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How to Handle a Bearded Dragon?

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Bearded dragons are gentle, beautiful, laid-back pets, and handling them is quite an easy task. Handling bearded dragons is great fun when done right. Initially, you may feel it difficult as your bearded dragon is not settled in and wants some alone time. At this time, handling them may trigger aggressive behavior, but you can easily bypass this situation. Just go slow, make them comfortable and in no time, they will be in your hands, playing with you.

Bearded dragons are social and curious pets and they love your attention. But new bearded dragon owners usually don’t know how to handle them. How do you get closer to them? And how to bond with them? If you think you can directly hold and lift your new bearded dragon, then you are mistaken. First, your bearded dragon is not your friend yet, secondly, they might think of you as a predator, and in defense, they might even bite you. Even if that happens, don’t worry, their bite is not poisonous.

Before handling your new bearded dragon, you need to let them settle in the new environment.

Well, this article will help you and make you able to handle your bearded dragon and answer the following questions:

Can You Handle A Bearded Dragon?

Bearded dragons are gentle calm and friendly reptiles. Like all pets, you can also handle your bearded dragon. Handling your bearded dragon will create a bond and friendship between you and your bearded dragon. While handling them, there are many activities that you can also perform with them, i.e. going out for walks with them, giving warm baths, etc.

Handling them the right way is very important. If you handle them fast or from behind, it will scare them off and they might think of you as a predator. So, handle them but only in the correct way.

Do Bearded Dragons Like To Be Handled?

As you can handle bearded dragons, your bearded dragons also love to be handled. They love attention and care. If you regularly give time to your beloved pet, he’ll become closer to you and you will have a very fun time with this companion.

Bearded dragons are friendly and curious pets and they love it when you correctly handle them. Going slowly towards them, saying hello, petting them, and holding them gently are best practices.

How Often You Can Handle A Bearded Dragon?

Bearded dragons love to handled and they tolerate more handling than other pet lizards. Regular handling will help you to make a bond with your lizard, so you should handle your pet dragon regularly, a couple of times. This will also make your bearded dragon calm and relaxed. Handling bearded dragons also makes touching quite normal and this will also suppress chances of stress during bath or tank cleaning.

You can handle your bearded dragon daily, as long as your dragon enjoys it and remain comfortable.

Initially, start with saying hello and petting your dragon. Then handle them for shorter periods like 15 minutes a day. As they get comfortable, you can extend the period as long as your bearded dragon enjoys it.

The estimated handling time and frequency depend upon your dragon’s age or size, their habits of being handled, history, and personality. Every bearded dragon is unique, some like to be handled more while others don’t like overhandling. So, you need to observe your dragon and set the handling time accordingly.

Estimated handling time for hatchling, baby, young, and adult bearded dragons are as under:

Handling Bearded dragon hatchlings (0-4 weeks old):

They don’t require any handling. They should not be taken out of the tank unless it is an emergency and tanking out of the tank is compulsory.

Handling Baby bearded dragons (two weeks to two months of age):

You can handle them in short sessions of 5 to 15 minutes. Frequency of handling is 2-4 times per day.

Handling Juvenile bearded dragons (5-11 months of age):

They are young, more energetic, and active and they are quite moody. You can handle them for up to 1 hour, whenever you want. But not when they are digesting their food, i.e. suddenly after the meal.

Handling Adult bearded dragons (twelve months or older):

They can be handled easily for up to two hours. The frequency of handling depends upon their own mood.

How Long Should I Wait To Handle My Bearded Dragon?

Before handling newly born bearded dragons, you need to wait 2-4 weeks. They are very sensitive and fragile and your little quick move can injure them.

Similarly, for baby, young, and adult bearded dragons, you need to see the mood. Whenever they are friendly and need your attention, you can handle them.

The time of holding your dragon depends upon their body temperature. If the room is cold, they will try to get back to their tank to maintain their heat.

In case, your bearded dragon is angry, you need to calm them down. Once they are in a good mood you can handle them. If your bearded dragon is angry and you still need to handle them due to any emergency, use protective gloves. While you are waiting for your bearded dragon to calm down, you need to look for the reasons that are making them angry and fix the issues.

When Bearded Dragons Hate Being Handled?

You should not handle your bearded dragon when it’s stressed out, ill, or injured. Handling bearded dragons, even when you are handling right can still cause issues when they are ill or injured.

