Blue Tongue vs Bearded Dragon (Long Thread)

[J_Couvy]

Hey Guys

I know the topic of "which pet is best for me; blue tongue sink or bearded dragon" has been bounced around a bit on the forum lately. While I did find a thread regarding this topic, it mostly dealt with the possibility of breeding each lizard and which would make a better profit. I am not interested in breeding but solely in reptiles as pets and have some specific questions and observations that I figured would be better posted in a new thread. I would also like to preface this thread by saying that those of you who now me, know that I have already traded one skink and am now thinking about trading again. Please don't hold this against me; I take awesome care of my pets but am new to the world of reptiles and am not sure if I have found the right one for me yet. I also know that trading is not uncommon in the reptile world. Not to mention that I currently only have space for one reptile in my house, otherwise I wouldn't consider trading and would just get a bearded dragon and keep my skink.

Anyway, on to the meat and potatoes of my thread which is, is a blue tongue skink or bearded dragon better suited for me? Now, I think I was smitten by the idea of a reptile that would show its owner affection and I now know that this is a widely debated topic among reptile owners. So I will just say I wanted a reptile who wouldn't despise being out of its tank and would be willing to sit with me and accept affection and petting. I had seen videos and heard about blue tounges that were very tame and seemed to like to be out and about (I also just thought they looked pretty cool). I was also sold on the fact that they didn't need to eat live prey.

Now however, I am beginning to second guess my choice of a skink as a pet.

My blue tongue Hotdog has tamed down quite a bit since I received her but there are still some things I'm not sure she'll grow out off. When I first got her she was very flighty and nippy and would rarely come over to the tank door to get let out. When I did take her out, she would bolt if I stood to follow her or did anything really other than sit as still as a rock. Now she seems to enjoy being out and I can stand up and follow her without her freaking out. She also willingly comes to the doors of her cage and will crawl onto my arm so I can let her out and rarely tries to bite. I know these are all signs of a tame skink, which is great considering I've only had her for about 4 months. However when taken out, she refuses to sit with me if I am watching TV or sitting on the couch. She always tries to get away and does not seem comfortable. She also doesn't willingly accept petting and will usually flinch her head or try to walk away if I try. Lastly, when it comes to actually handling she is really not a fan; if I hold her for more than 30 seconds she thrashes violently (though she has not pooped on me yet).

Maybe this is just her personality and like I said, I know that for the most part she is a really tame skink. However in my recent experience with skinks and bearded dragons at the zoo that I volunteer at, I'm beginning to wonder if a dragon is a better fit for me.

At my zoo we have both skinks and dragons that have been handled for years and are extremely tame. Our resident blue tongue is very chill and is often handled by our younger volunteers (aged 8-12) so you will likely not find a more tolerant skink. However when he is out, while he never tries to bite and I've never seen him huff at anyone, he seems indifferent to the fact that he is out (which I know can be a common trait among skinks). Meanwhile our beardies seem to more enjoy being out of their tank. In my recent experience with a beardie, he was scratching at his tank to get out. So naturally when I got a chance, I took him out. I had him on my chest/shoulder while I relocked the cage door and a zoo patron came over to talk to me; the beardie sat on my shoulder for like 5 minutes while I spoke, not trying to scramble away (which is usually what happens to any bluey I've handled). I had him out for another 10 minutes sitting on me while I petted him before I put him back. I tried petting a couple other beardies we have in the zoo and they all accepted it and even seemed to enjoy it (or at least didn't seem as bothered as the blue tongues usually do).

I know that the difference I have described between skinks and dragons at my zoo could all add up to personality and amazing tameness and I'm sure many of you will say that I haven't had my girl long enough to really get a gauge on her personality. I guess I have just heard and seen that beardies tend to show - dare I say it - affection more than blue tongues do. I also personally think that beardies are a little more entertaining to watch than skinks.

Please let me know what you think and try not to nit-pick too much at my long thread; I know it happens when the "a" word (affection) is thrown around too lightly regarding reptiles.

[Susann]

I would not say you haven't had your skink long enough to know her personality; I'd say, by now you have a good handle on what she's like and what she'll be like for many, many years to come.
I don't know anything about beardies, so I can't give you any guidance on them, but it sounds to me like you are not happy with the two skinks you've had so far, and if Hotdog Princess is leaving you underwhelmed, then maybe you're right; maybe blueys aren't going to be the pet for you.

I don't usually like to make it sound like I'm all for getting a pet and then getting rid of it if it's not working out for you, but sometimes it IS the right thing to do... Only YOU can answer that question for you though.
You may get answers from one side of the spectrum to the next, some may say, you got the pet now do the right thing and give Hotdog an excellent home for the rest of her life; some may say, beardies are exactly like dogs without fur so go ahead and trade.
All I'd ask, if you decide to try a beardie, is that you do the right thing by Hotdog Princess by finding her a home that's better than what you're providing. Worry about the replacement beardie at a later time. A lot of times when you're trading, you trade for the animal that you most would like, not necessarily for the best recipient that your trade is going to.

[J_Couvy]

Thanks for the reply Susann.

If I do decide to get a beardie, rest assured I will find Hotdog the best possible home I can before I even considered purchasing one. I may even put her up for sale on the forum if I do decide to sell/trade her because I know she will likely find a great new owner on here.

I am also going to spend some time with a bearded dragon if I can so that I can really get an idea of their personality, as I do not want to go through the same process I have already gone through with skinks with a beardie.

