For a while now I've wanted a pet of my own, an animal I can chill and connect with. We have had multiple pets in my family before but I have never shared a close bond with any of them. I do not have an interest in dogs, and I can't have a cat because we have a dog that has killed cats in the past so I don't want to risk it. I walked in to a pet store to look around and possibly find the right companion for me. I looked around and nothing really stood out to me, I described what I was looking for to one of the pet stores employees and he quickly pointed me towards a bearded dragon. Before that day I have never really heard of them before. I thought pretty much every lizard just sat in a tank doing nothing and was just something you look at. The employee told me a bunch of stuff that made Bearded Dragons sound like what I was looking for. Of course I didn't just listen to the employee who most likely was just trying to get a dollar out of me, so when I came home I started looking things up about them. I've watched lots of videos and read multiple articles and there is one thing that I keep seeing different opinions on and thought I would ask about here. What owning a bearded dragon is actually like.
I've seen people make them sound like a great pet. A lizard that enjoys being around people, likes going for walks from time to time, can be let out of its tank to walk around in your room, likes to rest on your shoulder, among other great things.
On the other hand people make them sound as if these lizards are nothing but work, a hobby. A lizard that you just keep in your tank and spend hours every day cleaning and feeding with no bond being made between you and the dragon.
I don't expect these lizards to be a walk in the park and come with no responsibility. I fully expect that I will have to spend time out of my day to make sure the dragon is in good health. But I would love to have some sort of bond with it.
If I get a Bearded Dragon, I plan on getting it a large tank with all the proper equipment. I am willing to dedicate time and money to keep it clean, healthy and happy. All I want to know is if these lizards are actually social, interactive and intelligent ( to some extend ). I don't want to regret spending so many resources on an animal that will just sit there and be a burden to me. I am looking for something that has personality and can become a new member of my family.
I've seen people make them sound like a great pet. A lizard that enjoys being around people, likes going for walks from time to time, can be let out of its tank to walk around in your room, likes to rest on your shoulder, among other great things.
On the other hand people make them sound as if these lizards are nothing but work, a hobby. A lizard that you just keep in your tank and spend hours every day cleaning and feeding with no bond being made between you and the dragon.
I don't expect these lizards to be a walk in the park and come with no responsibility. I fully expect that I will have to spend time out of my day to make sure the dragon is in good health. But I would love to have some sort of bond with it.
If I get a Bearded Dragon, I plan on getting it a large tank with all the proper equipment. I am willing to dedicate time and money to keep it clean, healthy and happy. All I want to know is if these lizards are actually social, interactive and intelligent ( to some extend ). I don't want to regret spending so many resources on an animal that will just sit there and be a burden to me. I am looking for something that has personality and can become a new member of my family.