon ends up biting or scratching you, don’t worry too much about it. While this should not happen often whatsoever, it does happen to everyone sooner or later. Make sure that you treat the wound immediately and clean it up.

Petting a bearded dragon involves a lot of trust and patience. You need to make sure that you approach its cage slowly and try not to make any fast movements. When you are petting your bearded dragon, be sure to apply as little pressure as possible so as not to hurt it. And finally, never, ever pick up your bearded dragon by the legs or by the tail- only pick it up under its belly.

Related Questions

What does it mean if my bearded dragon closes its eyes while being pet? Many people believe that this is an indication of happiness and contentment, but this is not the case. If you notice that your bearded dragon is closing its eyes when you hold or pet it, this is due to the fact that it feels threatened. It may also not like what you are doing.

We know this almost unbelievable, but it´s true! Read more on bearded dragons closing eyes here.

How can I make my bearded dragon happy? You have to make sure that your bearded dragon’s needs are completely met. This includes making sure its terrarium is set to all the right settings, it has all the proper nutritional needs, and through allowing your bearded dragon enough time to explore and have fun.

How To Pet A Bearded Dragon

Are you a new bearded dragon owner wondering how you pet this oddly cute animal?

Do you want to make sure you don’t alienate your reptile by petting him the wrong way?

Bearded dragons aren’t naturally into physical touch in the wild, but they can enjoy some types of petting in captivity.

However, there is a right and a wrong way to go about this.

As an owner, you need to know how to pet a bearded dragon.

Petting a bearded dragon isn’t tough to do if you go about it the right way. Always pet slowly on its head and face, but come from the front of the bearded dragon where it can see you. Going from head to tail is always better, and don’t approach the bearded dragon from above.

If you pet the bearded dragon incorrectly, you may end up scaring, which could result in it associating you with fear, or it could react and potentially bite.

Read on for more details in petting bearded dragon.

Table of Contents

Guide To Petting A Bearded Dragon

This section is a brief guide to petting a bearded dragon correctly.

Reading carefully and following these steps will help you to build a bond with your bearded dragon.

#1 Look For Calm Behaviors And Wash Your Hands

Before trying to pet your bearded dragon, look for behaviors showing it’s calm and ready to be pet.

A stressed bearded dragon may react negatively, no matter how strong your bond.

Calm behaviors are more likely to appear if your beardy’s needs have been met by the habitat and diet.

Calm behaviors can include:

If you see these behaviors, it should be OK to pet the beardy.

But if you notice any stressed signals, stop and attempt it again later.

Stressed behaviors may include:

As you watch for these behaviors, you should wash your hands with warm water and antibacterial soap.

Although you may think you don’t carry any diseases, bearded dragons can catch germs from us as well.

Washing before is a safe and ideal choice.

#2 Approach Slowly From The Front

When the bearded dragon is showing calm behavior, start moving your hand slowly towards the reptile.

As you move, keep your hand in front of the bearded dragon’s eyes.

This prevents it from getting startled.

Keep moving your hand closer until you’re almost touching its head.

Always watch for signs of stress, which may escalate into a bite if you’re not careful.

Usually, if the pet is calm when you start, it will stay calm as long as you move slowly and where the reptile can see you.

Warning!

Never approach a bearded dragon from above.

Beardies have a “third eye” on the top of their heads, which senses changes in shadow.

If you approach from above, the beardy may see a change in the lighting and think you’re a predatory bird about to attack.

#3 Stroke The Face And Head

Now since you’ve reached the bearded dragon’s body with your hand, begin petting.

With one or two fingers, nicely stroke the reptile’s face and head.

Don’t directly pet its mouth, but it enjoys having its face and head rubbed.

The beard/chin area may be pet, but they don’t seem to like this quite as much.

Pro-tip:

If you and your beardy haven’t fully bonded yet, help speed the process along by feeding it from your hand before petting it.

#4 Move From Head To Tail

If you’d like, begin to pet the bearded dragon along its back, body, and tail.