The following are the situations in which it is recommended not to handle your bearded dragon, or handle them when it’s an emergency:

When Brumating:

You should not handle your bearded dragon when he’s bromating. Brumating is like a deep sleep and bearded dragons need alone time to pass this period. You can only help them by providing good food, good humidity levels, warm baths, etc.

If Sick Or Pregnant:

Sick bearded dragons are already stressed out due to the pain of disease and they need alone time for their recovery. If you handle them in this situation, there are chances you will increase their pain. A sick bearded dragon is also fragile and can show anger and aggressive behavior. So, handling a sick bearded dragon is not recommended unless you are taking them to the vet. The same things are applied to pregnant bearded dragons.

You can also read the following article to know about bearded dragon disease in which handling them is not recommended:

While New:

New bearded dragons are scared of the new environment. They need time to get settled and to adapt to the new environment. If you handle the new bearded dragon, they can think of you as a threat and can show aggressive behavior, even if they can bite you.

Handling new bearded dragons only increases anxiety and causes stress in them. So, it is recommended not to handle new bearded dragons. If necessary, use protective gloves while handling a new bearded dragon.

Around Other Pets & People:

Bearded dragons don’t like the company of other pets or strange people. They don’t like any change in their environment. So, if you are keeping another pet in the same room or any new person is handling your bearded dragon, it will cause stress and anger in them. That is why, the sharing of room or handling of bearded dragons by new owners is not recommended.

How To Handle A Bearded Dragon?

Let’s move towards our main topic which is what is the correct way of handling bearded dragons? The handling bearded dragon can be divided into 3 steps:

Step 1: How to Prepare Bearded Dragons to Hold Them?

Wash Your Hands:

Washing hands before handling bearded dragons is for your bearded dragon and washing hands after handling your bearded dragons is for you.

When you wash your hands before handling your bearded dragon, you will reduce the risk of passing germs or illness to your pet dragon.

You can also consider wearing gloves, this will protect the dragon as well as you.

Always Say Hello When You Approach the Tank:

You need to prepare the dragon that you are going to handle them. For this, you must announce your presence by speaking softly to them, don’t make noise, just a soft hello will do the job.

Don’t just pick up your dragon abruptly, it may scare them, instead, announce your presence first by speaking to them.

Speaking to your bearded dragon will make them ready for handling, it will set the tone and your dragon will be comfortable when you pick him up.

While saying hello, you can also read your dragon’s body language and get the idea if your dragon wants you to handle him or if he wants to rest. So, saying hello is important. For example, if your dragon is stressed or shedding, he might not respond to you. In this situation, if you pick them, they will show aggressive behavior.

Always Go Slowly Until You Touch Your Dragon:

In the wild, predators go fast and pick the lizards to eat them. Going fast towards your bearded dragon will simply activate their defensive aggression. In captivity, if you go fast toward a bearded dragon to pick them up, it can scare them and they might think you as a threat. So, always approach slowly to your pet dragon carefully until you touch them.

Approaching slowly will ensure that your dragon will not think of you as a threat and they will not be scared of you. Going slowly will make them comfortable to handle.

You need to approach your dragon slowly and quietly and lift him between the front and rear legs while supporting their whole body. Also, take care of the following:

  • Don’t approach your dragon from above.
  • Don’t approach them while they are eating.
  • Don’t back your pet dragon in a corner.
  • Don’t tease your dragon with your finger.

Once You Touch Your Dragon, Pet Him Gently:

This will make your dragon comfortable with your hand. Do the petting until your dragon starts blinking or closes his eyes. It is a sign that your dragon is ready for handling and now you can pick him up.

After approaching and touching, gently pet the dragon until he blinks or closes his eyes, then pick him.

Similarly, if your dragon makes his beard go black, it’s a signal that he’s angry and not ready for handling. In that case, you need to stop and leave him alone. If applicable (in case of external problems like poor temperature), try to find the reason that is making your dragon angry and resolve the issue.

Always pet your bearded dragon along with the direction of scales and spikes or you will end up with an angry bearded dragon.

Step 2: How To Hold Bearded Dragons?

Pick Up The Bearded Dragon:

To pick your dragon up, do the following:

  • Put your hand under the body of the dragon while your palm should face upwards.
  • The dragon’s body should rest on the palm of your hands.
  • With your forefinger, support the front arms of the pet dragon.
  • Support all the dragon legs.

You can also use your second hand and place it under the tail to support the tail and back legs.

