Are you unsure of the best way to play with your bearded dragon?
Bearded dragon toys offer the required activity your pet needs to maintain a healthy lifestyle.
It’s not just good for them physically, but mentally as well.
Keeping your dragon happy and healthy enriches their life and avoids any future health problems.
While there are plenty of toys on the market to choose from, I’ve narrowed it down to my top 5 choices.
My number one pick for bearded dragon toys is the Niteangel Bearded Dragon hammock. The hammock serves several purposes. It gives your beardie a place to relax and also easily access their basking spot. The Niteangel hammock provides not only comfort but security as well.
I’ll give more details below on why I think hammocks are the perfect toy are beardies.
Table of Contents
Bearded Dragon Toys In This Review
What Makes A Great Toy For Bearded Dragons?
Bearded dragons require a certain about of stimulation to reduce boredom.
Great bearded dragon toys don’t have to cost a lot of money.
Also, check the cat aisle at your local pet store.
Anything with hanging feathers or will bring lots of fun.
It is sometimes tricky to incorporate the right balance of stimulation but not cause stress your bearded dragon.
Keep reading to see what you should get when buying bearded dragon toys and what to avoid.
What to Look for When Buying a Bearded Dragon Toy
The best toys will provide functionality and comfort for your pet lizard.
Consider toys mimicking the lifestyle they would have in the wild.
Bearded dragons are hunters and are used to getting food on demand.
While in captivity, they need their owners to feed them, it doesn’t mean you shouldn’t incorporate a little hunting into their eating regime.
I’ll mention a fun way to let your dragon have the opportunity to “hunt” inside.
Buy toys with some bright colors to them.
Your beardie is much more likely to notice them over a dull, bland color.
Consider throwing some food items around their toys to make it a bit of a game for them.
What to Avoid When Buying Bearded Dragon Toys
Don’t buy anything potentially harmful to your pet.
Bearded dragons will attempt to eat anything they can get their mouths on, and their toys are no different.
Anything with small parts or likely to fall off should be avoided.
Also, if a toy is too large, they will probably ignore it or feel overwhelmed.
Too small, and they will attempt to eat it.
Besides, avoid engaging them in any behavior causing stress.
You will see me mention this often.
Stress is not good for bearded dragons.
If their heads start bobbing up and down, it’s best to move on to something else.
Reviews Of The Best Bearded Dragon Toys
Here is my list of the 5 best toys to get for your pet lizard without further ado.
Each product provides a different way to stimulate your dragon but also allows you to bond with them.
Niteangel Bearded Dragon Hammock
- Natural Materials & Stable: The reptile hammock is hand-woven from seaweed, a soft but very sturdy material that makes it easier for your pet to climb. What's more, it allows your pet to self-regulate the temperature by moving closer or farther from the light when tilted, and they will choose the most comfortable height.
- Versatile & Adjustable: You can mount the bearded dragon hammock at any height in the glass aquarium via suction cups, the lizard recliner looks rough and sturdy, but the seagrass fiber is soft enough. Dragons will enjoy using the lounger to rub on when they are shedding their skin. It's a great addition to any reptile aquarium.
- Add More Climbing Space & Entertainment: Connect the hammock with suction cups and twine to create a multi-level jungle gym for small pets and a high spot that all reptiles love. The lizard Loungers are great for expanding your pet's living space, giving them a fun and comfortable place to nap, climb and entertain.
Hammocks are the perfect opportunity for your beardie to relax and easily have the chance to reap the benefits of their basking spot.
The Niteangel hammock is made of hand-woven seaweed and provides a comfortable but sturdy place for your bearded dragon to lounge.
The rough texture can aid in your bearded dragon’s shedding.
This is important to avoid stuck shed, which can cause a painful infection on your dragon’s skin.
Also, the Niteangel hammock can hold baby beardies up to full-grown adult bearded dragons.
It comes with suction cups to securely attach to the sides of your beardie’s cage.
To clean the hammock, just use a toothbrush to scrub it down gently.
Features:
- Suction cups for attachment
- Sturdy
- Easy to clean
- 16″ x 8″ inches (40 cm x 20 cm) rectangular shape
Bearded Dragon Lizard Leash Harness
- ćDinosaur Style LeashćThis is the latest lizard dinosaur wing leash, makes your beardie charming and unique in the crowd, enjoy a good time outside.
- ćDurable MATERIALćBearded Dragon Leash is made of soft leather harness and durable nylon rope. The super soft leather will not hurt lizard while crawling and easy to put on and take off.
- ć3 Size Pack/SetćWe have revised the harness size according to customer's advise, the small and medium size harness in this dinosaur style is smaller than that in classic wing style. more suitable for baby, juvenile beardie. L size harness is the same. A great set for your lovely small animal pets during its growing
Did you know a bearded dragon can run up to 9 mph?
And even run on two feet?
While you may or may not be able to keep up with them at those speeds, putting them on a leash and taking them outside is a great bearded dragon exercise opportunity.
What better way to get your bearded dragon some exercise than putting them on a leash and taking them for a walk?