Do this with the same one or two fingers.

Always be sure to pet from head to tail direction.

As with approaching from above, moving from tail to head can trigger an automatic defense response.

As you pet, use gentle pressure.

Don’t push too hard, but give some force.

Bearded dragons seem to like a little pressure.

But if the pet is in the process of shedding, don’t pull off pieces of skin proactively.

The new skin may not have fully grown underneath, and taking off the old skin too early can expose tissue to infection.

Once shedding has begun, it’s best to hold off on all rubbing, petting, and scrubbing until the process is done.

#5 Pick Up The Bearded Dragon

When the petting seems to be going well, you also have the option of picking up the bearded dragon.

This is an essential part of taming a bearded dragon and helping it adjust to living in captivity.

To pick up a bearded dragon correctly, follow these quick steps or read our guide to picking up a bearded dragon.

Warning!

Bearded dragons may wiggle a bit right after you pick them.

If it seems like they may fall, use your other hand to press their body firmly but gently, so it doesn’t fall and get injured.

#6 Hold Close To Body And Pet More

Once you’ve picked the bearded dragon up, hold it close to your body.

By pressing the bearded dragon close to your body, you help it feel more secure.

It also increases the beardy’s body temp by sharing your body heat.

This will also help it to learn your scent better and associate warmth and security with you.

As you hold the reptile close, continue to pet with one hand the dragon’s face and head.

Also pet from head to tail, just as we did before.

#7 Put Down Gently

After you’ve done all of this for a while, put the bearded dragon down.

It’s not quite as simple as just dropping the reptile.

Support the bearded dragon and lower your hands until your hand is flat against the floor of the tank.

Then, tilt your hand up at the wrist and gently nudge the bearded dragon off with your other hand as needed.

Now the bearded dragon should scooch off the hand safely.

#8 Wash Your Hands

The final step is to wash your hands.

Bearded dragons carry salmonella, which can cause stomach and digestive issues in people.

Always wash your hands after handling any reptile with antibacterial soap and warm water.

Now you know how to pet a bearded dragon.

Do Bearded Dragons Like Being Handled?

The answer to this is double-edged.

In nature, there isn’t a form of being picked up, which doesn’t result in being carried off by a more giant predator.

However, in captivity, your bearded dragon is going to be picked up and handled.

It’s a simple fact.

Here are some times your bearded dragon may need to be picked up and handled:

Because it’s going to happen, they need to be trained to accept being handled.

This is called taming.

Taming boils down to only spending time with the bearded dragon, picking them up over time, and getting them to associate being handled with positive experiences.

If you skip the taming process, they can gradually get more and more stressed until it gets to the point where they fear you when you come to handle them.

This chronic stress can result in poor health and even aggressive behavior such as biting.

Avoid this by taking the time to tame and handle your dragon.

If you do take the time to do this right, they learn to like being handled.

Where is the best place to pet a bearded dragon?

There are a few good places to pet bearded dragons and a few bad ones.

Even so, the most important thing is to remember to pet them from head to tail and never approach them from above.

Good places to pet:

Not so good places to pet:

Note:

Even if you go to pet at a “good” place, the beardy won’t react well if it’s showing signs of stress and fear.

Be sure to read our earlier section, which goes into detail on these behaviors.

Conclusion

We hope you enjoyed learning about how to pet a bearded dragon.

It’s an excellent way to bond with your bearded dragon.

All you need to do is make sure to pet from the head to the tail and only if it’s showing you it’s calm.

Do this whenever you’d like, but just make sure to wash your hands before and after!

Do bearded dragons like to be pet? (How to handle them like a pro)

If you own a bearded dragon or are thinking of getting one, a question on your mind might be, ‘Do bearded dragons like to be pet?’

After all, it’s not always obvious like it is with a dog or a cat.

In our vast experience owning and dealing with bearded dragons, they do enjoy being petted as long as they’re properly socialized to being handled.

