Keeping your bearded dragon busy and entertained with toys and activities is very important and easy to do.
The best bearded dragon toy is the beardie ball. This transparent plastic ball has a small lid which allows you to fill in crickets or hoppers. As soon as you put the ball on the floor, your beardie will chase it, to get the food inside.
This article will show you 9 further inexpensive and easy to do activities and toys for your bearded dragon. Further, you will learn, why it is so important that your bearded dragon is busy during the day.
Why Your Bearded Dragon Needs Exercise
Since I am running this website here, I am always up for something new, I am always up for some experiments so I can share my new impressions with you, my reader. Besides that, I also got two beardies, and of course, I want to entertain them. Bearded dragons really need something to do.
They need a little bit of exercise every day. Not only for their physical health (most bearded dragons get too fat in a terrarium because of overfeeding) but also for their mental health.
Out in the wild, they are doing stuff the whole day – like hunting or keeping other dragons away from their territory. What do they do in a terrarium? Right! Almost nothing. Here is a list for you of the 10 best toys and activities for bearded dragons.
Hope you enjoy!
No. 1 – Get a ball for your bearded dragon – A great bearded dragon toy!
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I know it sounds simple and somehow unbelievable. Bearded dragons playing with balls? Well, looks like someone thinks that beardies are dogs, right? Well, maybe they aren´t that different from dogs as we thought, lol.
In fact, most bearded dragons really play with a ball. Do they enjoy it? I do not know, I don´t speak dragon language, but the dragon in the video below seems to enjoy showing the ball who´s the boss.
So you see, dragons seem to like playing with balls, which is excellent. It is not only a great physical exercise for beardies, but it also keeps them busy, which prevents them from getting depressed from sitting bored in the tank all day.
Are you ready for my pro tip?
Get this ball from Amazon and put some crickets, or roaches in it and close the ball. Now put the ball on the floor and watch your bearded dragon chase the ball like a maniac! This is an awesome exercise for your dragon, just don´t overdo it.
No. 2 – Buy or build a swing or a hammock for your bearded dragon
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Come on, who does not love swings or hammocks? All humans on earth love swings, and it seems like many animals also do. The bearded dragon is no exception here. They love to climb on it or just lie on it, looking around judging everybody, haha.
This is also an excellent physical exercise for your bearded dragon. Since the swing moves when your dragon climbs on it a lot of different muscles will be activated and trained. It is a better exercise for them then just climbing on a rock.
If you want to buy a swing, you should make sure that it is made of good and safe material. Swings of bad quality could hurt your bearded dragon.
Unfortunately, there are not a lot of swings you could buy which are made for bearded dragons. If you do not want to build a swing yourself, you could also do something similar with a hammock for your bearded dragon. I recommend to get this hammock right here.
Have a look at this article where I review one of the best bearded dragon hammocks and explain what fun stuff you can do for your dragon with a hammock.
No. 3 Get A Bearded Dragon Leash
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I was skeptical when it comes to leashes for bearded dragons. I was always afraid that my dragons might not like the leash and hurt themselves when I put on the leash.
However, there is no need to worry about that. My dragons got used to seeing the leash a couple of days, and then I could put it on without any problems.
Just think about the possibilities here.
You can take your bearded dragon for a walk, which is a tremendous physical and mental exercise for your dragon. It prevents depression, and the sunlight is sooo good for your bearded dragon.
You can even let your bearded dragon hunt wild insects as long as you visit the vet regularly. Please make sure that the grass where your dragon hunts was not treated with pesticide.
The dragon leash is really one of my favorite bearded dragon toy/ activity. Besides that, you can get a leash for your beardie for just a few bucks. Have a look at this article, where I show you one of the best leashes for not even $10! Click here!
No. 4 – Get Long Tweezers!
Yeah I know, most of you guys probably don´t need tweezers or don´t want tweezers, since you enjoy feeding your bearded dragons without that stuff.
However, it is not really about feeding. Tweezers are fantastic to play chase with your bearded dragon. Simply grab a cricket or a dubia or something like that and show it to your dragon. Of course, as you already know, your dragon most probably will freak out and try to catch the food.
Let your dragon run, climb and jump and you will have a healthy bearded dragon. This is a great exercise for your bearded dragon because you simulate nature here. In the wild bearded dragon hunt their food all day.
