Bearded dragons are suitable pets even for beginners. They have a manageable personality and caring for one is not too complicated. Even with kids ten years old and above, having a beardie will be fine. At this age, they already know that they should be careful when holding a pet.
However, before you get a bearded dragon, it’s best to learn first about these amazing creatures. Even if they seem to be suitable for most people, bearded dragons may not be for everyone. Keep on reading to learn more about the pros and cons of owning a bearded dragon.
Pros and Cons of Owning a Bearded Dragon
Bearded dragons originate from the Australian desert. They are medium-sized reptiles and adapted to live in warm and dry areas. In the wild, they live off insects and vegetation that they can find. When they are in captivity, bearded dragons don’t often show signs of aggression and can tolerate being handled by humans.
However, there are some pros and cons to owning a bearded dragon. If you’re thinking of getting one as your pet, you should learn at least the basic things about them. It will help you care for your new bearded dragon.
Pros of Owning a Bearded Dragon
1. Friendly and Docile
Bearded dragons may look intimidating at first but don’t fall for it since they are friendly. These lizards are mild manners and enjoy spending time with humans. It will allow you to place it in your palm and even relax there. Sometimes they look intimidating when they puff their beards.
However, don’t worry about it since bearded dragons are one of the most harmless lizards around. They are docile reptiles which makes them ideal pets even for beginners. Beardies are friendly even with strangers and don’t usually bite. It rarely shows aggression only when it feels threatened.
2. Prefers to Live Alone
As solitary animals, bearded dragons prefer to be alone. It will not feel sad without a tank mate since they are territorial by nature. Bearded dragons enjoy living on their own. They like to have their territory by themselves and they don’t like sharing their space. Housing more than one bearded dragon inside an enclosure means trouble.
3. Ideal Size for Handling
Bearded dragons are adorable and they like being handled. They are medium-sized which makes them fit easily in your palm. Just be careful when handling small lizards since you might crush them. Beardies are great pets for handling as long as they are not too small or too big to avoid harming them.
Adult beardies can grow between 17 to 24 inches in length. The average beardie weighs 500 grams which makes them easy to carry around. But make sure to always be gentle when handling bearded dragons. Rough handling can make them lose their trust in you as their owner.
4. Quiet Creatures
These reptiles don’t make too much noise compared to other pets. It may hiss sometimes when it feels stressed with something. They usually communicate by bobbing their head, inflating their beards, and doing other body movements. It’s a quiet and well-disciplined creature.
Bearded dragons will not disturb anyone since they don’t make noises. As long as the reptile has food on time and is content with its enclosure, it will not have a reason to bother you. But beardies like to spend time with their owners. Spend some quality time with your reptile to keep it happy.
5. Don’t Need Much Space
If you have a small place, bearded dragons will be the perfect pet for you. They don’t take up much space like other pets. Just get your beardie the right tank size and place it in a good spot. An adult beardie can be comfortable with a 55-gallon tank. But it’s best if the enclosure is bigger to make sure that the beardie will be more comfortable.
6. Long Lifespan
Bearded dragons have long lifespans and they can live between 10 to 15 years. That makes them great pets to care for. Although not all bearded dragons can live up to 15 years, they can still live at least 10 years. It means that you can have your beardie companion for a long time.
7. Beautiful Creatures
Bearded dragons are beautiful creatures and they are unique in their own way. They look like small dragons and you can keep them as pets. These lizards also come in different colors. You can find bearded dragons in orange, red, striped, blizzard, and more. They can also have multiple colors such as red, yellow, purple, and white.
These lizards can morph to show different colors. They are exotic reptiles that came from the Australian deserts. The most remarkable feature they have is their beards. It puffs out when they feel threatened and gives the bearded dragon their unique look.
8. Easy to Take Care
It’s easy to care for a bearded dragon whether you’re a new or experienced reception owner. Unlike larger lizards like chameleons, bearded dragons don’t need a lot of handling to tame it. Feeding bearded dragons depends on their age. They have to eat one to three times daily when they’re young since they’re still growing.
As the bearded dragon ages, feeding time will be less than young beardies. Adult beardies also go on brumation during winter. They don’t need to eat much for weeks or even months. On normal days, beardies can eat a wide variety of food. They eat insects, vegetables, and a limited amount of fruits.
Here is an article by VCA Hospitals about Owning a Bearded Dragon.
9. Don’t Bite
Bearded dragons don’t usually bite since they are docile animals. If they do, it can only happen on rare occasions. They may bite someone if it feels stressed or threatened. Bearded dragons may bite by accident or due to confusion. It may confuse your finger for food or the beardie feels threatened or stressed.
