Reptile & Amphibian Forums

I just purchased a bearded dragon from my local pet store. He is a young juvinile who was housed with another of the same age at the store. I was originaly interested in only one dragon. However, the store owner told me that they do much better in pairs or groups. I don't think that he was just blowing smoke to get me to buy another dragon but I had never heard that they do better in pairs or groups before. If anything I thought that having two or more in the same inclosure would only cause issues. (being territorial). However, watching these animals together, I definetely can see why he might say that they like being in groups. What do you guys think?

P.S.: I ended up taking home only the one beardie but I am considering going to get his "friend".

Sorry for the random pictures of my redfoot tortoise. I forgot how to get rid of them.

Babies CAN be raised in small groups,and will hang out and tolerate each other seemingly very well. However,they can also decide,out of the blue,to " taste " some fillet of tail or toe. So there is a 50-50 chance of sibling mutilation.If you keep more than one,ALWAYS feed early in the day[ both live food and greens] and feed more than once a day...growing dragons will not tolerate long periods between meals or " skimpy" feedings.They love to eat and if they are hungry,will go for their cagemates extremities. They may get along fine...or they may fight.You will take a chance if you get more than one...I have owned raised for over 15 years and can tell you that with certainty. Enjoy your baby !!

I forgot to mention,there is usually more chance of trouble if you have one and THEN introduce a new one or two...when they hatch and are raised together,it eliminates that extra risk of invasion of territory.

So you would say that I'm better of just keeping the one? They don't get "lonely"?

They don't get lonely....in the wild once they hatch,they go their separate ways...I must say that in captivity,some of mine seem to ' enjoy" having another there...but you can't rule out the fact that they could end up fighting...or one biting and dominating the other. Never leave them without feeding properly or they WILL bite tails,toes.

Bearded dragons do much better housed alone. Though they can do well housed together, either two or more females or babies under 6 months of age (no adults and babies in the same cage as there is high risk the baby will end up eaten by the adult at worse) there are many risks as Angiehusk indicated.

Besides the risk of babies nipping off eachother's toes or tail tips, mistaken them for food, more dominant ones can prevent less dominate one from getting a fair share of food, the best basking spots etc. which can lead to one dragon far outgrowing the other. There is also the added complication its harder to monitor who eats how much, who is pooping regularly and the spread of disease and parasites.

As dragons get older they can become territorial and even two dragons who have been living in harmony for a few years can suddenly turn on each other, causing damage, even loss of limbs. This won't happen every time two dragons are together but it will always be a risk.

The only real reason dragons interact in the wild is to mate. If they encounter eachother in the wild and both are male or both are female, they will be territorial. They don't hang out in social groups like social animal species do, like wolves, mice, herd beasts etc.
-----
PHLdyPayne

thanks guys. sounds like i'll keep just the one.