Many people like bearded dragons because of their easy-going temperament and size. They really do make a great pet for reptile lovers. But many people want to know if bearded dragons are actually playful in nature.
Bearded dragons can be very playful. With the right toys, socialization, and enrichment, you can have a playful and friendly bearded dragon as long as they feel safe.
Many people like to have bearded dragons as pets because they can be fun to watch and sometimes as playful as your dog and cat if socialized enough. Read on to learn more about bearded dragon behavior, how to play with them, how to make your beardie friendlier, and overall temperament.
Bearded Dragons: General Temperament
Bearded dragons are very docile and gentle reptiles. Because of their easy-going nature and a high tolerance for handling, they’re very popular pets. They are very friendly, and many enjoy riding on their owner’s shoulders or cuddling on the couch while watching TV.
Just like all animals, however, each bearded dragon will be slightly different. While nearly all bearded dragons are friendly and social, some may be more on the feisty and outgoing side while others are relaxed and mellow. Bearded dragon temperament can also vary by gender and whether it has a tank-mate.
Males vs. Females
While both male and female bearded dragons are gentle critters, males are known to have an overall bigger personality, are outgoing, and look for social interactions with their humans. However, males may show more aggression and become territorial during the breeding season or if they feel threatened.
Female bearded dragons, on the other hand, are much calmer overall. If you want a more playful beardie, you may be better off with a male.
Tip: If you want a playful bearded dragon and are willing to put in the effort to really make him feel safe and appreciated, I would go with a male. Females tend to be more subdued.
Should Bearded Dragons Be Paired Together?
Bearded dragons are solitary animals and need a lot of space, so you generally don’t want to house them together. If you do put two bearded dragons in one vivarium, they might show signs of aggression, become stressed, and start competing for resources such as food, water, dominance, basking space, and shelter.
On some occasions, you can have two bearded dragons together. However, whether having two bearded dragons together will work depends on the beardies and the environment.
Generally, you never want to put two males together because they will likely become aggressive and territorial. While having a male and a female together will work sometimes, you don’t want to put a male and a young female (under two years old) in the same tank because the male may become too aggressive towards her during the mating season. If you’re determined to have two bearded dragons in one tank, having two females is the way to go because they are generally less aggressive.
But keep in mind that even if you set up the perfect environment and a have a large living space (125-gallon tank size or more), the bearded dragons you put together might not get along. To be safe and certain that your bearded dragon is happy and comfortable, keep only one in your tank.
Tip: Keeping bearded dragons enclosed alone will allow them to feel less anxious, less stressed, and likely more playful over time than pairing 2 beardies together.
How to Promote Playful Behavior
Nothing’s better than watching your bearded dragon play and have fun. To promote playful behavior, it’s important to handle your bearded dragon on a regular basis. If your beardie is used to coming out of its vivarium for some social time, then you’re more likely to see playful behavior! While some bearded dragons prefer exploring, others like to play with toys.
Some toys that bearded dragons like to play with include:
- Cat crinkle balls
- Small balls
- Puzzle feeding toys
- Live food/bugs
- Laser pointers
- Dangly cat toys/wands (strings should do, avoid feathers because your beardie shouldn’t eat those)
- Tunnels and hideaways
Pairing live food with puzzle toys will quickly become your beardie’s favorite game. If you buy a small plastic cat ball or wiffle ball and fill it with live food, your bearded dragon will have a blast trying to get the food out!
Your bearded dragon may also like to go for walks in the sun. Believe it or not, you can find leashes that are perfectly designed for your beardie, and the two of you can head out for a walk! Just make sure it’s a nice day and not cold (a nice sunny and 75° F should do!). If it’s too cold outside, let your beardie roam around your house or apartment. Even if you aren’t outside, your beardie will still get some exercise and get a chance to play and explore.
How to Make Bearded Dragon Friendlier
Even though bearded dragons prefer to live alone than in groups, they still like human contact. By far the best way to make your bearded dragon friendlier is to take it out for regular playtime and socialization. Just like dogs and cats, bearded dragons (and all domestic animals for that matter) need to be socialized well and often.