For evidence, take a look at how a bearded dragon tends to close its eyes and relax when petted. With that being said, it’s likely that bearded dragons don’t enjoy being petted as much as many mammal pets do.

Reptiles simply aren’t as social as many mammals, and they don’t seek out contact from others. It may be that bearded dragons learn to tolerate being petted rather than actively loving it.

Regardless, you won’t be upsetting or harming a bearded dragon by petting it, as long as you teach it to expect human contact over time and pet it in the right spots.

Can you handle bearded dragons?

The answer is that you absolutely can, provided you do it in the right way. It’s worth noting right away that all bearded dragons have individual personalities, likes and dislikes.

My bearded dragon might enjoy being handled more than yours, or they might have different areas where they like being petted. You should experiment with what works for your bearded dragon.

You may also be wondering where do bearded dragons like to be pet. Commonly, bearded dragons like being petted in a few places.

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.

There’s a right way and several wrong ways to pick up a bearded dragon. If you want to acclimatize your bearded dragon to being handled, you’ll want to learn the proper way to lift it up.

How to Handle Bearded Dragon?

When picking up a bearded dragon, it’s important to understand how to read the body language of the dragon.

This is especially true when you first get a bearded dragon and it’s unaccustomed to you, or to being handled.

There are also a number of dos and don’ts to keep in mind when approaching the bearded dragon.

Here are some step-by-step instructions for how to handle your bearded dragon:

Step 1 (Optional): Wash your hands or don gloves.

This step isn’t required – Many people will handle their bearded dragons without washing their hands or putting on gloves.

If you’re especially worried about transmitting any bacteria or germs to your bearded dragon, both these measures will protect against it. And this bite proof glove is best suited to protect your fingers.

Step 2: Approach the bearded dragon slowly and calmly.

Bearded dragons often react poorly to sudden movements. You will want to move deliberately over until you’re next to the bearded dragon, the slowly extend a hand.

Bearded dragons will indicate stress by lifting their head up and puffing up their chin, which will turn black.

If your bearded dragon is stressed, now might not be the best time to hold it.

The answer for how to handle aggressive bearded dragons is usually to give it some time to cool down and approach later when it’s in a better mood.

One very important note: Don’t approach your bearded dragon directly from above. Bearded dragons have sensory receptors on the top of their head because in the wild their predators attack from above.

If you try to grab a bearded dragon from directly above, they will interpret this as a predator attack.

Step 3: Make gentle contact with the bearded dragon before attempting to pick it up.

You will help your bearded dragon grow more comfortable with you before attempting to lift it by making some light, non-threatening physical contact.

You can stroke the bearded dragon gently around its head, or allow your index finger to lightly rest against its front legs.

Again, you’ll be looking for signs that the bearded dragon is angry or stressed.

Another sign is when a bearded dragon’s mouth is wide open – This is the bearded dragon trying to look as intimidating as possible.

Step 4: Support the front end of the bearded dragon.

When lifting a bearded dragon, you will want to make sure you’re supporting both the front legs and the back legs and base of the tail.

If any of these areas aren’t supported, your bearded dragon will feel unsafe and uncomfortable.

You’ll begin by supporting its front legs.

Slide your hand underneath the bearded dragon’s front legs so that it’s standing on your hand.

You can also gently lift the front of its body to accomplish this.

Step 5: Scoop the bearded dragon up from the rear while continuing to support its front.

Once the front of your bearded dragon is supported, you can slide your other hand underneath the rear of the dragon and lift it into the air.

It’s front legs and body should be cradled by one hand, while your other hand cradles its back legs, the base of the tail and rear part of its body.

If you’ve executed this properly, your bearded dragon will sit calmly in your hands.

Make sure you don’t squeeze the bearded dragon with your hands – You should only be supporting it.

One common mistake people make when holding bearded dragons is not supporting its rear legs and base of the tail.

When not supported, a bearded dragon will frequently begin to whip its tail in a circular motion.

This indicates the dragon is uncomfortable and also can harm its back over time.