Further, this is not only good for your bearded dragon. I bet you are also going to have a lot of fun playing with your bearded dragon. 🙂
Note: Please make sure that you don´t overdo it here. Play chase with your bearded dragon, but do not do it too long as it could be too much for your dragon at some point.
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No. 5 – Food in a package equals an awesome bearded dragon activity
Have you ever left your bearded dragon together with a transparent box full of crickets on the floor? If not, you should try it out. Your dragon will hunt the box like crazy to get the food inside.
It is the same as letting your dragon hunt food with tweezers, but just for lazy people, haha.
No. 6 – Get A Mirror
Sounds weird, but is one of the best and most natural things you can do for your bearded dragon. Place a mirror near the tank of your bearded dragon, so that the dragon can see its reflection.
Observe your dragon. It will start to bob its head, or it will do the bearded dragon wave. That´s because the beardie thinks that there is an intruder. Bearded dragons are territorial, and they want to scare away potential competitors, or they even show submissiveness by waving.
I would not place the mirror near your tank all day. Maybe 15 minutes each day, so your bearded dragon is busy but does not get stressed out.
The rest of the day you can just cover the mirror with something like a towel for example.
This also works with two bearded dragons in two separate tanks. If you place the tanks so that the bearded dragons can see each other, you will see their awesome territorial behavior. Just don´t place them too near to each other.
No. 7 – Can Bearded Dragons Swim? They are great swimmers!
You might not believe it, but bearded dragons are great swimmers, and they love it! Have a look at the video below of a German guy who lets their dragons swim in his pond.
Let it swim in your pond 🙂
Please make sure that you always keep an eye on your beardies while they swim. They are good swimmers, and most probably nothing bad will happen, but you never know.
If you need to know if you can let your bearded dragon swim in chlorine water, or if you have further questions about bearded dragons and swimming, have a look at this article!
No. 8 – Build caves for your dragon
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I have found this amazing substrate for bearded dragons on Amazon. It is not dangerous and awesome for creating an extremely good looking bearded dragon habitat.
With this substrate, you can form hills and even caves in your bearded dragon tank. This way your bearded dragon can explore its habitat, and it can even dig its own caves and tunnels. The video below shows you exactly what you can build for your bearded dragon and how to do it.
You can get the clay substrate here, and you can get the cavern kit to create caves here.
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With this, your bearded dragon can explore, climb, dig and it does not get too bored in its tank. However, do not change the habitat too often in a short period of time. That could stress your dragon. You could do it every 4 – 6 months for example 🙂
No. 9 – Climbing on your body
Most probably you are doing it already anyway, but it is worth mentioning it in this list.
Letting you bearded dragon climb on your body is not only fun for you, but it is also a good exercise for your beardie. Just make sure, that you do not overdo it here.
I know, I could also do that all day, but we really should give our dragons a rest from time to time, lol.
No. 10 – Get out in the rain
If you live in a warm country, you can also get outside with your bearded dragon when it rains and find out how it reacts to rain. Have a look at the video below.
The dragon in the video went to the balcony when it started to rain. It was not forced to do that. By the movements it makes you can see that it tries to swim a little bit. :)It is having a good time, and it is not distracted at all.
Always make sure that your bearded dragon likes it. It could also be distracted by the rain and try to get away. Just keep an eye on your beardie and you will be fine.
So that´s it, this is my top ten list of the best bearded dragon toys and bearded dragon activities.
Before you leave!
Since I receive many comments and emails from bearded dragon owners that tell me that their bearded dragon is refusing to eat greens, I decided to help with this issue.
What most bearded dragon owners do not know is that a bearded dragon that does not eat greens might be sick or is on the best way to getting sick.
Bearded dragons are omnivores, which means that they eat anything they can find in the wild. The problem that most bearded dragons are picky when it comes to food only arouses due to bad husbandry.
If your bearded dragon is refusing to eat greens, and maybe even only accepts mealworms as food, I highly recommend that you get my ebook: How To Make Your Bearded Dragon Eat Greens Within 7 Days!
After going through the steps outlined in the ebook I will personally check on you and your beardie via email and will support you if needed.
Keep your beardie healthy!
