Reptile lovers looking for an exotic pet often debate between two popular options: bearded dragons and chameleons. Both make for unique, interactive companions, but they have very different care requirements and temperaments. So which one is better suited for you?
If you’re short on time, here’s a quick answer to your question: Bearded dragons tend to be easier to care for, calmer, and enjoy physical handling more than chameleons. Chameleons need more specialized care and prefer not to be handled.
In this comprehensive guide, we’ll cover everything you need to know to decide whether a bearded dragon or chameleon is the right exotic pet for you, your family, and your lifestyle.
Basic Facts and Appearance
Bearded Dragon Overview
The bearded dragon is a popular exotic pet native to Australia. These docile, personable lizards reach up to 24 inches long and live for around 10 years. Bearded dragons are diurnal, meaning they are active during the day.
They have spiny scales and a “beard” of scales under their chin which they display when threatened. Bearded dragons come in a variety of colors like red, yellow, and gray. Their enclosures need proper heating and lighting to mimic their native desert habitat.
Chameleon Overview
Unlike bearded dragons, chameleons are more reclusive pets native to Africa and islands in the Indian ocean. Ranging from just an inch up to two feet long depending on species, chameleons are famous for their color-changing abilities used for communication and camouflage.
They have grasping feet and prehensile tails, with independently rotating eyes that allow them to scan in two directions at once looking for prey. Chameleons are primarily arboreal, meaning they live in trees and require enclosure accessories they can climb on.
Their lifespans range between 1 to 10 years depending on species.
Habitat and Caging
Enclosure Type
When it comes to habitat and caging, bearded dragons and chameleons have quite different needs. Bearded dragons are terrestrial reptiles that require a large, dry terrarium or enclosure with plenty of floor space. A 40-gallon breeder tank is great for an adult bearded dragon.
The enclosure should have a substrate like reptile carpet or calcium sand that holds heat and allows the lizard to burrow. Decor like branches, rocks, and logs provides ample basking and climbing opportunities.
In contrast, chameleons need a screened cage or enclosure that allows for lots of airflow and climbing space. The cage should be taller than it is wide, with several horizontal branches or vines for the arboreal chameleon to climb and perch on.
A fine mesh screen keeps humidity levels high while preventing escape.
Cage Decor
Bearded dragons love lots of decorations and accessories to enrich their dry, hot environment. Provide items like:
- Basking rocks and platforms
- Climbing branches
- Hides and caves
- Hammocks
- Plants and foliage
Chameleons don’t require much in the way of cage accessories – just plenty of branches, vines, and leaves for climbing and hiding. Be sure any decor doesn’t obstruct the flow of air through the screened enclosure.
Temperature
Both species require very specific temperature gradients. Bearded dragons thrive at 95-100°F on the hot end, dropping down to 70-80°F on the cool side. Provide overhead heat lamps and undertank heating pads to establish this gradient.
Chameleons prefer slightly cooler temps between 70-80°F during the day and 65-75°F at night.
Lighting
In addition to heat lamps, these reptiles need special UVB lighting. Bearded dragons require very bright light and high UVB output for 12-14 hours a day. Standard fluorescent reptile bulbs work well. Chameleons need a more moderate level of UVB from compact fluorescent or mercury vapor bulbs.
Provide 10-12 hours of daylight for both species.
Humidity
Humidity levels differ greatly for these pets. Bearded dragons thrive in a very dry environment with humidity between 30-40%. Chameleons need higher humidity around 50-60% to stay healthy. Mist the chameleon’s enclosure 1-2 times per day to maintain humidity.
Diet and Nutrition
Bearded Dragon Diet
Bearded dragons are omnivores, meaning they eat both plant and animal matter. Their diet should consist of 75% vegetables and fruits and 25% protein sources like insects and worms. Here are some key components of a healthy bearded dragon diet:
- Leafy greens like kale, collard greens, mustard greens, turnip greens, dandelion greens
- Squashes like butternut squash, acorn squash, zucchini
- Vegetables like bell peppers, carrots, sweet potatoes, snap peas, green beans
- Some fruits like blueberries, strawberries, mango, melon
- Live insects like crickets, dubia roaches, mealworms, black soldier fly larvae
Bearded dragons should be fed a salad of chopped greens and vegetables daily. The salad can be lightly dusted with a calcium supplement a few times per week. They should get live insects 3-5 times per week. It’s important to gut load the insects with nutritious foods first.