Step 6: Reposition your bearded dragon if you’d like.

Once you are lifting and supporting your bearded dragon and it’s calm, you can reposition in into a more comfortable position.

One common way people hold bearded dragons is to use their entire forearm as a cradle for its body.

The bearded dragon’s head can rest in your palm in this position, or it can be the opposite way in the crook of your elbow.

Some people also like to set their bearded dragon on their shoulder or chest and let it rest there.

You can reposition your bearded dragon in any way you choose, so long as you continue to support its front, rear, and base of the tail.

How Often Should You Handle Your Bearded Dragon?

It’s a good idea to handle your bearded dragon at least once a day if you can manage. Ideally, you might handle it around once or twice a day, for at least 10 minutes or so.

Hatchling bearded dragons tend to be curious about the world and will want to explore around when out of their tank or cage.

Keep in mind that your climate and indoor temperature are a factor.

If you’re not in a particularly warm environment, be careful about keeping your bearded dragon for too long outside its properly warmed environment.

If your bearded dragon seems to be growing sluggish or lethargic and it’s been outside its tank or cage for a long time, you may want to put it back in there to recharge.

Aside from making sure its internal temperature is properly regulated, there’s no real limit on how long you handle your bearded dragon. You can carry it with you on your neck, chest or shoulder or play with it on a couch or table.

Keep in mind that if you hold your bearded dragon for long enough, it’s going to end up defecating, which can be an unpleasant surprise.

Often times, the bearded dragon will warn you by getting a bit restless and wiggling its hips. Take this as a cue to get it back inside the tank or cage if you don’t want to have to clean up a mess.

How to Bond with Your Bearded Dragon and Get Them to Like You?

When you first get a bearded dragon, it’s important to create a bond between yourself and the dragon.

It should learn to like being held, petted and touched. If you do this, your bearded dragon has a great chance of being calm and happy when interacting with people.

Many people wonder are bearded dragons social or are bearded dragons nice?

The bottom line is that a bearded dragon which has been raised to expect to be touched and handle will be incredibly docile and nice.

One unaccustomed to coming into contact with humans will probably be skittish or aggressive.

This is probably the biggest and most important piece of advice: Start early.

A bearded dragon hatchling can often time be fairly skittish. It may tend to run away when handled in certain ways. It’s okay if it doesn’t immediately take to being handled.

Be patient, make sure your movements are as gentle and calm as you can and make sure not to approach it from directly above.

Over time, your bearded dragon will likely begin to become used to contact with you. One little tip on how to handle juvenile bearded dragons is using your other hand to provide a ‘cave’ for it.

If it’s becoming upset or wriggling around, cupping your hand around it can make it feel safe and secure.

Once your bearded dragon gets older, you can use a variation on this technique that many people call the ‘beardie burrito’.

Take an old t-shirt, a scrap of fabric or a towel and gently wrap your bearded dragon in it.

This enclosure provides the bearded dragon with a sense of security and can be a great way to take your bearded dragon out in public.

One great way to build a bond with your bearded dragon is to feed it from your hand when it’s young.

This associates your hand with food, and it can be an excellent way to make a bearded dragon trust you.

There can be a downside to making your bearded dragon accustomed to eating from your hand, though.

If you constantly hand feed your dragon, it will eventually grow lazy and only take food in that way.

It’s probably a good idea to alternate your feeding methods. Beyond trying to associate food with yourself for your bearded dragon, the number one tip we can give you is to spend as much time with your bearded dragon as possible.

This can be anything from stopping by their tank or cage to give them a little pet from time to time, to letting your bearded dragon lay on or next to you while you read or watch TV.

Bearded dragons are great study buddies if you have to do homework or any other stationary work. They’ll be happy to lay on or near you, and that time spent will cause the bearded dragon to be more accepting of your presence.

Or take them our for a walk in a bearded dragon harness.

If you want to be able to handle your bearded dragon in a variety of situations, make sure to vary the way you hold it periodically.