  • If you are not comfortable with the first method of picking a dragon up, you do the following:
  • Gently grasp them from the front, just behind the front shoulders by using your forefinger and thumb.
  • Slide your hand underneath your dragon.
  • Let your dragon sit on your hand, don’t force him or squeeze him.
  • Support the tail and all legs with your hand and fingers.
  • If your dragon is circling his tail like a windmill, he needs you to support his rear legs and tail.

Stay Calm And Get Comfortable With Your Dragon:

Loosely hold your dragon and gently place him on your chest, arm, or lap. In this way, you along with your dragon will be more comfortable. Pet him and he’ll feel relaxed.

Place your dragon in a comfortable position, i.e. your arm, chest, or lap.

If you are holding an active, young bearded dragon, try to loosely hold them, don’t squeeze them. If the dragon is an adult, you can place him on your lap as they can be 2 feet big.

Read The Body Language Of Your Bearded Dragon:

While handling your bearded dragon, you should read his body language at every step, especially, when you get comfortable with them, focus on their body language. They will be communicating with you and showing you the gestures from which you can know how much they are comfortable with you. In case your dragon becomes stressed or angry, simply put him back in the cage.

The common gestures are as under:

Inflated Black Beard:

In the current scenario, a black beard means your dragon is angry or threatened. Besides this, they also show black beards when they are threatened, want to show dominance, etc.

Mouth Gaping:

Again, bearded dragons will show this gesture when they feel threatened. Look out for potential causes that are making your dragon uncomfortable, i.e., the presence of a nearby pet, cat dog, etc.

Slightly Opened Mouth, not like Mouth Gaping:

Your dragon is trying to cool off.

Head Bobbing:

Your dragon is comfortable and showing dominance as well.

Arm Waving:

Again your dragon is comfortable but showing submissive behavior.

Raised Tail:

Your dragon has seen some bug and he’s being alert. They raise their tail while hunting.

Step 3: How To Place Back The Bearded Dragon Into Their Tank?

Place Back Dragon in its Tank:

When you are done holding your dragon, or you notice your dragon’s tummy is getting cold or your dragon is done being held, gently place him back in his tank. For placing him back, follow the same steps to hold him and to support him which are already discussed above.

Finally, Wash Your Hands Again:

Like most reptiles, bearded dragons also carry Salmonella which can cause illness in humans. So, it is recommended to always wash your hands after handling your dragon.

Hopefully, now you can easily handle your bearded dragon and give him a comfortable and relaxing time on your lap.

What Not To Do When Handling Your Bearded Dragon? 

Following are the things that you should avoid while handling your bearded dragon:

  • Do not chase your dragon around the tank to hold him, you are not a predator. 
  • Do not squeeze them or do the rough handling.
  • Do not pick them by the limbs or tail or neck or they will think of you as a predator.
  • Do not cover their head while holding them as most of the sensory organs are there, and blocking them can be distressing in bearded dragons.
  • Do not lay your bearded dragon on his back. His body weight can crush his organs.
  • Do not ignore their body temperature and keep them out for more than a couple of hours.
  • Do not leave bearded dragons on high surfaces or they will jump which can cause injury.

What Can I Do If My Bearded Dragon Gets Stressed When I Try To Handle Them?

Bearded dragons generally like handling and bonding time but if your dragon is showing you signs of anger or stress, you need to do some work on them. By doing the following, you can make them comfortable to handle:

  • Talk with them while they are in their tank.
  • Spend time around the tank.
  • Wave your hand in front of them.
  • Feed them by hand using tweezers.
  • Touch them softly while they are in their tank.
  • Pet them often.
  • Give them a treat when they show good behavior towards you.
  • Slowly increase the human touch.

The above-given steps only work when you follow them sequentially. You can move forward only once you notice that your dragon is comfortable with the previous step. For example, if you simply jump to the “Pet your dragon” step, this can cause stress and anger in your bearded dragon.

The amount of time spent on each step can vary from dragon to dragon. All you need to do is ensure they are not stressed once you jump to the next step. If you think they are stressed or showing anger, go back to the previous step.

What Are The Myths Of Handling A Bearded Dragon?

Size of Bearded dragon

Myth: Always wait for your dragon to grow big then start handling. The right size of the dragon is important as they are sensitive. Never handle a baby bearded dragon.

Reality/ Do: Only don’t handle bearded dragon hatchlings. Once they are 2-4 weeks old, they are baby bearded dragons and you can introduce handling to them.