Now, socialization doesn’t have to be hours upon hours of playtime. You can socialize your beardie by simply taking it out of its tank and setting it on you lap while you watch TV or read a book! The most important part of socialization is that you’re interacting with your bearded dragon on a routine basis.
Even if it’s just for 15 to 20 minutes a day, your bearded dragon will become more socialized. Whether you want to actively play with your beardie, give it treats, or just hold it in your lap while you play video games, you’ll bond with your bearded dragon.
Some folks on the internet like to use what’s called a ‘beardie burrito,’ which is basically wrapping your bearded dragon in a towel with only its head sticking out. Many bearded dragon owners have found that their bearded dragons love this and will even be comfortable enough to fall asleep.
There’s something about being securely wrapped in a towel that makes bearded dragons feel safe and calm, so give it a try and see what your beardie thinks! Of course, just like dogs, cats, and humans, some bearded dragons like to be handled more than others.
However, a bearded dragon that prefers to be alone doesn’t have to be anti-social! Generally, the more you handle your Dragon, the more relaxed it will be around you and other people. And, it will likely develop a bond with you and even enjoy being picked up.
Besides the obvious benefit of having a friendly bearded dragon, a socialized bearded dragon will be better for its overall health, such as taking your beardie out for tank cleaning, nail clipping, bathing, and vet appointments.
How to Bond with Adult Bearded Dragon
There is definitely something to be said about bonding with an adult bearded dragon. When you adopt a baby or even a juvenile bearded dragon, you may be one of the first people that Dragon has ever encountered. So, you can get right to work playing and creating positive experiences.
But if you adopt an adult bearded dragon, you may not know its experiences with past owners. While it generally takes baby beardies about 2 to 3 days to get used to you, it may take an adult bearded dragon a little longer. When socializing an adult bearded dragon, you want your beardie to associate you with positive and safe experiences. This can be as simple as handling, bathing, holding, treat giving, and feeding.
If your adult bearded dragon seems nervous around you or runs away, start with light socialization, such as slowly moving your finger along the outside of the glass or giving it a treat as you stroke its back, pick up its tail, or stroke its head. You can start by doing this once or twice a day and slowly increase the time spent handling.
Another trick is to get your bearded dragon used to your scent by putting a piece of your clothing in the vivarium. This is important because getting your bearded dragon used to your scent may make handling easier. It may take some time and patience getting to know your adult beardie, but creating that bond is well worth it.
Things to Avoid that Make Beardies Less Playful
When you’re trying to play with and socialize your bearded dragon, there are some things you’ll want to avoid. Sometimes, you don’t even know that you’re doing something your bearded dragon doesn’t like. You want to make handling and playing a fun and safe experience, so follow these tips and you should be good!
- Don’t approach your bearded dragon from behind. Bearded dragons can sense when there’s a shadow overhead, and instinct tells it that it’s time to hide because the shadow could be a predator. To avoid this, always let your beardie see you coming.
- Don’t let your bearded dragon get bored, but also don’t overstimulate it. Instead of having a boring enclosure with nothing to do, fill your beardie’s vivarium with toys and other enrichment (like a hammock, hideout, or other things to climb over). On the flip side, you don’t want to overstimulate your bearded dragon. If you notice that your bearded dragon is stressed (see symptoms below), give your beardie a break from playtime.
- Don’t put your bearded dragon with other bearded dragons. While having more than one bearded dragon in one vivarium can work on some occasions, having a packed tank can make your bearded dragon stressed and unhappy.
- Don’t use a small vivarium. Your bearded dragon needs plenty of space to bask, cool off, and walk around, so you want a tank that is at least 75 gallons. However, many bearded dragon enthusiasts suggest a 120-gallon sized tank for adults.
- Don’t leave your bearded dragon alone for extended periods of time. If you want a bearded dragon that’s well socialized and likes to be handled, play with it often! You want your beardie to be used to your scent and being handled, so make sure to hang out with your beardie daily.
