Bearded dragons are lizards, and as with most of them, they are adapted to the wild habitat. They have to fend for themselves and struggle to survive. It is different when these animals are in captivity. As a pet beardie owner, you provide the reptile with food and habitat and keep it safe from any predators in the environment.
The reptiles are not accustomed to showing emotions. It is because, in their wild habitat, they hardly interact with humans. It is natural to want to bond with the pet as a beardie owner. One of the ways you may wish to do so is by snuggling the pet, but;
Do bearded dragons like to snuggle?
Yes, bearded dragons enjoy snuggling, to a given extent. Although they live in solitary in the wild, these animals can show affection through ways such as snuggling. It might take time to get your bearded dragon to snuggle with you, but it will be worth it.
Unlike pets such as dogs and cats that will come to you for cuddles or lick your hand or face, dragons show affection differently. It will take time for your beardie to display love, and their display of affection is different from that of cats and dogs.
How To Get Your Bearded Dragon To Snuggle
As earlier mentioned, bearded dragons do not easily show emotions. It takes time to get the pet to trust you enough for them to be affectionate. Snuggling is one way through which a bearded dragon shows affection. To get to this point, below are tips on making your bearded dragon comfortable around you enough for it to like snuggling.
1. Feed The Pet
Food is a vital part of the reptile’s day-to-day life. Make time to feed the lizard personally, and you may also use your hands to do so. It makes the pet get used to your scent, voice, and presence.
The small act goes a long way in making the pet trust you more; thus, they grow comfortable enough to snuggle.
2. Provide Treats
Treats are foods that bearded dragons like but can’t form a part of their staple diet due to their nutritional content. Giving your beardie treats makes them associate you with a positive experience.
It is an excellent way of making the pet grow fond of you. However, limit the quantity and frequency of the treats to avoid risking the pet’s health.
3. Spend Time With The Bearded Dragon
Spending time with your pet creates familiarity. It makes the lizard stop fearing you and instead get used to you handling it. A bearded dragon might hide or get stressed in the presence of unfamiliar people.
In addition, spending time with the pet helps you know its personality. Thus you can tell when something is off.
Some of the best ways to spend time with your bearded dragon are by bathing it, going on walks with the pet, and allowing it to spend time outside the tank as long as you can monitor it.
4. Pet The Dragon
Surprisingly, most bearded dragons like being pet. It is comforting for the pet and acts as a sign of affection. Some of the parts bearded dragons enjoy snuggles include the head, nose, limbs, back, and tail.
How To Snuggle Your Bearded Dragon?
As with plenty of reptiles, bearded dragons take a while to show affection. It would be best if you took time to bond with the lizard for it to start snuggling you. In addition, it is vital to learn the best way of doing this; else, the bearded dragon will be scared of you.
Here are tips on how to snuggle a bearded dragon.
1. Observe Its Mood
First, observe the bearded dragon’s mood. You don’t want to pick your beardie when it looks stressed or wants to sleep. If you have had your pet lizard for a while, you will easily tell when it is not in an appropriate mood.
2. Approach The Tank Slowly
Next, approach the tank slowly. You should avoid scaring or startling the pet. Giving the pet treats will make it come toward you.
3. Carefully Lift The Bearded Dragon
Pick the pet from the bottom and not the top. Ensure to support its legs and entire body before lifting it from the tank. You should not pick the beardie from above because this hinders its third eye and might injure the pet.
4. Snuggle The Pet
Different bearded dragons have different favorite spots where they enjoy being petted. The head is one of the favorite parts for most of them, and you can carefully rub it and watch your beardie’s reaction. Is the pet getting tense, or does it seem to relax more and more?
The tail, back, snout, belly, mouth, and limbs are other parts you can gently stroke to figure out what your bearded dragon enjoys the most.
5. Do Not Over Handle The Pet
Even when the bearded dragon seems to like the snuggling, do not handle it for too long. After about 20 minutes, return the pet to its habitat and leave it to rest or bask.
The initial days should be brief to ensure that the pet does not get stressed. With time, you can increase the duration of the snuggles.
Signs That Your Bearded Dragon Is Enjoying The Snuggle
Several indicators show that bearded dragons like to snuggle and are comfortable. Below are the major ones to look out for.
1. It Is Relaxed
When the bearded dragon snuggles you and is relaxed, this is a positive indicator that it is having a good time. A stressed bearded dragon might puff up, hiss, or want to walk further from you.
2. It Remains Still
A tense bearded dragon will not remain still. It will constantly look around, climb all over you, and appear anxious. The habit is pretty common when the beardie is new to your home. If the pet remains still when snuggling, it enjoys the snuggle.
3. It Sleeps On You
A bearded dragon that likes to snuggle might end up sleeping on you. It shows that they trust you and are comfortable. In addition, the beardie could simply be enjoying the warmth of your body when snuggling, making it end up sleeping.
Should the bearded dragon’s mood change and start exhibiting signs of aggression, return it to its habitat immediately.
What Does It Mean When Bearded Dragons Snuggles Into You?
When a bearded dragon snuggles into you, it shows that the lizard is comfortable around you, trusts you, and enjoys your warmth. In addition, it shows that the pet is happy, not stressed, and in good health condition. A bearded dragon that is sick or starving is likely to hide instead of snuggle.
Why Do Bearded Dragon Cuddle?
Beardies cuddle with their owners because they feel safe around them. In addition, they show this kind of affection as a sign of protection under the care of their owners.
However, beardies do not cuddle each other, even when you see them stacked on each other. It is often a sign of dominance.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can Baby Bearded Dragons Show Affection?
It might be more challenging for baby bearded dragons to show affection than older ones. This is because the young ones see humans as a threat, and it might take longer to bond with a bearded baby dragon.
Nevertheless, baby bearded dragons can show affection; with regular bonding and activities such as bathing and feeding the pet, you will gain the reptile’s trust and feel safe around you.
Do Bearded Dragons Snuggle Each Other?
Beardies are solitary animals. In addition, they are pretty territorial and are often aggressive towards each other. Thus, bearded dragons hardly snuggle each other. You should avoid keeping more than one beardie in the same tank.
Although you might see one bearded dragon being on top of the other, they are not snuggling; instead, it signifies dominance. Prolonged aggressiveness between bearded dragons can make the less dominant one get stressed or lose appetite.
Why Do Bearded Dragons Like To Be Held?
Such behavior often comes from a bearded dragon you have had for a while and have been bonding with. When a bearded dragon shows signs of wanting to be held, it’s because the pet is familiar with your presence, likes your scent, or enjoys your warmth.
Ensure to properly handle the bearded dragon by lifting it from the bottom to not cause it stress and trauma.
Conclusion
Bearded dragons are not emotional pets like cats and dogs. Even so, they like to snuggle but not for too long. Understanding your beardie’s personality will help you know how best to snuggle the lizard and keep it feeling safe and comfortable.
While bearded dragons like to snuggle, it might take you plenty of time, effort, and consistency for the pet to get used to this.
As bearded dragon owners, with patience, you will eventually earn its trust. Keep in mind that different bearded dragons have different personalities, and the same goes for where the pet enjoys the petting, for how long, and how often.