Lifting Bearded Dragon

Myth: Grab them around the tummy and swiftly lift them out of their enclosure.

Reality/ Do: Be gentle while lifting them. Go as slow as possible. Say hello to them, slowly reach them, touch them, pet them, then slowly place your palm under their tummy, support their all legs and tail, and then lift them up. Follow the above-given guide on “How to handle a bearded dragon?”

Support while Lifting and Handling

Myth: Like other pets, you can hold a bearded dragon softly in your hand while your palm facing above. Due to their strong bone structure, they can hold their legs as well as tails easily.

Reality/ Do: While holding your bearded dragon, you need to make them sit on your palm while supporting their front and back legs with your fingers and tail with the other hand.

Environment In Which You Are Handling Your Dragon

Myth: Bearded dragons are friendly pets and they are easy to handle. They enjoy the company of humans and other animals. If you are other humans are handling them correctly, they will enjoy it.

Reality/ Do: Bearded dragons need a calm environment for their handling. They don’t like change or other pets. So, if you or someone else is handling them, or there are any nearby pets like cats or dogs or the environment is not calm like you are handling them in a room that has a TV and loud music or noise, they will feel stressed. So, handle them in a calm environment and limit their handling by strangers.

Handling after Mealtime

Myth: Taking out bearded dragons right after they consume their meal is good for their health. They will get the necessary physical activity and exercise to digest their food.

Reality/ Do: Bearded dragons are cold-blooded and they need external heat to maintain body temperature and to digest food. So, they need a laying time on their basking spot after every meal. Taking them out right after a meal is not a healthy practice.

Body Temperature and Handling

Myth: Bearded dragons are cold-blooded and can’t maintain their body temperature while you keep them outside of their tank. So, you can’t handle them for a long period.

Reality/ Do: Bearded dragons are friendly creatures and love cuddling. When they are outside the tank, you can handle them as long as they want. The body temperature is an important consideration, but you can still hold them for up to 3 hours if they are comfortable. To be on the safe side, you can read their body language and check their tummy’s temperature. If they are not happy, their body language will tell you that and if they are getting cold, their tummy will get cold.

Handling Your Bearded Dragon around Other Pets

Myth: Bearded dragons are friendly pets and with time, they learn to get along with other pets. As you have seen, even a cat and a chicken get along if they have spent a considerable time.

Reality/ Do: Bearded dragons are territorial by nature and they don’t like any other pet in their area, even if they don’t like another bearded dragon in their tank. Keeping another pet in the room while you handling them can cause stress in bearded dragons. Your dragon will think of other pets as predators who are going to attack them. So, when you want to hold your dragon, shut out all other pets.

How To Get A Bearded Dragon Used To Being Handled?

If you get a new bearded dragon and it’s not used to handling, you can do the following:

  • Spend as much time as possible around your bearded dragon. In this way, they will recognize you.
  • Talk to them, touch them, and pet them while keeping them in the tank. With time, a bond with your bearded dragon will be developed.
  • Increase human interaction and petting with time.
  • Once they are comfortable with you, you can hold them for a shorter period of time.
  • Increase the time of handling as they get comfortable with you.

How To Handle A Bearded Dragon For The First Time?

Handling a bearded dragon for the first time is quite tricky. Maybe they are comfortable with handling, maybe they don’t handle, maybe they like handling but they are not friends with you, etc. So, before handling you need to be friends with your bearded dragon. Once a friendship is developed between you and your bearded dragon, then go for handling.

In case you have bearded dragon hatchlings, don’t handle them unless it’s an emergency. If you have a baby bearded dragon, handle them for a small period in more frequency per day. Only young and adult bearded dragons can be handled for longer periods.

You can do the following when you handle your new bearded dragon for the first time:

  • Go to their tank and talk with them till the time they get used to it.
  • Touch them and pet them until they close their eyes and leave relaxed their tail.
  • Hold them while supporting their legs and tails.

How To Handle A Baby Bearded Dragon?

Holding a baby bearded dragon is the same as holding an adult bearded dragon. But for baby bearded dragons (two weeks to two months of age), you can handle them in short sessions of 5 to 15 minutes. Frequency of handling is 2-4 times per day. You need to keep reading their body language and keep checking their body temperature and if they are not comfortable or getting cold, place them back in their tank.

How To Handle A Juvenile Bearded Dragon?

