Reptile & Amphibian Forums

I have had a bearded dragon for about a year. I raised him since he was no bigger than my thumb. Now, however, I am feeling a little guilty, because I feel like I am not giving him the attention he needs. My questions are:

1. How much time does a beardie need to run around? Do they need to be let out so that they can run around? (I let him do that for a few minutes each day, but am not sure if that is enough).

2. When he sees his reflection in the mirror or in the glass, he runs towards it and starts licking it, as though he wants to interact with another dragon. Do they need to have a companion?

I don't want my bearded dragon to be depressed. Let me know what you guys think.

as long as you give your beardie live crickets he/she should be doing fine with exercise....

secondly, beardies dont need companions, they do however, get bored...have a tv with the volume off in the same room where they can see it. Also, it could be that he/she is merely trying to get to what he can see (for example out a window...
put a sheet of color paper on all the sides execpt the front...put a strip about 7 inches high on the front..this should work...
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im a wannabe beardie breeder....just 1-1/2 more years till my female is old enough!

Hi,

1.) I do not believe that the animal needs to be let out of the cage on a consistent basis to lead a healthy captive life. I think proper conditions come before anything. But if you do take your animals out a lot I think it's fine as long as it does not obviously affect the animal in an adverse way. That being said, I don't think you can have a big enough cage (but bigger cages are more work/more complicated too). Given access to a range of conditions that allow the animal to thrive, a dragon will use all of whatever space you provide them with. Of course the cage size is dictated largely by what is convenient for you and that is valid too.

2.) Again I don't believe they need a companion to live a long, healthy captive life. Many folks here will tell you that you should definitely not provide a companion if you do not plan on breeding and even if you do they should not be kept in the same cage. Of course there are others who have had plenty of success keeping more than one animal together. Ultimately, it is up to you. It's your animal. If you do keep more than one together then you have the responsibility to manage all the variables that make up the task of making sure that both/all the animals thrive and do well.

Hope this helps and good luck.

Ian

!
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