- Don’t neglect your bearded dragon. This tip may seem obvious, but it may be the most important. If your vivarium is at the wrong temperature, you aren’t feeding your beardie regularly and with quality food, and you ignore health concerns, your bearded dragon won’t be in a mood to play.
Are Bearded Dragons Calm?
Bearded dragons are calm and gentle by nature, making them excellent pets for both adults and children. When bearded dragons are well socialized, they love to be near their humans. Once you and your bearded dragon develop a bond, you can try having your beardie ride around on your shoulder, chill in a beardie burrito while you pet it, or sit on your lap while your play video games and watch TV.
How to Calm an Anxious Bearded Dragon
Before we dive into some simple tactics on how to calm down your bearded dragon, it’s important to know the signs of a stressed or agitated bearded dragon. Some common signs that your bearded dragon is stressed can include:
- Loss of appetite
- Dark skin coloration (or at least darker than normal)
- Not basking
- “Glass surfing,” aka, trying to escape the vivarium
- Little or no movement
- Not urinating or defecating
All the above symptoms indicate that something isn’t right in your bearded dragon’s environment, so the first step in calming down your bearded dragon is to remove or fix what is stressing your bearded dragon. When something isn’t right with your beardie, something external is likely affecting its behavior. Some common problems include:
- Loud noises
- There’s another bearded dragon in the vivarium
- Humidity is too high or low
- Temperature in tank is too hot or cold
- Not enough places to hide, dig, or bask
- Lights near the tank are too bright
- Someone’s been tapping on the glass
- Relocation to a new vivarium or changes to environment
- Illness, constipation, or impaction
Once you’ve figured out what is causing your beardie’s stress, you can try some of these easy tips to help calm your bearded dragon. It’s important to know that not every tip will work for every bearded dragon. Each Dragon is unique, so make sure to try these tricks and find the one that works best for your beardie.
Stroke Your Beardie’s Head
This is probably one of the most common techniques to use when calming your bearded dragon. If you and your beardie have a good relationship, use one finger and lightly pet its head.
The best way to do this is to start at the nose and slowly make your way to the top of its head (just make sure you avoid poking it in the eye). While you’re petting your bearded dragon, try talking in a calm, steady voice.
Take a Bath
Many bearded dragon owners agree that setting up a warm bath (around 90-93° Fahrenheit or 32-34° Celsius) can be a great way to calm your bearded dragon. Just make sure you only use an inch or two of water and keep the water away from your bearded dragon’s eyes and mouth.
When you’re giving it a bath, feel free to lightly rub your bearded dragons back, head, belly, and legs. After you’re all done, try the ‘beardie burrito’ method or a towel for drying.
Don’t Handle Your Beardie As Much
If your bearded dragon is overstimulated, try letting it be for a while. After you’ve removed the stressor, one of the best things you can do is let your beardie relax. You can absolutely check on it but give it a few hours to itself.
Hand Feeding
Not only does hand feeding promote trust and bonding, giving your stressed bearded dragon a treat from your hand may help it calm down enough for you to figure out what’s causing the stress.
Cover the Tank
Your bearded dragon can become overwhelmed when there’s too much noise, too much light, large crowds, or if another bearded dragon has a tank right next to it. A great technique to help with sensory overload is to cover the tank with a blanket and let your bearded dragon have some alone time.
Use Enrichment
Once your bearded dragon has had some time alone, you can try using some enrichment or play. This technique is best done after you’re Dragon is back to normal, but having some fun toys in your Dragon’s vivarium can make it less bored and thus happier!
Does Mood Impact Behavior?
Just like humans and any other animal, your bearded dragon’s mood can absolutely impact its behavior. If your bearded dragon is too hot, too cold, hungry, getting ready to mate, preparing for brumation, or shedding, you will notice that your bearded dragon acts differently.
If you do notice that your bearded dragon is acting differently than normal, make sure to monitor its behavior and check the vivarium to make sure your beardie’s environment is set correctly.