I have owned a pair of iguanas, male and female (Rex and Lou), and got my bearded dragon after I moved in with my husband. If you want a challenge and are willing to bite the housing costs, iguanas can be pretty cool, but if they aren't properly socialized they can be a little too much of a challenge. Despite being herbivores, they have lots of very sharp teeth and can give a pretty good whack with their tails when they're feeling grouchy. My male was a sweetheart and could be taken out and handled with ease except around the breeding season when he would posture and puff up all the time. My female was a nightmare that refused human contact from start to finish despite my best efforts and intentions and was exceptionally talented at snaking out of her enclosure when we would go to feed her. Still, I liked having both of them around even if Lou was really only a "look at me" pet.




Our beardie is another story. She's smaller than my igs, which is actually kind of nice, and much more docile and laid back. Her personality is sweet and charming, even if she can be a bit finnicky sometimes. Their care is certainly much easier than an iguanas, since almost nothing you can buy at major pet stores comes in a size big enough for an adult iguana (who max out around 5-6 feet). It seems like an adult bearded dragon is about the biggest thing Petco or Petsmart can equip you for, which works if that's what you're looking to get.



In the end it's all up to you. There are so many options and so much variation in a single species that it's a hard decision to make based on other's experience.