Getting an adult Bearded Dragon has both pros and cons. If you choose to take an older Beardie, whatever treatment-good or bad-he’s received from his previous owner has helped to develop his temperament. Even the most docile of lizards will display the same kind of attitude he’s been subjected to. So if you have a Beardie who’s been treated like a pet and loved and cared for, he’ll make a wonderful pet for you. But if you find a Beardie that’s been mistreated, he may be more apt to bite, he won’t like it if you reach for him and he may even see you as an enemy. You may never develop a bond with a Beardie that’s been mistreated.

This doesn’t mean that you should avoid getting an adult Bearded Dragon, just that you should use caution. You should know the kind of life he’s lived before you came along. One of the ways you can tell if the Beardie has been well treated is to check out his health before you take him home. Is he thinner than he should be? Is he active or does he simply lie around the cage?

An adult Bearded Dragon that’s been cared for and is healthy would make not only a great pet for yourself but also as a gift for someone you love. Older Beardies are stronger than the younger ones. Plus, when you select an older Beardie, the sex of the lizard can easily be determined which you cannot do when getting a young juvenile Beardie.