Reptile & Amphibian Forums

Can I take the very tip off the sharp tip he is getting caught up on the carpet when hunting and not to mention what is happening to my kids and I skin when we hold him.

Yes you can. I trim all my dragons nails.

placing some slate tiles in the cage helps wear down claws too..but snipping off the tips with a cat or dog nail trimmer or human nail trimmer, can be done too. Just be carefully not to cut too far back on the nail, to avoid cutting into the 'quick' the flashy living part of the nail. Typically you can see this through the sides of the nails as a darker area. (don't confuse it with the dark line that runs along the top of the nail..except for those dragons that are 'clear nailed' which won't have this dark line)
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PHLdyPayne

Personnaly I dont trim my dragons nails. I understand people want to hold and cuddle them but they are not dogs and really dont appreciate being held or cuddled. Also the sharp claws help them climb and dig(I use a sand soil mixture)I also think they look better with long sharp claws.

Personally I think my BD's enjoy the interaction and mine claw at the glass to come out whenever they see me. I think it's kinda cruel to leave aniamls in a small enclosure as a showpiece. Not many dogs would enjoy being in their kennel full time.

I agree with BDlvr, all of my dragons like to come out an explore and hang out with me. I take one of mine to the store all the time. I think the dragons have there own personalities just like a dog or cat. Im also wondering, do your dragons show any aggression towards you?
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Jeff Kearney
Orlando, FL

1.0.0 Egyptian Uromastyx (Dino)
2.7.0 Bearded Dragons (Too many to name)
1.0.0 Mali Uromastyx (Rex)
0.1.0 Ball Python (Ali)
0.1.0 Leopard Gecko (Layla)
1.0.0 Panther Gecko (Melman)
0.0.1 Corn Snake (Not sure yet)
0.0.2 Blue Phase Dumpys Tree Frog (Sticky, Squishy)

Im sorry but I dont believe the dragons enjoy being with the person they more put up with you. On the other hand I do believe they enjoy to be out of the enclosure wich I always do. My dragons have never been aggressive I even use to hand feed till I got bit a few times. Its just my opion that lizards in general are different than dogs as far as affection. A lizard could care less if you pick it up and cuddle and show it affection, on the other hand if you dont do that with a dog then the dog will suffer from phychological, emotional and behavioral problems. I see keeping lizards more of an enjoyment for the keeper than the animal, and as long as the animal is being cared for and treated right it will benefit from the love and attention it is given.

There is a huge difference between dogs and lizards. Not to mention about 6000 years of domestication...

but that aside, lizards in general don't need or desire human attention. However, they do learn to recognize their owners and do respond to their presence. My bearded dragon will come right up to the doors of her cage when I come near, whether it is because she hopes I am going to feed her or let her own or just to show she appreciates seeing me (instead of me in the computer room out of sight most of the time.) who can say. I don't' feed her every time I go near the cage nor take her out, so its not just a pattern learned via repetition.

Perhaps they will never be as 'needy' of attention as a dog (pack animal, highly social etc) but bearded dragons do respond to their keepers to varying decrees. Also, they have been bred in captivity for 20 or more years now, perhaps all these generations in captivity they are becoming more 'people' friendly.

If doubts that some lizards do crave human attention, this vid (rather old now) may shed some light that every lizard even within the same species is different.

www.youtube.com/watch?v=nz5mvOpCnvI
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PHLdyPayne

Wow. great Video.

Sure looks like the Tegu's like human interaction more than food. And anyone that knows Tegu's knows how much they love food.

When I scratch my Iguana he leans towards my hand as if to say "harder". But, I'd have to say most of the time I feel he's just putting up with me. lol.

I have 20 dragons, some love interaction and others could definately do without it. I've seen BD's sit for hours while kids rub them so they must get pleasure from it.

Fight, flight, or avoidance. The beardie sitting calmly while being pet is simply avoiding. Its the best of the three, as far as pets go, and what makes beardies appealing to many keepers.

I don't think so. I think the dragons and my iguana genuinely enjoy being touched.

My dragons get angry if we don't play with them. If we go away for a weekend and have someone else feeding them they line up at the front of the cage when we get back and and puff their beards at us.
Link

It is still a good idea to trim nails, even if the dragon is not taking out of its cage. As being captive, dragons don't do anywhere near as much running and climbing or digging in a cage as they do in the wild, thus their claws can grow faster then they wear down. Over long nails can cause bent toes, can snag or break badly, leading to infections or injured toes...

Trimming nails won't hinder digging or climbing ability either, in fact climbing and digging will quickly sharpen their nails again. Like cats clawing trees (or your furniture) to 'sharpen' their nails, such activities will also sharpen lizard nails. The nail is designed to wear faster on the sides than the top, so it develops a point very fast.
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PHLdyPayne

I did take the very tip where it was sharp off and I had no problems. With any 'pet' out there a great amount of respect has to go towards the fact that they are all or have all at one point been wild and they all will turn to their genetic making at some point but if you go into owning a pet thinking other wise we are sadly mistaken. Just like a dog will resort to being a pack animal with an alfa so will a bearded dragon bop to attract or intimidate other beardies. You get out what you put in, I have chosen to handle my beardie that is definitely not for everyone but it works in my family and if down the road I research and make the right choice for my family and get a dog I will surely train it to be part of the family and feel that animal will give us in return what it has received. Not everyone has the same view point and there are some people on the total other end of the spectrum who feel it is cruelty to feed live food to pets, are they right??? I don't know but I do know my beardie will not go with out crickets.