Content

• To step
• Part 1 of 2: Getting ready to hold a bearded dragon
• Part 2 of 2: Holding a bearded dragon
• Tips
• Warnings

In the movie “Holes” bearded dragons are used to represent strange and terrifying creatures that swell up and attack people, but bearded dragons are generally gentle animals that are more resistant to being handled than other types of lizards. Bearded dragons that are kept as pets are very curious, gentle, friendly and easy to hold. Because they are picked up and held regularly, they get used to people and become less stressed when you bathe them, clean the hutch and take them to the vet.

To step

Part 1 of 2: Getting ready to hold a bearded dragon

1. Wash your hands. Washing your hands before holding a bearded dragon will reduce the chance of transmitting bacteria or disease to the animal. You may also want to consider wearing gloves. The advantage of this is that you also protect your hands against the rough skin of the animal.
2. Approach the lizard slowly until you can touch it. It is important that you behave calmly and deliberately around the lizard. If the bearded dragon is stressed, it won't feel comfortable holding it. If the bearded dragon is in a cage or behind a fence, you will have to put your hands in it slowly. Don't do this from above, however, as bearded dragons have sensory nerves on top of their heads. This makes them think you are attacking them if you put your hands into the cage from above.
   • Do not disturb the bearded dragon while eating.
   • Do not force the bearded dragon into a corner, as it will make him feel threatened.
   • Do not tease the lizard with your finger as it may think it is a worm and will bite it.
3. Gently pat the bearded dragon's head. The animal will get used to your hand and feel at ease. When the bearded dragon blinks or closes his eyes, he is calm enough to be picked up. If the animal is angry or stressed, you will see its chin turn black, and if it is very angry, its chin will turn black and swell. If you see this you better stop, because your bearded dragon is not in the right mood to be picked up.

Part 2 of 2: Holding a bearded dragon

1. Pick up the bearded dragon. Gently put your hand palm up under his body and pick him up. Use your thumb and index finger to support the front legs as the body rests in the palm of your hand. Make sure you all support the bearded dragon legs. You can also hold your other hand under its tail.
   • If it is uncomfortable for you to put your hand under the animal, gently grasp the bearded dragon with your index finger and thumb behind its shoulders so that you can lift it slightly. Then put your other hand under his body.
   • Do not squeeze the animal, but support it. Have the animal sit on your hands.
   • Know that if you don't support the butt of the bearded dragon, it will spin its tail like a windmill. If this happens, immediately support his hind legs and tail so that he feels more secure. Otherwise he could injure his back.
2. Make sure you feel comfortable and stay calm. Place the bearded dragon on your arm, chest, or lap and it will likely sit comfortably there while you pet it. Your gentle, gentle touches will help the animal to relax. Adult bearded dragons can grow up to two feet long, so it may be most comfortable to sit with them. Young bearded dragons are fast, so it is best to hold them loosely.
   • Know that a bearded dragon's scales and spines point in a certain direction, so stroke it in that direction instead of against it, or you will be poked in your skin and the animal will get angry.
3. Read the body language of the bearded dragon. The bearded dragon will let you know how comfortable he feels and if you are able to figure out how he feels, you will be able to hold him better. If the animal gets stressed or restless, put it back in its cage. Watch for these movements:
   • Bloated beard. When a lizard wants to show that he is dominant, startled or feels threatened, he will blow his throat. This mainly happens during the mating season.
   • Opening the mouth. Like beard blowing, this is to make the bearded dragon look threatening to show its dominance or deter potential attacks.
   • The mouth opens slightly. Your bearded dragon may be trying to cool down.
   • The head goes up and down. Males show their dominance with this.
   • Swing the legs. Sometimes a bearded dragon holds up one of its front legs and sways it slowly. This is a sign of submission.
   • Tail raised up. This can often be seen during the mating season. It can also indicate alertness and diligence. Young bearded dragons often raise their tails when hunting prey.
4. Return the bearded dragon to its cage or cage. When you have held the bearded dragon long enough or the bearded dragon no longer feels like it, you can put it back in its cage or cage using the steps described above. You can hold a bearded dragon for as long as he allows. Start with 15 minutes a day. When your bearded dragon gets used to being picked up and held, you can hold it longer. Some bearded dragons like to be held for several hours several times a day. When the animal gets restless it is time to put it back in its hutch or cage.
   • How long you can keep the bearded dragon out of its vivarium depends on the room temperature. Reptiles are cold blooded animals, so when the room is cold he can get cold and his digestion can stop. If his stomach feels cold, put him back in his vivarium to let him warm up.
5. Wash your hands. Bearded dragons, like most reptiles, carry the salmonella bacteria. This is normal for the animal, but people can get sick from this bacteria. Always wash your hands after holding a bearded dragon.

Tips

• If you are calm while picking up or holding these animals, they will likely be quiet themselves.
• Bearded dragons sometimes cling to your clothes.
• Always let children hold the animal under supervision.
• Have patience with a young bearded dragon. Let him get used to you. Don't try to force him to touch you or be discouraged if he doesn't act nice to you right away.
• Young bearded dragons are more delicate than adults, so be prepared to jump. You may be surprised to accidentally drop the animal.
• Young bearded dragons or bearded dragons who are not used to humans can become stressed and lose interest in food if you pick them up too often.
• Very young bearded dragons can be scared at first. Keep them close to the ground in case they suddenly try to get away.
• When a bearded dragon's claws are stuck in your clothing, just gently pick up its paw and remove it very carefully from the fabric until the paw is no longer in your clothing. Then let the bearded dragon relax so that it doesn't get stressed.
• A bearded dragon may try to escape a few times if it is not used to you. Once you've just gotten the lizard, let it sit in its vivarium for a day or two before attempting to pick it up and hold it. The animal must first get used to its new environment.
• Bearded dragons, like other pets, shouldn't eat crickets or worms from your yard. The animals can carry diseases that your bearded dragon has never been exposed to.

Warnings

• Do not attempt to pick up your bearded dragon if it moves its head up and down or its beard is puffed up. The animal is communicating with you or another lizard and may bite.
• If that happens, put an object between the bearded dragon in question and the other bearded dragon / animal because they can start fighting.