Baby dragons need more protein and can be fed insects daily. As they mature, increase the amount of veggies and decrease insects.
Having a varied diet with different colors and textures is ideal. Avoid frequent feeding of high oxalate greens like spinach, high goitrogen veggies like broccoli, and sugary fruits. Water should always be available in the habitat.
Adult bearded dragons get most of their hydration from their food but may drink from a shallow bowl as well.
Chameleon Diet
Chameleons are omnivores and require a diverse diet to thrive. Like bearded dragons, chameleons should eat a combination of vegetables, fruits, insects, worms, and other prey items. Here are some key components of a healthy chameleon diet:
- Dark leafy greens like kale, collard greens, mustard greens, turnip greens, dandelion greens
- Other veggies like zucchini, bell peppers, snap peas, green beans, carrots, butternut squash
- Some fruits like mango, berries, melon, apples
- Live insects like crickets, dubia roaches, grasshoppers, locusts, flies, mealworms
- Worms like hornworms, silkworms, waxworms
Chameleons should be offered fresh greens and vegetables daily, lightly dusted with calcium and vitamins 2-3 times per week. Live prey should be fed every other day for babies/juveniles and 3-4 times per week for adults. Common mistakes are overfeeding fruits and underfeeding insects.
Chameleons require small prey items no larger than the space between their eyes. Use feeding tongs to offer insects and watch to ensure the chameleon sees and eats the prey. A varied diet is important to prevent nutritional deficiencies.
Dust prey items with supplements to provide additional calcium, vitamins and minerals. Always provide clean drinking water in the habitat.
Key differences in diets are that chameleons need more protein sources like insects compared to bearded dragons. Chameleons also cannot effectively digest most vegetables, so greens and other veggies should be finely chopped or pureed for them.
Both species benefit from a varied diet with vegetables, fruits, insects, calcium and vitamins.
Handling and Temperament
Bearded Dragon Temperament
Bearded dragons are known for being calm, friendly, and easy to handle reptiles. They rarely bite and often seem to enjoy human interaction. With gentle handling from a young age, bearded dragons become quite tame and docile as adults. Here are some key facts about bearded dragon temperament:
- Bearded dragons are diurnal, meaning they are active during the day. They are alert and inquisitive when handled during their waking hours.
- Baby dragons may be initially skittish but become more relaxed with regular, gentle handling. Frequent interaction early on is key.
- Bearded dragons do a behavior called arm-waving, which is thought to signal submission or interest. It’s a sign of a calm temperament when a dragon waves its arm at you!
- Bearded dragons are solitary reptiles that do not need companionship from their own kind. They are perfectly content being handled by their human caretakers.
- Each dragon has its own personality. Some are more exploratory, others more laid back. But none are typically aggressive.
With their generally mild dispositions, tolerance for handling, and lack of aggression toward humans, bearded dragons are considered one of the best pet lizard choices, especially for beginner reptile owners. Their calm and friendly temperaments help make them excellent companion animals.
Chameleon Temperament
Chameleons are known for being more solitary, territorial, and easily stressed compared to bearded dragons. Their personalities and specific needs can pose challenges for reptile handling and care. Here’s an overview of chameleon temperament:
- Chameleons are more easily stressed by handling compared to bearded dragons. They don’t tolerate frequent interaction as well.
- Excess handling should be avoided as it can cause chameleons to become withdrawn and reclusive.
- Chameleons are territorial and solitary. They should not be kept with other chameleons due to potential aggression and competition.
- Each chameleon has a unique personality. Veiled chameleons tend to be more gregarious and tolerant of handling compared to Jackson’s chameleons which are often more withdrawn and territorial.