You can comfortably hold a bearded dragon in any number of ways, using your hands, your forearm, your entire arm, shoulder, chest or lap.

If you make sure to hold your bearded dragon in lots of different ways, it won’t become uncomfortable or threatened in less familiar circumstances.

Beware! You Can Get Salmonella from Bearded Dragon

Unfortunately, bearded dragons can transmit salmonella to humans in some cases.

While salmonella is generally not a life-threatening illness, it’s one you definitely don’t want to contract.

The good news is that there are a number of ways that you can limit the chances of contracting salmonella from a bearded dragon.

What is Salmonella?

Salmonella is a bacterial infection which causes nausea, diarrhea, cramps, fever, and abdominal pain.

Salmonella is most dangerous for older people and children, though it’s rarely fatal.

Salmonella is a zoonotic disease, which means an infection which can be passed from an animal to a human.

Bearded dragons are an animal known for transmitting salmonella.

Do All Bearded Dragons Have Salmonella? How Do I Know if My Bearded Dragon Has It?

Not all bearded dragons carry salmonella.

In fact, most don’t.

However, it’s very difficult to know whether your bearded dragon has salmonella.

This is because salmonella doesn’t produce any symptoms in bearded dragons. In other words, your bearded dragon might be perfectly healthy but still have salmonella.

As a result, it’s better for you to be safe than sorry when dealing with any bearded dragon.

How Do Bearded Dragons Pass Salmonella to Humans?

The primary way bearded dragons give people salmonella is through their feces. They can also transmit it through contact with the skin, but usually only if the skin has been befouled by feces.

How Can I Avoid Contracting Salmonella From My Bearded Dragon?

Because the main way bearded dragons transmit salmonella is through feces, cleanliness is the primary way to keep yourself and others safe.

Before handling your bearded dragon, check to see whether it has any feces on it. If so, time to give your bearded dragon a bath.

When you’re cleaning your bearded dragon’s tank or cage, make sure to not let any feces come into contact with your face or mouth.

It may be a good idea to use gloves when doing the cleaning.

On the subject of cleaning, keeping your bearded dragon’s environment clean is a big plus. If its environment is dirty, the bearded dragon’s skin can easily become a vector for salmonella.

Finally, it’s a good idea to wash your hands after handling a bearded dragon. And as cute as they are, resist the urge to give them a kiss or let them touch your face in any way.

Conclusion

Bearded dragons can be a fantastic pet and a big part of the reason why is how agreeable they can be when you handle and pet them.

Having a pet you can pick up, pet and carry with you is great, and a bearded dragon can be a constant companion.

In order to make sure your bearded dragon is comfortable with you handling it, make sure to begin accustoming it to your touch and presence early in its life.

Handle it frequently, and use the proper technique so that your bearded dragon feels comfortable and stress-free.

Once you’ve developed a bond with your bearded dragon, you can easily pick up and hold them with no problems.

When doing so, be mindful of the risk of salmonella, and be sure to keep your bearded dragon and its environment clean to avoid any problems.

If you’ve had experience with your own bearded dragon and would like to comment, please feel free to share below.

These wonderful creatures are an outstanding addition to any household and can provide companionship and fun for years if raised and handled correctly.

Bearded Dragon Care – A Taming and Raising Guide

Inland or central bearded dragons (Pogona vitticeps) live for 10-12 years or more if given proper care and can grow up to 24 inches in length. They are easy to care for, hardy, and laidback. These and many other reasons have seen this agamid lizard an increasing exotic pet.

Before you buy a bearded dragon, you need to understand how to properly take care of this lizard as well as the various supplies they need to live happily. Anything less will make these pets stressed and unhealthy.

Let us go through the right way to keep a bearded dragon.

Bearded dragon care

Correct housing and habitat

The first thing they need is the right housing where you need to buy the right size of a tank or enclosure and as well as all other bearded dragon supplies that include:

Critical setpoints are humidity 30-45%, daytime temperature 100-110 °F on basking area, and 85-95 °F on the cooler side for 12-14 hours and a nighttime temperature of 65-75 °F. Also, the UVB should be at 10-12% UVB light for a photoperiod of 12-14 hours.