While bearded dragons may not be the typical animal you see walking around, it’s still pretty fun!
Taking your beardie outside can give them a taste of what it’s like to be in the wild.
The leash and harness provide a safe way to get your dragon active outside.
It’s also a great opportunity to let your bearded dragon be exposed to natural sunlight and receive much needed Vitamin D.
Features:
- Comes in 3 sizes
- Optional wing accessory
- Nylon leash
- Adjustable clip-on leash
Bepets 6 Pack Crinkle Balls
- Premium Material ā Handmade with soft and lightweight PET colored paper, safe and harmless to cats. The reflective metal surface of the kitten wrinkle ball is similar to aluminum foil, that is very attractive to cats.
- Large Size & 3 Variety Colorā The Diameter of cat sparkle balls is 2.36 inch (6 cm), perfect for cat to carry, chase and pounce. The color of kitten crinkle toys is Green + Bronze, Gold + Silver, Blue + Silver, 2pcs for each color.
- Cat Toy Crinkle Ball ā Funny interactive cat toys ball will make your lovely cat calm down after enjoying hours of play and exercise, this can help your cat keep fit and active both in mentally and physically.
Crinkle balls are a great way to work on your pet’s auditory senses. The noise will encourage your beardie to continue playing with the ball.
Also, the paper is harmless and safe for pets.
Pushing the crinkle balls around their tank is another great form of exercise and encourages them to move around.
Crinkly paper or crinkly, crumpled-up wrapping paper will do the trick as well!
Features:
- 6 cm in diameter
- Includes 6 balls
- Multiple colors
- Mylar material
Stainless Steel Wand
Another fun activity to do with your bearded dragon is to have them chase a laser pointer on the floor.
What’s great about this laser pointer is you don’t need batteries, and it charges via a USB plug.
Sitting at just 4.5″ inches (11 cm) long, the laser pointer also can shine images of a star, butterfly, mouse, and happy face.
The pointer also comes equipped with a flashlight and UV light.
Laser pointers trick your dragon into thinking they are chasing insects.
To avoid having a frustrated beardie, limit your laser pointer usage to a couple of times a week for a few minutes at a time; otherwise, they will catch on to the fact they aren’t chasing an insect.
I recommend playing with the laser outside of their tank so they have more room to run around.
As a fun tip, if you have a picky eater, point the laser at their veggies to get them to eat more.
Finally, to prevent the chance of damage, don’t ever point the lasers in their eyes.
Features:
- Fast charging
- 3 modes
Anteer Wiffle Balls
- ā VALUE PACKAGE ā You'll get 12-PACK baseball training balls for endless fun. Each hollow baseball ball has a 9-inch circumference, classic ball design will help you develop strength. Perfect for beginners or any baseball fanatics who want to improve their overall game.
- āPOP-BACK TECHNOLOGYā Practice baseballs made with proprietary pop back material which allow them to pop right back into their original shape after they're hit; These are made to withstand thousands of hits, lasting season after season, NO crack or shatter!
- ā SAFE&HOLLOW DESIGNā Thanks to 26 holes (not 16 holes) provide low flight resistance, true spin and accurate distance. The hollow design is lightweight and safe to make it less intimidating for beginners but strong enough to handle repeat practices.
While wiffle balls weren’t necessarily invented to feed bearded dragons, it doesn’t mean they can’t hold food.
Putting live insects in the ball can stimulate your dragon both mentally and physically.
While it’s not precisely hunting in the wild, it’s a fun way to get your beardie engaged.
Tape over the openings, leaving just one hole uncovered to make the perfect bearded dragon feeder ball.
The Anteer wiffle ball set is exceptionally well-priced and comes with 12 balls.
It means you don’t necessarily have to clean up insect bits if it gets too gross.
In addition, the bright color makes it easy for your bearded dragon to see and push around until they get their prized food.
Make sure to have the real food ready for them to prevent your beardie from getting stressed out from the hunt.
Features:
- 3 available colors: green, white, and yellow
- 9″ inches (22 cm) in diameter
- 26 holes in each ball
Playing With Your Bearded Dragon
Playing with your bearded dragon is a great way to form a bond and get your beardie active.
Feel free to take them to a different part of your house for a change of scenery.
While bearded dragons are solitary animals, they will get pleasure from spending time with you.
It’s essential to look for signs of stress when you are playing with your dragon.
Once your beardie is comfortable with their specific situation, they may not handle change very well.
You may even notice them checking out your phone while you are reading this article.
Beardies are fascinated by screens and video.
FAQ
Why are Bearded Dragon Toys Important?
Imagine living in a small space for your entire life?
You’d likely get bored and want some entertainment, too.
To reduce boredom and encourage exercise in your bearded dragons, toys are a great option.
If your beardie has no activity, they are more likely to have a shortened lifespan.
In their natural habitat, beardies can roam and hunt as they please, enabling plenty of bearded dragon exercise.
Toys give your beardie plenty of stimulation and exercise needed for a lengthy life.
Remember, a happy beardie is a healthy beardie.