Holding a juvenile or young bearded dragon is the same as holding an adult bearded dragon. But they are young, more energetic, and active and they are quite moody. You can handle them for up to 1 hour, whenever you want. But not when they are digesting their food, i.e. suddenly after the meal. While holding them, try to place them on your lap so that you can easily handle their active moves.

How To Handle An Aggressive Bearded Dragon?

If your bearded dragon is aggressive, leave them in their tank. Let them cool down and then handle them. But still, if handling is necessary, use protective gloves to protect your hands from their bite. Don’t worry, their bite is not poisonous.

Never handle an aggressive bearded dragon unless it’s an emergency.

When you find your bearded dragon showing aggressive behavior, always try to find the reason that is causing this anger. There can be several reasons and you need to check if you are providing them with a good tank setup, a well-balanced diet, enough toys to keep them happy, spending time and playing with them, they are not ill, etc.

Following are some common bearded dragon diseases that can also make your bearded dragon angry and stressed.

How To Handle A Scared Bearded Dragon?

Why your bearded dragon is scared? This is the first thing that you should resolve. Your bearded dragon can be scared due to the following reasons:

  • Improper handling, i.e. picking them up from behind, cornering them to pick them up, or holding them from their tail, head, or limbs, etc.
  • Keeping another bearded dragon in the tank. Another dominating bearded dragon can cause stress.
  • Keeping another pet in the same room will make your bearded dragon scared and he might think of him as a predator.

So, to handle a scared bearded dragon, you need to learn proper handling techniques and remove other pets from the room. Once you have catered to all the reasons for stress and anger, your bearded dragon will be comfortable and ready for handling.

Can You Handle A Bearded Dragon After It Eats?

Bearded dragons need a relaxing time at a basking spot after their meal to digest their food. Disturbing them during this time will disrupt their digestive system and their meal will not be completely digested. So, handling bearded dragons right after they eat is not recommended. Give them a few hours to digest food then do the handling.

Can You Handle A Bearded Dragon Too Much?

Your bearded dragon loves you and loves your handling but still, they need some alone time with themselves. So, handling them a lot is not recommended. Recommended handling time for a bearded dragon is as under:

Bearded dragon hatchlings (0-4 weeks old):

They don’t require any handling. They should not be taken out of the tank unless it is an emergency and tanking out of the tank is compulsory.

Baby bearded dragons (two weeks to two months of age):

You can handle them in short sessions of 5 to 15 minutes. Frequency of handling is 2-4 times per day.

Juvenile bearded dragons (5-11 months of age):

They are young, more energetic, and active and they are quite moody. You can handle them for up to 1 hour, whenever you want. But not when they are digesting their food, i.e. suddenly after the meal.

Adult bearded dragons (twelve months or older):

They can be handled easily for up to two hours. The frequency of handling depends upon their own mood.

Can I Handle A Pregnant Bearded Dragon?

Pregnant bearded dragons are already stressed out due to the pain of pregnancy and they need alone time to rest. If you handle them in this situation, there are chances you will increase their pain. A pregnant bearded dragon is also fragile and can show anger and aggressive behavior. So, handling a pregnant bearded dragon is not recommended unless you are taking them to the vet.

Can You Handle A Bearded Dragon While It’s Shedding?

Bearded Dragon’s skin doesn’t grow, it remains the same size regardless of how big they get. That’s why they undergo shedding or ecdysis. Shedding is a natural process but painful. Handling while shedding can hurt your bearded dragon and chances of skin infection are also there. So, Don’t handle your bearded dragon while it’s shedding.

How To Handle A Sick Or Injured Bearded Dragon?

Sick or injured bearded dragons are already stressed out due to the pain of disease or injury and they need alone time for their recovery. If you handle them in this situation, there are chances you will increase their pain. A sick bearded dragon is also fragile and can show anger and aggressive behavior. So, handling a sick or injured bearded dragon is not recommended unless you are taking them to the vet. The same things are applied to pregnant bearded dragons.

Can Handling A Bearded Dragon Make You Sick?

Like most reptiles, bearded dragons also carry Salmonella which can cause illness in humans. So, it is recommended to always wash your hands after handling your dragon.

Can I Handle A Bearded Dragon While I’m Sick?

Don’t handle your bearded dragon while you are sick as you can transfer your disease to your bearded dragon. So, avoid handling. If it is necessary to handle, wash your hands, cover your face with a mask, and use gloves.

I hope all of your questions are answered, if you have anything related to the bearded dragon that you want to ask, feel free to contact us.

Thanks. Take care of yourself and your bearded dragon.

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