Hi there I love your site, my name is Mae. I currently have two bearded dragons debbie and bandit, Bandit I found out has problems taking in calcium. I have been giving him shots, but due to the fact we did not catch it until he had managed to fracture his back… bandit now is unable to use his back legs, and is basically paralyzed. Bandit means the world to me, and it kills me he is unable to get around, his favorite thing was our walks now he can barley G.I. Joe crawl. I am in search of some one who may know a way that I could make wheels for him, so that bandit can continue to go on our walks. It was our daily thing, I am scared he has become very depressed due to the fact that the most we do now is cuddle in bed, If you could help us in any way it would mean the world to us. I will attach a link to Bandits story and a photo of my sweet boy, thank you so much for your time.
-Mae
I saw the picture of your friends bearded dragon, I am also an owner of two lovely beardies… But recently my young one has become violently ill, and has become paralyzed in his back legs. I know you do not know me, But i’m looking for help with bandit. if you could it would mean the absolute world to me if maybe you could ask your friend if they know of any specialist that could help my baby boy. the vet said he won’t be fully able to walk again, and were in the search of some wheels. Or really any help we can get, bandit means the world to me. thank you so much for taking the time to read all of this. I put a link below to bandits story/pic if you can help in any way it would mean so so much thank you,
Jelly.
http://jellygirldesigns.deviantart.com/art/bandit-620535070
Hey Mae,
I am really sorry to hear that about your bearded dragon. I absolutely know how you feel at the moment.
Was your baby suffering from metabolic bone disease? That would be more a lighting problem.
Bearded dragons with that disease can get a little bit better if you get the right lighting for them. Here is my lighting article, if you have any problems with that. >>Beardie lighting
Further I found this video here on Facebook. You can see a bearded dragon with a wheelchair there. Maybe thos guys can help you with your baby. >> Bearded Dragon Wheelchair
I hope this helps you in any way!
Would be happy to hear from you again!
All the best,
Pierre
I’m fostering a pair of bearded Dragons. I’m researching how to care for them and looking for ideas. Loved your fun suggestions. Should I keep them together in one enclosure . They came to me that way.
Hey Debbie,
I am happy that you like my article.
If your beardies do not fight when they are in the same enclosure you surely can keep them this way.
Here is an article on How To Care For Bearded Dragons which will definitely help you. It includes everything you need to know about caring for bearded dragons.
If you need to know how to setup a tank, this article about setting up a bearded dragon tank is the right for you.
If you have further questions, just ask, I will always get back to you 🙂
Pierre
Hi Pierre
We have had our beardie for 2 years now and there are some things we are concerned about first is he has gone into brumation twice but he sleeps for about 5 to 6 months the only thing he will do is drink water and he does it over summer then soon as the weather is cooling down then BANG the weirdo wakes up wants a feed puts on his black beard and goes hunting for chicks..So is it bad for him to sleep for so long, be awake during winter (we do live in Queensland ) and is it mean to let the poor little guy go his whole life without getting jiggy with it cause he has just woken up and he spends all day running around like a little desperado…
Thanks heaps for your time
Kyl..
Hey Kyl,
wow 5-6 months is very long.
Normally, very healthy beardies should sleep for 3 months max. After that you should start to extend the light periods in you cage to rise the temperature. This will wake him up.
Did you take him to a vet to clarify if he is healthy?
Unfortunately I do not know the phrase “getting jiggy”. I only know that it is a Will Smith song, lol. I´m from Germany 🙂
However if you mean, if you should get him a female then I would say, yes! If you have enough space, go for it!
Hope this helps, Kyl!
Pierre
I know this might be a stupid question, but do you put the beardie in the ball, or let him chase it around? I have a young beardie named Bob, and I usually let him wander around with me and he likes to sit inside my jacket and walk around and I have big dogs and I am worried about him getting lost or eaten if I let him wander around the house so he doesn’t really get a lot of exercise so I feel bad. I’m only 13 so I dont know to much about dragons, but I’m hoping to find ways for him to get exercise.
Hey Kaylee,
you should not put the beardie into the ball. The food should be in the ball so that your bearded dragon can chase it.
However, I understand that you are worried that your bearded dragon gets lost inside your house. If your tank is big enough, you do not need to let your bearded dragon run around outside.
If you want to let your bearded dragon outside, make sure that all the spots where your bearded dragon could hide are covered and only let your bearded dragon run freely in one room. This will make it easier for you to keep an eye on your dragon.
Best regards,
Pierre