How Much Exercise Does My Bearded Dragon Need?
Bearded dragon activities do not have to be strenuous.
15 minutes is plenty of time to keep lizards busy but at the same time avoid stressing them out.
To avoid having your beardie pooping around your house, aim to let them explore after they’ve used the bathroom.
Remember always to monitor your dragon while playing and look for any signs of stress.
Also, avoid letting them exercise near potential hiding spots, like under the couch or behind the TV.
As a safety note, avoid letting your beardie play on the carpet.
Carpets tend to shed tiny strands, and those strands can get wrapped around your pet’s toes or limbs, causing them to lose circulation.
How Do You Prevent Boredom in Your Bearded Dragon?
While it may sound crazy, bearded dragons can get bored and, over the long-term, can greatly affect their health.
When the reptiles experience too much boredom, they start to become extremely unhappy.
Your bearded dragon is bound to get bored at some point.
It’s impossible to keep them entertained at all times.
It doesn’t take much to make your dragon happy.
Bearded dragon owners should aim to stimulate their pets at least once a day.
Is it Safe For My Bearded Dragon to go Outside?
You might be apprehensive about taking your pet lizard outside for the first time.
Let’s be honest, it’s not often you see someone taking their bearded dragon for a walk.
It’s perfectly safe as long as you stay by their side.
They will enjoy strolling through the grass and getting a taste of their natural habitat.
Make a point not to let your beardie eat grass.
It is difficult for the reptiles to digest and provides no nutritional benefits.
While playing outside, make sure your pet doesn’t find any wild insects or plants to snack on.
You always want to be aware of what they are eating.
Finally, keep in mind the temperature where you live.
If it is cold where you live, make sure your pet lizard isn’t outside its enclosure for more than 15 minutes.
How Much Attention Do Bearded Dragons Need?
If you are starting to feel overwhelmed by how much attention your beardie may need, fret not.
They don’t need you to play with them constantly.
A big reason why you want to have the interaction is to form a bond with them.
Your pet lizard would be perfectly content cuddling up on the couch with you watching a video or a TV show.
Not all beardies like screen time, so be mindful of any changes in their behavior while you binge-watch your favorite show.
However, to reduce the time you need to entertain them outside of their tank, make sure their home inside the tank is properly set up.
This brings up my next point: making sure their cage gives them enough stimulation.
While we’re on the topic of attention and stimulation check out our post on how to play with bearded dragons for a few ideas.
How Do You Provide Playtime with Their Habitat Setup?
While all the toys on my list are sure to get your dragon engaged, you might not have the time to play one-on-one every day with them.
In this case, have something set up in their tank for entertainment.
Bridges are a great distraction for beardies.
It’s also an excellent opportunity for them to get some exercise by climbing.
Add some rocks for them to climb on or tunnels to crawl through.
Depending on what type of substrate you have, make a mound for them to dig into.
Moss is an excellent substrate for this activity.
Consider putting a mirror in their enclosure so they can see their reflection.
Do keep an eye on your beardie’s behavior the first time you add the mirror.
You might want to plan on propping the mirror up on the outside of their tank.
Some bearded dragons will only be stressed out by seeing their reflection in a mirror.
Before you decide to leave a mirror in their tank, hold your beardie in front of it beforehand to gauge their reaction.
Don’t leave the mirror permanently.
Finally, while it does have to take place out of their cage, fill up your bathtub and let them go swimming.
While you may not know it, bearded dragons are excellent swimmers.
So, while you may not be taking baths together, it’s a great opportunity for your beardie to get a change of scenery.
While they are good swimmers, make sure to always keep an eye on them and not leave them unattended, especially since they likely will not be able to get out of the bathtub by themselves.
Can Bearded Dragons Play with Other Pets?
If your beardie isn’t the only pet in the house, you may wonder if you are able to have everyone play together.
Bearded dragons do have the capability to get along with other animals, but you have to be very careful.
Start by slowly introduce your beardie to your other pet, and make sure to monitor the situation.
Allow your dog or cat to sniff out your bearded dragon as an introduction.
Regardless of how well they seem to get along, do not ever leave the animals unattended together.
Over time, you might notice a friendship start to form, and it will become another way to add stimulation and play into your beardie’s life.
Finally, be aware of any signs of aggression from either pet.
You want to prevent any one of them from biting the other.
How Do I Help My Stressed Bearded Dragon?
Regardless of how much you attempt to avoid it, your beardie may become stressed from their playtime.
If they are out of their tank, carefully put them back in.
Afterward, make a point not to handle them for some time.
It will give your beardie a chance to calm down and understand you aren’t trying to hurt them.
Once they’ve had time to themselves, a warm bath can help calm them down.
If your beardie is new and still getting used to, this could be part of the stress.
Relocation is a major stressor for bearded dragons, and it’s important to allow them to get used to their new environment.
Consider putting a small clothing item of yours, like a sock, in their tank to give the opportunity to get used to your scent.
Always speak in a soothing voice to your pet lizard as loud noises easily startle the reptiles.