Before a bearded dragon bites, it will first show some signs of aggression. It will warn you but it may prefer to run away from you. Bearded dragons will hide instead of biting anyone. Baby beardies don’t have a good biting power compared to adult lizards. But it can be avoided by being careful.
10. Unique and Fun Personality
Every bearded dragon has a unique and fun personality. Some may enjoy being outside the enclosure and ask for it by scratching the side of the tank. Others may prefer to stay indoors and lay down on their owner’s lap. They look interesting to watch especially when they are outside their enclosure.
Sometimes, bearded dragons enjoy staying close to you while you watch TV. Some may also like looking out of the window. Due to their different personalities, some beardies may also have their own food preference. When you observe your bearded dragon, you may see it waving its arms, bobbing its head, and more.
11. Inexpensive and Availability
If you decide to get a bearded dragon, you can easily find them in pet stores. They don’t cost a lot like other pets. But if you want to buy an exclusive morph, it’s another story. But in general, it’s not expensive to buy a bearded dragon. You can even just adopt a bearded dragon for free.
However, the initial costs of setting up the bearded dragon’s enclosure can be a little expensive. After that, caring for your beardie will not cost you much. Additional electricity consumption and food for your new pet should not be as much. These reptiles primarily feed on insects, veggies, and greens.
Save from your bearded dragons’ food by growing some greens for your pet. Breed your own feeder insects to save more money. When you manage to grow your beardies food supply, you don’t have to spend much anymore. The only time you have to do that is when you have to bring your beardie to a vet without a pet insurance.
12. Tolerant of Other Pets
If you have other household animals, you don’t have to worry about bearded dragons. But you should not place your beardie near small animals. Small birds, mice, guinea pigs, and others may get eaten by your bearded dragon. It’s also not advisable to put them with another lizard.
Cats or dogs should be fine for bearded dragons if you always keep an eye on them. Make sure to get ready to separate them in case they try to attack each other. Beardies tend to be calmer with large pets once they get used to each other. Introduce your dragon after a few weeks to other pets.
13. Diurnal
Bearded dragons are active during the daytime and they sleep at night. They are diurnal reptiles, unlike geckos who are crepuscular. That makes bearded dragons perfect pets since they are active during the day. That means you can play with your lizard at night and you don’t have to worry about them.
Even if you have children at home, bearded dragons will not be disturbing them. They don’t make loud noises like other pets. Beardies will not disturb anyone since they are quiet and they are also asleep at night. Just like humans, they need to rest when it’s dark to stay healthy.
14. Hardy Pets
If you want to have a hardy pet, a bearded dragon is a good choice. They will be alright even if you make some husbandry mistakes. But make sure to correct this issue to avoid health problems. Prolonged exposure to poor husbandry can harm your beardie. Even if it did not show symptoms, they will be at risk of developing an illness.
Beardies have a long lifespan compared to other pets. They can normally live up to 12 years on average or even longer for some. But of course, their lifespan also depends on how you take care of your beardie. They should always have the optimal condition of their enclosure and eat nutritious food. Doing this will ensure your beardie will live longer.
Here is an article by VetSTREET About Caring for Bearded Dragons.
15. Will Not Drop Its Tail
Lizards such as leopard geckos or crested geckos’ tails drop when they feel stressed. Bearded dragons don’t drop their tails like other lizards. Instead of doing that, beardies will puff their beards when they feel stressed. It may also hiss, run away, or bite on rare occasions but its tail will not drop.
Even if your beardie can lose its tail, that’s not going to happen due to stress. It may happen due to infection, bites, and more. But their tails will not easily come off just because they feel stressed out. Bearded dragons are different from other lizards since they can keep their tails even in stressful situations around them.
Cons of Having a Bearded Dragon
1. Health Problems
In the wild, bearded dragons may suffer from different diseases. Whether it’s viral or bone-related illnesses, it can reduce their lifespan. That’s why beardies can live longer in captivity. Their owners can take care of them and keep them healthy. They don’t have to survive the wild on their own.
These reptiles have out-of-balance bone densities. Bearded dragon’s bones are brittle and can easily get fractured. Respiratory infection is also a common problem with beardies. If you want to keep your bearded dragon healthy, provide all the requirements they need.
2. Selective in Temperature Ranges
The temperature bearded dragons require must be between 75-85°F (24-29°C). But when the weather starts to get cold, it can begin to suffer from digestive issues. They need heat to digest their food or it can make them sick. The temperature inside the enclosure should be maintained at all times.
Keeping your beardie in a controlled environment such as a tank or cage is a must. Set it up with the right temperature suitable for beardies. Monitor the temperature by using a thermometer. Although it’s important for bearded dragons to always have the optimum conditions, it can be hard to manage.
