There’s no question that bearded dragons are the number one recommended lizard for beginner reptile enthusiasts.
Many people are still left wondering however, if they are recommended just because they are easy to care for.
Today I want to tell you more about the bearded dragon, and focus directly on how they are as pets.
Do bearded dragons make good pets? The bearded dragon’s ease of care, docile nature and wide variety of morphs have made them one of the most popular reptiles in the pet industry. These traits are also what helps to make them excellent pets for both amateur and experienced keepers.
If you want to know more about what it’s like to own a lizard, check out this article I wrote about that very topic!
Overview
When I write articles like these, I tend to withhold judgment and allow the reader to decide for themselves if a specific reptile makes for a good pet.
In the case of bearded dragons however, there is very little question that they are one of the best reptile pets anyone can have.
This is not a biased opinion, as you’ll see at the end of this article.
Let me tell you about them, and answer a few of the more common questions people have.
You can also check out our Bearded Dragon Care Guide for even more information.
Are Bearded Dragons Kid Friendly?
I hear this question a lot from parents who are thinking of getting their child a pet lizard for the first time.
Are bearded dragons kid friendly? Bearded dragons are considered one of the most kid friendly lizards around. They have a very calm demeanor and rarely bite. And if they ARE preparing to bite, that giant puffed out beard which gives them their name gives a child more than enough warning so they can keep their hands away.
These lizards have great personality too. It is not uncommon to find your beardy coming up to the glass when it sees you, hoping you will take it out for some interaction.
Unlike other small lizards which zip around all over the place and try to get away, these guys will be happy to calmly perch on your shoulder and just hang out!
Bearded Dragon Behavior
As I said above, bearded dragons have a great personality and the behaviors to go along with it.
You’ll usually find them perching on a branch, basking in the heat before retreating for some rest and relaxation at the cooler end of the cage.
This may come as a surprise to you, but lots of owners take their dragons out for a walk! They love to be outside, soaking up the sun. You can find leashes and harnesses designed specifically for them too.
Overall, they exhibit the kinds of behaviors that you want to see out of a pet.
They are mild mannered, and tend to enjoy some time with their human parents.
I should point out here that bearded dragons do not naturally gravitate to human companionship on their own. As babies, they may run away from you when you try to reach in a cage and pick them up.
This is normal and to be expected.
Babies are typically prey in the wild. Anything bigger than them that is trying to grab them is probably trying to eat them!
They do calm down very quickly though, with routine handling.
Bearded Dragon Ease Of Care
When caring for reptiles, it doesn’t get much easier than bearded dragons.
Providing a lizard with the proper heat and humidity is usually the hardest part of keeping them.
Maintaining specific humidity ranges can be challenging for the most experienced of handlers. These lizards don’t require high humidity however, and are more forgiving of levels that are a little higher or lower than what is recommended.
Their temperature range is fairly wide too. Providing a basking spot that reaches around 100 degrees on one end of the cage, you can allow the opposite end to get down to around 80. Nice and easy to maintain.
Feeding is a lot easier than many species of lizards too.
A side note.
It’s important to me that I point out that taking care of a reptile is different than providing for a dog or a cat.
If you’re reading this article about the most basic of reptiles, then I have to assume you have little to no experience raising a lizard.
Bearded dragons are easy compared to other reptile standards, but they DO still need specific temperature and humidity ranges.
It’s OK to take them out of their enclosures for interaction, but the majority of their time will be spent there, and it will need to provide them the environment they would find in the wild.
Bearded Dragon Diet
Bearded dragons are omnivores, which means they eat both meat and veggies.
This may sound harder, but the truth is a wider variety of diet is easier to maintain.
This makes them easier to feed, and more desirable as a pet.
You don’t have to go buy crickets every day or two, and you don’t have to go buy rodents every day or two.
Fresh fruit and vegetables will make up the majority of their diet as adults, with insects and pinky mice acting as more of a supplement.
They enjoy a wide variety of fruits and veggies, so you can plan their meals according to your own. This way you aren’t wasting the food by letting it go bad. Simply make yourself a salad with their leftovers!
Set Up For A Bearded Dragon
If I were to pick one con of the bearded dragon, it would be the set up.
These guys only get to around 2 feet in length, but they should really have an enclosure that is approximately the size of a 75 gallon aquarium.
That’s a pretty big enclosure!
Of course it’s nothing compared to the housing size you would need for an iguana or most monitor lizards, but it’s still a bit pricey and takes up a fair amount of space.
On the flip side, an enclosure of this size can be a decoration in and of itself. Give your beardy a stunning enclosure that becomes the focal point of the room!
Putting the size of the enclosure to the side, the rest of the set up is pretty straight forward.
These guys enjoy climbing so you’ll want a branch for them to use, and you’ll want a hide box. Beyond that, it’s totally up to you and your creativity.
Additional note
These lizards do need high quality full spectrum lighting. In the wild they often bask in the sun, and they need those same UV rays in captivity.
This is a fairly common requirement for most lizards, so shouldn’t be a surprise.
Cost And Availability Of Bearded Dragons
The price of bearded dragons varies widely.
You can find them for sale for as little as $25 to as much as several thousand.
The wide variance in price comes down to desirability.
Your every day bearded dragon can be found in nearly every pet store that sells reptiles. There’s nothing wrong with them, and they make fantastic pets, but they look ordinary. They can often be found in the $25 price range.
Today’s breeders have developed fantastic color patterns and morphs which make these lizards completely unique. The more unique and desirable the morph, the higher the price.
I do recommend that you only get your bearded dragon from a reputable breeder.
Pet stores and even many booths at reptile shows typically use breeders that mass produce babies, much like a puppy mill.
Not only will you have a greater chance at a very healthy reptile from a reputable breeder, you also won’t be contributing to these mills.
Bearded Dragon Health And Lifespan
There’s some good news and bad news here.
The good news here is that overall, bearded dragons are fairly healthy and hardy. Their care is pretty straight forward, and with proper husbandry they don’t really have any inherent health issues.
They do of course require the proper supplements to stay healthy, which is true of most lizards. Assuming you provide them with the proper supplements and the correct care, there really aren’t any outstanding health concerns.
The downside, in my humble opinion, is that these guys only have an average lifespan of 10-12 years. You can really develop a bond with these lizards, and it’s hard to see them go.
There is a bright side to this though!
20 years ago, the average life expectancy was more like 6-10 years. Today we have more knowledge and experience in keeping them as pets, and modern husbandry has dramatically improved their longevity.
In fact, the record age for a bearded dragon kept in captivity is 18 years!
Summary
As you can see, I believe bearded dragons make excellent pets.
They are easy to care for, have great personality, aren’t known for being aggressive and are readily available and affordable.
And I want to point out the fact that I don’t feel my opinion is biased. There are tons of lizards that I absolutely adore, and for me personally, the bearded dragon is not my favorite. I find tegus to be absolutely adorable and fascinating, but that’s for a different article.
Many of the other lizards though, don’t always make for great pets, and that’s what this article is all about.
If you would like more information on picking a lizard, check out my article called Choosing Your First Pet Lizard for some great pointers.