Feeding them

Feed your bearded dragon the right food and in its proper proportion depending on their age. How to feed bearded dragon depends on their age since babies, juveniles, and adult’s diets have different compositions.

How to feed them

Don’t forget to dust their food. How you sprinkle your beardie’s diet with calcium, vitamin D3, and multivitamin supplements will depend on their age with a higher frequency in babies.

Always gut-load their food to ensure they maximally benefit from nutrients that feeder insects have, gut load the various feeder insects 21-48 hours before feeding them to your beardies.

What to feed them

Health and vet care

Take them to your herp vet at least once in a year for routine checkouts or if they have any signs of illness. Regular checks should access general health and include bloodwork and fecal tests (for parasites).

Common diseases and conditions they suffer from include metabolic bone diseases, yellow fungus, paralysis, diarrhea, mouth rot, tail rot, parasites, impaction, dehydration, among others.

Signs and symptoms of illnesses include lethargy, not eating, vomiting, diarrhea, having discharges from their various openings, sunken eyes, among many others.

Typical and abnormal behaviors

Some behaviors like arm waving, head bobbing, eye-bulging, beard display, and so on are healthy, while others like glass surfing, hiding, and so on may indicate stress or health issues.

Maintenance

If you have the right housing, health care, and feeding schedule in place, there are a few other things you need to know which include the following:

Cleaning bearded dragon tank or cage

Proper hygiene is critical in ensuring your reptile is not only clean and odorless but also healthy and free of skin infections, parasites, and pathogens (bacteria, viruses, or fungi). Some of the routine practices to ensure they are clean include:

1. Daily and spot cleaning

Remove any remaining food and spot-clean their cages immediately you notice some dirt as they will soon begin decomposing and grow molds. Also, pick any feces as they will drag them to their water or eating bowls.

Spot cleaning is essential because warm vivarium temperature will favor mold growth, especially if you are using a loose substrate type. All this will make their cages to stink.

Finally, disinfect and clean their food and water bowls every day, i.e., at the end of the day or if they get soiled.

2. Weekly cleaning

Every week consider cleaning any non-absorbent hard surface using any reptile safe cleaning product such as the Zilla Reptile Terrarium Cleaner, chlorhexidine solution, or Zoo Med Wipe Out. Besides cleaning, they will deodorize and sterilize your terrarium.

3. Monthly thorough cleaning

Once every month, thoroughly clean your enclosure. During this time, you need to move your bearded dragon to a temporary holding place such as in a reptile carrier like the Exo Terra Faunarium Flat Home Home and ensure the ambient temperature is not too low.

Dismantle all accessories and remove your substrate. Wipe every side of the terrarium with a disinfectant and rinse it thoroughly to get rid of any remnant disinfectant.

Secondly, scrub and sterilize any non-absorbent accessories. This exercise may include soaking them in an at least 5% bleach solution for 20 minutes to kill any germs or using good reptile disinfectant as well as reptile waste odor eliminators.

Unless designed to use for a longer time, dispose of any loose substrate, clean carpets and soak or wipe solid type such as ceramic tiles with disinfectant and thoroughly rinse them.

Assemble back the various accessories and setup your terrarium before return your pet inside.

4. What to use

Some of the safe cleaning products and disinfectants include Nolvasan, F10 Veterinary Disinfectant, and the Zoo Med Wipe Out 1 Disinfectant.

Also, Natural Chemistry Healthy Habitat Cleaner and Deodorizer Reptile & Small Pets, Zilla Terrarium Cleaner Spray, and Fluker’s Super Scrub Organic Reptile Habitat Cleaner will serve you well.

Besides relying on commercial products, you can prepare some at home. For instance, using diluted vinegar (1 part of vinegar to 10 parts of water) is effective in thoroughly cleaning their cages.