- Chameleons rarely bond with their owners and do not demonstrate social behavior toward humans.
- When threatened or stressed, chameleons will hide, puff up their bodies, hiss loudly, gape their mouths, and some species will bite.
Chameleons require an experienced reptile owner who can properly read their signals and meet their complex husbandry needs. Their territorial tendencies, sensitivity to stress, and aversion to frequent handling make chameleons more challenging pets compared to the generally docile, friendly bearded dragon.
Health and Potential Problems
When considering either a bearded dragon or chameleon as a pet, it is important to understand some of the common health issues they may face, how to spot signs of illness, and steps you can take to keep them healthy through preventative care.
Common Health Issues
Some problems seen in captive bearded dragons and chameleons include:
- Metabolic bone disease from improper nutrition/lighting
- Respiratory infections from low temperatures or humidity
- Intestinal parasites like coccidia or pinworms
- Mouth rot from poor hygiene or injury
Chameleons tend to be more sensitive to their environment and are at higher risk of illness overall. Monitoring their enclosure temperatures, humidity, lighting, and nutrition is key.
Signs of Sickness
Look for the following symptoms if you suspect your pet lizard may be ill:
- Lethargy, weakness, loss of appetite
- Swelling, abnormal bone growths/lumps
- Discolored urates or stool
- Wheezing, mucus in mouth or nose
- Weight loss
These require prompt veterinary attention for evaluation and treatment.
Preventive Care
You can help keep your bearded dragon or chameleon healthy through:
- Annual exams to screen for parasites and early signs of disease
- Proper heating and UVB lighting per species requirements
- Clean water, vitamin/mineral supplements as needed
- Sanitizing their enclosure 1-2 times a week
- Quarantining new pets before introductions
An ounce of prevention goes a long way! Investing in good husbandry and routine care helps avoid costly medical issues over time.
Reputable resources like Bearded Dragons and Chameleon Academy provide in-depth care sheets for keeping these creatures healthy in captivity over their 10-15 year lifespans. Consulting an exotic veterinarian is also advised.
Acquisition Costs
Purchase Price
When it comes to initial purchase price, bearded dragons are generally less expensive than chameleons. You can find baby bearded dragons for $30-$75 from reputable breeders, whereas chameleons can cost $80-$200 depending on the species.
Part of the reason for the price difference is that chameleons are more delicate and have higher mortality rates as babies, so there is more risk for the breeder.
Cage Setup
Both bearded dragons and chameleons require specialized caging with proper lighting and heating. Here is a comparison of typical setup costs:
| Bearded Dragon | Chameleon |
|---|---|
|
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As you can see, the costs are fairly comparable. Chameleons require more specialized screen enclosures and planted decor, while bearded dragons need more space. Overall cage setup will range from $200-$300 for either species.
Ongoing Costs
For recurring costs, bearded dragons are generally less expensive than chameleons. Bearded dragons eat a vegetable-based diet with some insects, costing about $20-$30 per month. Chameleons require a diet of live insects like crickets and worms, costing closer to $40-$60 per month.
Additionally, chameleons require more supplements to stay healthy. The other factor is veterinary care – chameleons are more prone to health issues like respiratory infections, which can require vet visits. Annual checkups and medication for a chameleon can cost $200+ per year.
The bottom line is that purchase price is fairly comparable, but bearded dragons have lower ongoing costs for food, healthcare, and enclosure maintenance. Chameleons are beautiful but more delicate reptiles that require higher recurring expenses.
Conclusion
Bearded dragons and chameleons each make unique, exotic pets for reptile lovers, but have very different care requirements and personalities. Chameleons are stunning to look at, but need specialized setups and prefer not to be handled.
Meanwhile, bearded dragons are friendlier, easier to care for and handle, and make better pets for novice owners.
Think critically about the time, space, and costs associated with each species’ care. Chameleons are more suited for dedicated reptile keepers, while bearded dragons tend to thrive with beginners. Do plenty of research before bringing home either species to ensure you can meet all of its complex habitat, diet, and other needs.
