Meet the 'golden retriever' of pet reptiles, the bearded dragon

Bearded dragons are like the starter Pokémon of pet reptiles.

Because they're chill and love spending time with their humans, a bearded dragon could be the perfect pet for you if you've never had a reptile and want an easy one to start with, experts say. Bearded dragons have grown in popularity and are great options for people with limited space, or those who suffer from allergies that are aggravated by dogs and cats, according to the U.S. Association of Reptile Keepers.

"Bearded Dragons have a very easygoing temperament, as you can see," said Michelle Thompson, whose bearded dragon Nubby sat on her shoulder during a recent video interview with USA TODAY.

Across the U.S., nearly 6 million households had at least one pet reptile, according to the American Veterinary Medical Association. Among those, internet search data compiled from recent years shows bearded dragons are the most popular, Reptile Magazine reported in 2021.

"They are close to the top of the most popular pet we see overall for reptiles, and we recommend them for people who've never had a reptile before and want to dip their toes in," said Whitney Miller, chief veterinarian at Petco.

Here are some common cute bearded dragon behaviors, as well as the biggest mistakes bearded dragon owners make with the reptiles, according to pet advocates.

The 'golden retriever' of reptiles

When bearded dragons are happy, they will sit calmly on your lap for hours, comforted by your body heat − because they're cold-blooded, said Thompson, who volunteers as the treasurer of the Bearded Dragon Foundation in Las Vegas. Sometimes bearded dragons even nuzzle into you, like the crook of your neck, to get extra toasty, Thompson said.

"They're like the golden retriever of the the reptile world," Thompson, 38, said.Bearded dragons like to sit on the couch with you watching TV, said U.S. Association of Reptile Keepers President Phil Goss. He said he's heard of families letting their bearded dragon sit on the table during board game night so the animal can be part of the fun.

"They're content with being around people," said Goss, who's based in southern Indiana. "They're part of a lot of people's everyday lives."

Bearded dragons are so docile, they're the only reptile Petco sells Halloween costumes for, Miller said.

Bearded dragons also have strong toe nails for gripping, Goss said, which is how many owners are able to walk around with their bearded dragon on their shoulder.

Kids who have a bearded dragon can easily take their pet next door to a friend's house, or check the mail with the reptile perched on their shoulder, Goss said. The beardie − as they're affectionately called − will just hang on and stay with their human, Goss said.

Don't just feed them bugs

Contrary to popular belief, bearded dragons do not just eat crickets, like some other reptiles might, both Goss and Thompson said. Bugs are more fatty and even though they have protein, bearded dragons need lots of leafy vegetables too, they said.

Because bearded dragons obviously take pleasure in eating bugs, some owners overfeed them, because "they will eat bugs all day long, you can tell they enjoy it," Thompson said.

"They're enthusiastic junk food eaters," she said, adding that mealworms, another food item, are like the equivalent of "cheeseburgers."

When given the proper nutrients, bearded dragons can live for 15 years, Thompson said, and sometimes up to 20.

"Looking at their fecal matter is actually really important," said Miller, explaining that a bearded dragon's "poops" are a huge health indicator. When any reptile − or bird − owner takes their pet to the vet, the doctor will probably ask for a sample, as gross as that sounds, Miller said.

Bearded dragon poop should be solid and its color should be brown and white, Mill said. The white part is actually uric acid, a solid form of urine.

If not spoiled too much with an excess of bugs, Thompson said, the reptiles will eat a wide variety of vegetables. Dark leafy greens are the best for them: Arugula, collard greens, mustard greens, bok choy and turnip greens. The reptiles also enjoy sweet potato, bell peppers, butternut squash and green beans.

They enjoy fruit, like strawberries and blueberries, but should be given only tiny amounts, because those foods are too high in sugar, Thompson said. Citrus fruits are a big no-no, said Goss.

Beardies need UV light − and bulb replacements

Bearded dragons require UV or UVB light to live healthy lives, because that light source helps their bodies metabolize nutrients, like calcium. They also need a bulb that's a heat source.

In the worst cases, bearded dragons that aren't getting enough UV develop serious bone deficiencies and diseases.

One key mistake people make is that just because a UV light continues to provide light, it may have stopped providing UV, Thompson said. To maintain a proper level of UV, the bulbs need to be replaced every 6-12 months, Thompson said, even when they appear to be working normally.

"We see that pretty commonly: It was still working and so I didn't replace it,'" Thompson said.

Maintaining an enclosure with proper UV will be key to your bearded dragon's health, but spending time with their human outside their enclosure is how the critters will really bond with you.

"He will be happy to be here with me and just watch things and enjoy what's happening in the world," Thompson said.