Introduction to Bearded Dragon Enrichment Ideas
Enrichment is essential for all animals, and bearded dragons are no exception. It provides mental and physical stimulation by encouraging them to engage in natural behaviors like digging, foraging, and exercising. Without enrichment, bearded dragons can become bored and start showing signs of stress, usually by trying to escape, losing interest in eating or exploring, or glass surfing.
Why Bearded Dragon Enrichment Matters
According to the Smithsonian’s National Zoo & Conservation Biology Institute, enrichment is as essential for animal well-being as medical care and proper nutrition. Replicating natural behaviors like foraging, digging, climbing, exploring, and burrowing are the best enrichment for bearded dragons. This encourages them to display natural behaviors that keep them enriched in the wild.
Mental stimulation from enrichment is excellent for reducing stress and preventing boredom. A bored bearded dragon will not thrive as well as one with various forms of enrichment inside and outside their enclosure. Furthermore, digging, burrowing, and exploring are natural forms of exercise for bearded dragons and help to keep them fit and healthy.
Essential Bearded Dragon Exercise
Digging Opportunities
Bearded dragons love to dig, which might surprise some new keepers. In the wild, bearded dragons naturally dig and burrow. They do this to take shelter from predators and unfavorable weather conditions or for females to lay their eggs. Their wild habitat, consisting of desert and semi-desert areas, has plenty of sand and rocky terrain for digging. Captive bearded dragons will benefit from having loose, sandy substrate for digging and burrowing in their enclosures.
Desert sand mix is a safe and recommended digging substrate for bearded dragons and can be purchased at most pet stores or online retailers. Blends of soil and sand, children’s play sand, and bioactive substrate are other great options to encourage digging and burrowing.
Climbing Structures
Young bearded dragons are semi-arboreal and climb bushes and rocks in the wild, typically to bask or escape predators. Older bearded dragons will still occasionally climb, but they are primarily terrestrial. It is essential to include branches, rocks, and logs in your bearded dragon’s terrarium to encourage them to climb.
We recommend using rocks, branches, and logs specifically for reptiles to minimize the risk of diseases, pests, or harmful pathogens. Some keepers also like to include vines to create a naturalistic enclosure, which is also beneficial for climbing.
Hunting and Foraging
Hunting and foraging are great for mental stimulation and entertaining your bearded dragon. Rather than feeding their insects directly with tongs, place them in an escape-proof feeder dish. This is an excellent way of stimulating their natural predatory instincts, as they would in the wild. Some recommended feeder insects include crickets and dubia roaches because they have an ideal amount of protein, fat, and fiber for regular feedings. However, you can also offer mealworms and silkworms as an occasional treat.
Outdoor Enrichment for Bearded Dragons
When creating an outdoor space for your bearded dragon, it’s essential to incorporate multiple levels so they can regulate their exposure to sunlight. Platforms, branches, and flat rocks allow moving between warmer and cooler areas. Including a mix of materials—such as heat-retaining rock, branches, logs, and soft foliage—adds variety and comfort for basking and resting.
Providing shaded areas is just as important as sun exposure. Your dragon should always have a cool retreat to escape the heat. Before setting up the enclosure, observe how the sun moves throughout the day to ensure a balance of light and shade.
To mimic natural habitats, consider adding hiding spots and digging areas. A small shelter with damp moss or another moisture-retaining material can create a slightly more humid space.
Bearded Dragon Enrichment Toys and Activities
Safe Toys and Interactive Ideas:
You can buy many enrichment toys and activities or DIY for your bearded dragon. Bearded dragons have personal preferences with their favorite toys and activities. You should try various toys and enrichment activities to see which ones they like best.
- Cat Balls: Most cat toys are safe for bearded dragons and are a great form of enrichment—especially balls to push around. Ensure the balls are too big for your bearded dragon to swallow to prevent choking. You can even place bugs inside hollow balls with holes to encourage your beardie to get the bugs out.
- Hammocks: There’s nothing bearded dragons love more than lounging in a cozy spot, and hammocks provide just that. Reptile hammocks come in various sizes and materials and are generally safe if they are not too far off the ground to prevent serious falls. The best material is a smooth, padded hammock instead of mesh or woven. The main issue with mesh or woven materials is that they are known to snag nails or limbs, so it’s best to stick with smooth materials that don’t have this risk. Padded hammocks can easily be washed and dried to keep them hygienic.
- Ferret Tunnels: Another great enrichment item is ferret tunnels made from crinkly material. They come in various sizes and colors and encourage exploration during free roaming. These are a great little obstacle to add to your outside enclosure.
- Rocks and Branches: Adding reptile rocks and branches throughout the enclosure gives your bearded dragon different textures to climb. The safest option is to use rocks and branches sold for reptile use. Always ensure they have no sharp edges and aren’t too steep to climb.
- Puzzle Feeders: This is a good form of mental enrichment and stimulates natural foraging behavior. You do get puzzle feeders designed for reptiles, but you can also use ones made for other pets, too.
- DIY Ideas: Tunnels and digging boxes If you don’t have the budget for store-bought toys or just want to be creative, you can always DIY them. The ideas are endless and can be as simple or fancy as you like, depending on your skill level. You can make tunnels, digging boxes, and hideouts constructed from cardboard boxes. Use non-pressure-treated hardwood instead of cardboard if you want more durable toys.
Conclusion
Enrichment is essential for keeping your bearded dragon entertained and for physical exercise and mental stimulation. The best forms of enrichment are the ones that encourage natural behaviors like climbing, digging, and burrowing. There are so many ideas to choose from, and every bearded dragon will have a different preference, so make sure you give them other forms to see which ones they like the most. Some common favorites include loose sandy substrate for digging, rocks and branches for climbing, and lounging hammocks.
Useful References:
- RSPCA: https://kb.rspca.org.au/knowledge-base/how-will-i-keep-my-reptiles-entertained-alert-and-interested-in-their-surroundings/
- MDPI: https://www.mdpi.com/2673-5636/5/3/30
- National Zoo: https://nationalzoo.si.edu/animals/animal-enrichment
- VCA Animal Hospital: https://vcahospitals.com/know-your-pet/bearded-dragons-owning