Proper handling and holding

You need to regularly handle this pet to see if it has any health issues or if you need to bathe him or her. This interaction with them will, with time, make them recognize your touch, voice, or even respond to their names.

However, be careful. Handling may stress some beardies or even make to struggle or want to escape if they feel insecure or threatened.

Also, note that young or new bearded dragons may be skittish. However, as they grow and get used to handling, they will be more laid back or docile.

When picking this pet, approach it slowly from the front and ensure it sees you. Afterward, hand to this pet’s level before gently scooping him while supporting her four limbs and torso. If it tries to be aggressive (wanting to bite you) or struggle, leave it alone. Remember to never pick these pets by their tail, legs, or head. Also, they shouldn’t fall down.

Unless you live in a warm place, do not take them out of their vivarium for long, as this will drop their core temperature. Limit the duration you keep them out of their tanks to 10-15 minutes only.

You can let it walk on you, lounge on your lap, shoulder, or chest. Also, consider holding you beardie close to your body (creates a sense of security). In case you want to speak to it, do it in low tones.

Finally, like any other animal, these agamid lizards can carry parasites as well as germs, including viruses, fungi, or bacteria, especially salmonella. Therefore, after handling them, ensure you thoroughly wash and disinfectant your hands.

How to pet a breaded dragon

Besides handling, petting is another way to show love and grow a mutual bond. You can pet your beardie while handling it or while it is on the ground or surface.

To do it, approach him when he is not eating or hunting and ensure he sees you coming to avoid startling or making him, as this will cause him to feel threatened. Approach him to the front, not from above.

Slowly lower your hand towards him and gently stroke him on his head towards his tail as you look for the various body language he may show. Don’t stroke him from tail to head.

Stop petting or handling in case your bearded dragon retreat from or jumps away, show beard, twitches its tail, flattens its body, or any other sign of aggression, including hissing. Leave him alone.

Furthermore, if they close their eyes as you pet them, they are not enjoying it. Instead, they want you to stop petting them. They also do the same when they don’t want you to touch them

Once you finish petting your beardie, return him to his enclosure and give him a snack. Afterward, disinfect and wash your hands.

Bathing

Bathing is essential as it helps your bearded dragon shed well, dehydrate (it may drink some water as you bathe it), relieve constipation, or impaction, among other benefits.

When bathing it, ensure you use a shallow tub or skin that with lukewarm water (at about their body temperature or about 85 degrees Fahrenheit. The water level shouldn’t go beyond their shoulders.

While bathing, you can allow it to swim. These agamid lizards are excellent swimmers. They can swim for up to 30 minutes. If you are using a large tub, put branches or logs, where they can climb on to if they want to get out of water.

Add more warm water if it cools, drain it, and wash the tub if they poop, and once they finish the bathing, put them on a paper or cloth towel on their basking platform.

Nail care

Most habitats may not adequately wear down these pet’s nails. Therefore, in case they grow longer, you to clip their nails with a good clipper such as the BOSHEL Dog Nail Clippers and Trimmer with Safety Guard and clip them off.

If you want to know how to clip them properly, bearded dragon nail and claw care have all that you need to do.

Dental care

Bearded dragons have teeth, and they are prone to dental problems. Therefore, ensure proper dental hygiene. For instance, always dip a cotton pad in oral chlorhexidine solution and clean their teeth with it.

Also, during routine vet visits, your herp vet should sedate them and scrap off any plague or tartar at least once in a year and remind him if he forgets.

Finally, avoid sugary or soft diets. Instead, give them crunchy veggies and feeders insects as they will help better their dental health.

Shedding care

During shedding, consider giving them 10-15 minutes baths to promote sloughing and hydration. Also, mist them and provide them with rough or textured décor to rub on them.

Finally, rub their skin with a soft toothbrush and use shedding aids like Zilla Shed-Ease Reptile Bath or Zoo Med Repti Shedding Aid.

