entertain or mentally stimulate?

[szubelak]

What are everyone's thoughts on entertaining or mentally stimulating a bearded dragon? Just like we give our dogs and cats toys or kongs or scratching posts etc; what can we do for our dragons? Does anyone have anything in their tanks that "entertains" their dragon? (I have 2 males so they can't be out of their tanks at the same time.)

THanks,
L

 

[lexus465]

Unfortunately, I don't have an answer to your question. I just thought I would share that my dad said I should get my guy a little ball with a bell to play with! :lol: So, it also got me thinking about whether they need mental stimulation. I hope someone has some good advice.

 

[zandi202]

You can look at some of the cat toys and see if there is anything that seems beardie safe that they can play with. Lots of decor can help for the active beardie. Currently my 7mo beardie has gotten really active and requires me to buy more stuff for him to play on because he gets bored climbing the same stuff.

 

[Kriechtier]

Not sure about toys, but the ant crusher game on my mobile phone is a big hit with her. She goes nuts and plays better than I do. Also it seems video games get her attention like nothing else. I suppose the fast changing scenery seems to get her excited.

 

[SkeptiBee]

I've been trying to find some ideas to keep Hermes entertained while I'm away at work. Thus far I've read on general enrichment ideas that zoos utilize but that often includes simulating natural environment. Most of us are trying to do that anyway with climbing material, hides, or plants. I'm looking into getting some form of plant with a mister (on a timer so I can keep the humidity down) to encourage drinking. Hermes doesn't seem to be getting hydrated enough via baths and he hates it when I drip water on his nose.

Anyway, I would think anything that might engage them in a natural sense would be beneficial. Trying to encourage hunting by leaving food items around. That works better if you have a larger vivarium. I think a lot of it just stems from them being in fairly small spaces so there is less room to really work with for enrichment purposes. I'll keep my eyes open for anything new and will post what I find.

 

[TheDragonKeepers]

Most of mine ignore toys and other such things. They have balls to trundle about when they feel like it, and plenty of climbing things - but what they like most is human interaction.

All mine are in the front room, so they can watch people going about their business - and see the TV. Tsam really really likes David Attenborough. Go figure!

(Oh, and he also has a photo of himself autographed by Sir Attenborough too! Hehehe.)

 

[bunnyrut]

Dargon is most excited when he is outside. he wants to go everywhere and see everything.

Tasty Treat loves running around inside. if we put something new in the apartment she has to investigate it.

 

[dragontamer13]

i'v never done this ( thinking about it ) but what if you were to grow his/her fave veggie in his enclosure? then he/she could nibble as the choose and it would be cheaper since you would have to buy the veggie...now that im thinking about it it probably doesnt work since ( unless your cage is by a window ) it would have no sunlight ( unless uvb would suffice...can you tell im not the garden type? )...just an idea that ive thought about as i type...

 

[bunnyrut]

i'v never done this ( thinking about it ) but what if you were to grow his/her fave veggie in his enclosure? then he/she could nibble as the choose and it would be cheaper since you would have to buy the veggie...now that im thinking about it it probably doesnt work since ( unless your cage is by a window ) it would have no sunlight ( unless uvb would suffice...can you tell im not the garden type? )...just an idea that ive thought about as i type...

eh, i've tried this. anything that puts out UV will work with the plants.
the problem with it is that when the beardies decide to go crazy and run around the viv they tend to knock the plants around.

Mr Dargon made it very clear that he did not like the plant being in there when he stood next to it, stared at me, and slowly put is arm on it and knocked it over.
"oh, you like this plant. it would be a shame if something were to happen to it"

 

[zandi202]

Mr Dargon made it very clear that he did not like the plant being in there when he stood next to it, stared at me, and slowly put is arm on it and knocked it over.
"oh, you like this plant. it would be a shame if something were to happen to it"

:laughhard:
Best story ever! Had me and my boyfriend cracking up.

 

[dragontamer13]

L.o.l. best. Story. EVA.