Housing a bearded dragon with another animal?

[TrueLolzor]

Hello. Long story short, I kinda feel bad for my bearded dragon living all alone over there (I know it's dumb and they don't care), but still I would like to house him with some other animal, and I need to be sure they can safely co-exist. Now, I performed some research, and right now it looks like a herbivore turtle of approximately same size as my dragon is my best bet. Would you kindly provide me with some insight and thoughts on this matter? Thank you.

 

[onceblue]

I don't think it's dumb for you to feel that way - but at the same time, I think it's important to keep in mind that bearded dragons aren't like us. They don't really get lonely and actually prefer being solitary. Their emotions aren't as developed as us and as such they don't really feel things the way we do. They're perfectly happy with their own space and without having any competition for resources.

That said, I don't know if turtles and beardies can cohabitate safely, but it would be my guess that your beardie would be happiest by himself.

 

[Megalania]

I saw a BD that had lived with some type of Tortoise for years with no problems,I can't remember the exact species.There is a guy on YouTube that has housed Beardies and Uromastyx together for years as well.Here you go: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XSQ_OaQkpT0

 

[Taterbug]

I don't think either animal would appreciate living together. Think of it like having a roommate - it's stressful in general especially in a small space like most home vivariums and sometimes they just don't get along. at all.

If he seems bored or lonely a more valuable investment in his happiness would be in things that provide him with a more enriched and fulfilled life - like a larger cage, opportunities to climb or dig, enrichment activities like feeding challenges or upgraded equipment depending on what you have.

 

[Drache613]

Moved by Moderator from General to Behavior

 

[kingofnobbys]

Bearded dragons (with the exceptions of Rankins (pygmi bearded) dragons) are not social animals and do better if housed by themselves.

That said, I let my beardies roam about with a pal (a similar sized bluetongue skink) and so far good, they even share salad from the same dish on the kitchen floor occasionally.
Would I house a bluetongue and beardie together, probably not UNLESS they were in a huge enclosure (at least 2 - 3x bigger than the ones they are currently in (4'x2') and had their own hides, basking spots and perhaps even their own food dishes. (Or if I had a special outdoor lizard pit - some people have these in their backyards and house a few species of lizard (all similar sized) in them.

I know of people who house combinations of shinglebacks, bluetongues, beardies for example together in pits. Some people include fresh water turtles in their little zoos, but you need to make sure the lizards can easily get out the water is they get into it by accident.