Brumation care

While not all bearded dragons brumate, some do. When they start showing signs of brumation, you need to encourage and care for them during brumation.

Ensure they have a hiding place, decrease food, photoperiod, and basking hours over a week or two and stop giving them food for the last week. When they finally they brumate, turn off light and heat but ensure they have water.

While brumating, to help keep them hydrated, you can give them baths and gradually restore their habitat optimum temperature and lighting as they finish brumating.

Looking after bearded dragon FAQs

We know you have so many questions on how to care for a bearded dragon. While it is impossible to cover everything in a single post, we endeavor to update our information continually.

This section will answer some common questions you may be having on caring for a beardie. Some common questions asked to include:

Do bearded dragons smell?

Some people claim that bearded dragons are smelly. The truth is that these pets do not stink, i.e., they do not have any foul body odor. If your beardie is smelly, it could be due to poor care or fungal infections.

With proper husbandry and if your pet is not sick, she will be odorless. If there is an odor, investigate the origin.

Are bearded dragon’s bites and scratches dangerous?

While they hardly bite or scratch, they can at times do so primarily if handled poorly or bites you accidentally as you are hand feeding it.

Bites and scratches that break your skin can transfer zoonotic diseases such as coccidia, worms, salmonella, and so on, more so, in cases where they have poor diets or husbandry.

Do they pass zoonotic disease?

Bearded dragons can pass some zoonotic diseases and parasites like worms, coccidia, or salmonella. Ways in which the spread occurs include:

Always disinfect your hands after handling these reptiles and ensure they live in a clean environment that maintains good hygiene.

How do I care for a Rankin’s dragon?

As one of the members of the genus Pogona, Rankin’s dragon needs similar care as its Australian counterpart, the Pogona vitticeps. The same applies to the Eastern beardie.

How do I care for a fancy bearded dragon?

Unless you have a silkie, care tips are the same for any other fancy beardie. In general, silkies require slightly higher humidity and lower UV and lighting conditions since they have very smooth skins.

How do I care for young beardies?

Caring for a young bearded dragon is more or less the same as adults. You need to ensure you give them the right diet as they are still you. Also, baby beardies require lesser basking temperature and UVB light.

Keep basking temperature at 95-100 degrees Fahrenheit and UVB rays at 5% and not the usual 10-12% UVB. Also, reduce handing as they are more skittish.

For hatchlings, ensure you use a solid substrate type, especially those that are easy to clean as they tend to poop more.

What is the care cost?

Besides buying the necessary supplies, including cost, the other care requirements are not so high. You need disinfectants, cleaning, and deodorizing agents.

What night care do beardies require?

These pets are diurnal, meaning they sleep at night and stay awake during the day. All you need is to keep the temperature between 65 and 75 °F if ambient nighttime goes below 65°F.

Use ceramic heat emitter or any other means that don’t emit light as blue, red, or moonlight lighting will disturb their sleep.

Can I syringe feed my sick bearded dragon?

No. Only syringe-feed these agamid lizards if you know how to do it as well as why they are not eating. For instance, they may be brumating, a time they should not be eating.

Let your vet advise you when it is necessary to force-feed them. We recommend critical diets such as Fluker’s Repta+Boost Insectivore & Carnivore High Amp Boost or Zilla Reptile Health Supplies Jump-Start Appetite Stimulant once your vet has given you an ok.

How do I care for females?

Unless gravid (carrying eggs) care is the same for males and females. If gravid, increase calcium supplementation.

How do I care for a wound?

If your bearded dragon is bleeding, stop the bleeding fast by applying pressure with cotton wool or gauze or CELOX First Aid Temporary Traumatic Wound Treatment. See your vet harm for further care.

For superficial wounds, wash them with warm water and antibacterial soap and apply antibiotic ointment. Vetericyn Plus Reptile Wound and Skin Care and Betadine First Aid Solution 8 Ounces Povidone Iodine Antiseptic with No-Sting Promise will serve you well. For severe cases, let your vet handle it once you stop the bleeding.