[splashy07]

I keep both. If I had a preference I would not have to. I love them both. Beardeds are out and about, blueys sleep a lot. My Bearded eats pellets and greens, gets insects as treats although sometimes is not interested in them. I offer them anyway as a protein source, as I breed my own and have a constant supply. The fact that blueys do not require all those nasty bugs is a plus, but I breed them anyway for myself and friends so no biggie. Some Beardies will not come off live prey, some will. (I've been keeping/breeding them for over 20 years and have had many). And, some like handling and some do not. For the most part they do, but I've seen personality differences. Remember if you choose to keep more than one, do not keep together unless two females. They are awesome pets but IMO they require quite a bit more maintenance than blueys.

[gg259]

Personally, and yes I mean this is my own experience so if you dont agree with me that it perfectly fine, but I find blueys to be much more fun. I have had both and to me I do love bearded dragons but mine have just been rocks. They just sit and bask all day, however they both eat like monsters. I think bearded dragons are more for a sit on the couch and watch tv kind of pet while blue tongue skinks are more interactive and roam around. Also like the before have said I find bearded dragons to be more work than a blue tongue. I believe bearded dragons are much more easily affected by dehydration since many dont actually drink from a bowl, though I have read some have gotten theirs to do it. Because of this they require baths sometimes multiple times a week, which in turn isnt that much work but its just an extra thing you need to do. Also the live food, Ill tell you im perfectly fine with bugs but let me tell you no matter what you do crickets will always find a way out. You can find ways around this by using superworms but either way you will have to gutload these bugs meaning more work on that part as well aside from the dog food I feed my bluey. I do find that bearded dragons tame much quicker while my blue tongue is a couple months old and still is eh about handling. All that aside I think both are great pets so go with what appeals more to you.

[TPceebee]

I think its important to remember that taming both species requires a rather long time. I've read that it can take over a year before lizards tolerate handling. Blue tongues are also explorers by nature and your skink is most likely just wanting to look around rather than just sit still. Petting is also another thing that takes time for a lizard to get used to. They tend to get lazier as they get older too. My first experience with a skink was meeting an old boy who just sat most of the day. He didn't care if he was outside or in. Just think about the long term and whether you're willing to put the time and effort into taming an animal.

Bare in mind that I've never owned a beardie and have only had my skink for a month or so. He sits in his hide most of the day and is just starting to wander around and burrow more. He still hates coming out and will stress out even if I just set him down and leave him be.

Good luck either way. Caring for an animal is not easy. Its not uncommon to feel disheartened, but if you do decide to stick with your skink then you may find in a few months time your relationship will be closer to what you'd like it to be.

[Richard.C]

Beardeds as a rule are more tolerant,less prone to flight behaviour,both make great pets though

Both can be veru tame but at same time both can be butty and not like human interaction

Doesnt mean theu still cant be great pets though

Blueys are easier to cater for food wise,they also have far longer life spans

Personally though you can go wrong with either,both are very popular pets the world over for a very good reason

No harm in having one of each

[Dood]

I think Hotdog Princess still doesn't feel 100% secure in her new home.

When I had her she frequently lounged on the couch with me, usually after she had done some exporing on the floor and was tuckered out.

How do you hold her, as she was never very wiggly for me and I felt confident in letting my young nieces and nephews (4 to 11 years old) tote her around - I taught them to carry her along the length of their arm with her tail at their elbow and head at their hand (or vice versa) and tucked next to their body so she'd feel well supported

[Angcious]

Richard pretty much summed it all up.
My bearded has a special place in my heart, she's such a good girl. But I have to admit, I find the bts a little more fascinating. My bearded has a dependable, reliable personality. She'll go along with whatever. My bts tend to have more of a mind to do things when they want to. But, the bts are more entertaining...curious, playful, adventurous. My bearded for the most part, just doesn't do a whole lot. Honestly, I love having both. When one is more quiet or just not in the mood to be bothered at the moment, I go to the other.

I remember at one point after I'd had my Tequilo for a few months. I was watching him in his enclosure, admiring his beauty. He was looking back at me with a fearful look as if he wished I'd go away and leave him alone. I thought to myself, “well, it looks like I'm going to have a gorgeous 'look but don't touch' kind of pet for the next 20 years...” But I never thought to trade or get rid of him, and I'm sure glad I didn't. It took about 5 months before his personality really started to come out. Now, he's such a great guy. I think HotDog just might need a little more time.

[Richard.C]

Alot of you guys keep bearded dragobs by them selves yes?

I seriously dont get that,they are an extremly social species ,often there response when u are around is just to freeze and sit there,i used to be able to look through a gap in shed door and watch what my group used to get up to in there large indoor cage,they were very very active,bobbing and waving ,running around ect,if i sat inside and watched they would also eventually start interacting again

Ive had a lone female for last couple of years and she just sat there,unless she wanted food,i recently picked up a male and straight away they are interacting and shes like a totally different lizard

Agamids are very social animals,part of the joy of keeping them is watching them interact,there antics,housing them alone you really are missing out on alot

[splashy07]

Mine would not stop breeding when I had them together, and hundreds of babies were just too much work and too much stress on the female. They were very cute when together though, always slept together and actually appeared to be holding eachother. My two males would try and kill eachother if I kept them together. Larger female would dominate smaller one and appear to be trying to breed with her...and they were mother and daughter! EEEWWW!!!! I'm sure outdoor lives would prove to be better situations than 40 breeder tanks. Sure wish I could keep my BTs together, but so afraid of fighting and horror stories I've heard.