3. Need a Specific and Wholesome Diet
As omnivores, bearded dragons can eat a wide variety of food. But it doesn’t mean that you can offer any food to your reptile. They need to have a balanced healthy diet and it can sometimes become a challenge. Providing them nutritious food is not enough since you also need to know the correct feeding frequency depending on their age.
Feed your beardie a good mix of veggies, greens, and protein to stay healthy. When giving your pet some protein, you can offer pinky mice or insects such as worms and cockroaches. Focus on providing your beardie with a mix of green leafy vegetables. Providing a balanced healthy meal for bearded dragons can keep them strong.
4. Expensive Maintenance
Buying a bearded dragon from a pet store is inexpensive. One beardie may cost between $25 to $50 but the expensive part is their maintenance. Like other pets, bearded dragons also have special needs. You have to set up the enclosure that will be suitable for your bearded dragon.
Special care and attention are needed to keep a bearded dragon happy. They need to have controlled lighting and temperature inside the enclosure. Decorations like hiding places are also essential to keep the beardie mentally stimulated. When you feed your new bearded dragon, it should depend on their age.
5. Babies Need a lot of Live Food
When choosing a bearded dragon, you have to consider its age. Baby bearded dragons need to have a lot of feeding time. They are also required to eat as much live food as they can get which can be expensive. But as the bearded dragon ages, that means that their nutritional needs will also change.
Baby bearded dragons need to eat two to four times daily. Make sure to only offer them small insects to avoid choking and impaction. The cost of live food depends on the insects you buy for your bearded dragon. They can eat as much as 100 crickets daily which costs about $20 weekly.
When feeding beardies, you also need to add different kinds of insects to feed your pet. It can be more expensive than feeding an adult bearded dragon. When they age, beardies will have to eat more greens and veggies than insects. It’s more affordable than caring for a baby beardie.
6. Need Specific Lighting and Temperatures
Proper lighting and temperature can keep the bearded dragon healthy. They require a UVB light to help them to have vitamin D3. It’s a requirement for the bearded dragon’s enclosure. Without vitamin D3, beardies can absorb calcium from the food they eat. It will end up in developing a metabolic bone disease which can be fatal.
Beardies need to have a temperature gradient inside their enclosure. The basking area should be between 92-110 F. A cool spot is also necessary for your pet to cool off when they feel too warm. After six months, change the UVB bulb since it can lose its efficiency around that period.
When the light bulb stops emitting UVB rays, it can result in health issues for your beardies. When it comes to heat lights, it’s alright to use halogen or other household bulbs. Setting up the bearded dragon’s tank can be tough at first. Once you have it set up correctly, you just need to maintain them
Aside from their temperature and lighting requirements, they need to have a UV lamp in the basking area. Try to have the lightning similar to their natural habitat. It will help the beardie to stay healthy since it will have proper calcium absorption to maintain bone health.
7. Their Poop Smells Bad
When a bearded dragon defecates, it will smell bad so you have to clean it right away. It can be a nuisance especially when you’re busy with other things. The bad smell is due to their diet since beardies eat live food. But it can improve when the bearded dragon gets older.
Fortunately, bearded dragons’ bodies don’t smell bad. It’s also a good idea to help them to relax by bathing it so it can defecate in the water. It will not smell too bad in the water and it’s easier to flush it after. That’s better than having to clean the whole enclosure every time the beardie relieves itself.
Avoid using loose substrate since it can make cleaning harder. That may also cause bacterial growth and can make the smell worse. Beardies may also end up eating loose substrates along with their wastes and become sick.
8. Requires Frequent Feeding and Regular Cleaning
Daily feeding and cleaning can be too much for other people. It can be hard to keep up if you don’t have much time to spare. For younger beardies, they need to eat a few times every day. But adult bearded dragons should only be fed once after 2 to 3 days. Make sure you have enough time to care for your bearded dragon.
However, feeding your beardie is a good way of spending time together. It’s when you can train a young bearded dragon to eat greens and veggies. It can also be a good way of providing treats and introducing new flavors to your beardie. If you don’t feed the bearded dragon properly, it can get sick. The frequency of feeding should be done correctly.
A healthy adult bearded dragon can last for weeks or even months without eating. But only because of brumation which is like a hibernation state. They don’t need to eat as much during this time. But it’s not advisable to do this since beardies have to eat to have the nutrients they need.
Aside from feeding the bearded dragon, you also have to clean the enclosure regularly. Daily cleaning consists of removing poop, washing food or water bowls, and other tasks. Weekly cleaning means that you have to clean the tank, wash the bowls, and clean the decorations. Place the beardie in a secure place outside the enclosure to make cleaning easier.
