How friendly are we talking?

I was just reading the care sheet on bearded dragons and I noticed it says they really like attention. Could somebody expand on this a little? Are we talking attention like a puppy dog or do they just like to sit on a pair of warm hands?

Thanks!

mine will let you hold them and pet them for hours. when i walk by there cage they will fallow me from one side to the other. they are by far the best lizzard as far as loveing attention. my advice to anyone who wants a lizzard or to get in to lizzards to go with a beardie. some will state that a gecko is better but that is only as far as careing for them but geckos dont like to be held that much.

fish

are you thinking about getting one??


fish

Hmmm...perhaps. I'm very interested in the fact that they are so friendly. Most reptiles really don't want much to do with you in my experience...despite the fact that we think they do. I've been surfing the net for pictures and its pretty hilarious seeing them getting bathed in the sink and such. My interest is peaked at the very least.

It depends on the personality of the reptile. My first experience with a fence lizard was bizarre. My cats had tried to eat him, so I rescued him and had him for about six months while he healed. He would sit on my stomach and watch TV with me. He was very..."affectionate." At least, he was more willing to let me hold him than try to attack me.


And when I first got Ophelia, she warmed right up to me. I would never suggest this to anyone else, but I have fallen asleep with her before. She's very "affectionate" and "loves" to spend time with me, whether outside or in the apartment.

It really does depend on the reptile, but I've also had experience with beardies. Angel Demarco's Rex was the first real beardie I got to spend time with. He was cautious at first, but warmed up to me quickly. I definitely would get one if I had the $$$ and the space.

My beardies and uromastyx all love attention. They are like little puppy dogs with out the fur. Geckos are easier to care for like they said, but beardies are just plain loveable. I think they are among the few reptiles that look forward to and enjoy the human interations.

Friendly, maybe....EXTREMELY tolerant of handling, YES! I've come across some very skittish bearded dragons, and never once observed them attempt to actually bite. The closest behavior to a bite that I've seen was a dragon that lunged forward with its mouth open and beard displayed....coulda nailed me if he wanted to, but didnt.

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Originally Posted by elevatethis

Friendly, maybe....EXTREMELY tolerant of handling, YES! I've come across some very skittish bearded dragons, and never once observed them attempt to actually bite. The closest behavior to a bite that I've seen was a dragon that lunged forward with its mouth open and beard displayed....coulda nailed me if he wanted to, but didnt.

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seconded! I have one thats "seems" friendly, but really all he wants to do is get out of his enclosure and go for a walk about... the other will sit content on my shoulder or on my hand and be "tolerant" of the handling.

beardies really do all have varying personalities. you can obvserve it especially when you have a bunch together (herp shows etc). they're like little scaly kittens.

i never bought one because of some of the demands that lizards like beardies have, but i really like them... maybe someday.

I have an 8 month old male. Not sure if they enjoy being handled but yup, deffinitely very tolerant of it.
Do they need to be handled frequently in order for them to be used to handling like snakes?

I've had both a beardie and now 3 rankins dragons (dwarf beardies). All mine have enjoyed human attention and come out to sit on the window sill when it's sunny and will stay there ages on a hot water bottle. One of them particularly prefers to sit on a human though rather than in the window and will leg it to the nearest seated human :D

I have a savannah monitor too - completely different type of lizard personality. Although he's very tolerant as far as savs are concerned - he doesn't want to stay on someone for long.

My two beardeds, Booger and Rex, are just absolutely amazing. Booger my female will sit with you for hours and hours and let you pet you while Rex my male has the attention span of about a five year old. He loves attention but can't sit still for more than a few minutes. Their completely different in personalities but are hilarious at times. My other male who passed away a few years ago was simply wonderful. He loved attention and being around people. If you had him siting on your lap or had him laying next to you on the floor, he'd cuddle up in your shirt close to you and go to sleep. Beardeds don't bite and are perfect for kids. My younger cousins love them. I've only been bitten once in the five years I've had them and it was because I had a strawberry in my hand and they LOVE strawberries. If your considering getting a bearded, I'd definitely say do it. They're just like the perfect lizard ever.

Normally beardies love attention and they just want to be loved. Mine on the other hand is anti-social...although on occaision he wants out. So I just let him roam around the house.

It all depends on their personality. But generally they are very, very docile.