Meet Henry
by beautybox on Feb 11, 2009 with 4 Comments
A Bearded Dragon.
Image by author.
Henry is a Bearded Dragon (from the Agamidae family). Very photogenic as you can see.
Some may see these Lizards and say they look scary almost like a ‘mini dinosaur’. If one was to spend a few hours with a Bearded Dragon your opinion may just change!
They are one of the most intelligent lizards to be found, with quite interesting personality’s too. Like a normal pet dog, Bearded Dragons will obey and of course disobey! If you say no, they stop and understand you. I see this with Henry, as she will look at me as if to double check it was right to not carry on behind the TV with all those wires! They know!
Bearded Dragons have their own ways to communicate with us humans and their own. Just as many animals do.
They can wave as if to say ‘I’m OK thank you,but please leave me alone’.
In my personal experience with Henry, she will let me know if she wants to eat something or not. By closing her eyes, this tells me ‘no thank you,had enough’, yet if Henry pushes my hand away with her arm or head,this is the moody side meaning ‘just go away!’. These little movements amazingly are never forgotten by the Bearded Dragon throughout their life.
Although alike in able to teach and train as you can a dog, Bearded Dragons are ectotherms (cold blooded) and therefore significantly different requirements are needed in their up keep.
A warm,dry enclosure with sources of water and fresh greens. Somewhere for climbing and hot spots for basking(sunbathing), are some of these special requirements.
You may ask ‘Do they just sit in the cage all day?’ NO, Bearded Dragons crave human attention and will get depressed without it,when in captivity. So Henry will have a lovely run around our home and also loves to bask in the natural sunlight.
Bearded Dragons can live 10-15 years, so I hope to have many more years with her. To experience and learn the new personality’s as Henry grows. Like us humans, they also undergo changes in growth and behaviour.
So they may seem like unattractive and ‘mini dinosaurs to some!
But we are all more alike then we may think!
Liked it
Published in: Pets
Glynis Smy | Feb 11, 2009 | Reply
Henry is lovely! Interesting article and your relationship with her.
Kate Smedley | Feb 11, 2009 | Reply
That is fascinating, I have never heard of keeping one as a pet! Thanks for sharing this!
Lauren Axelrod | Feb 11, 2009 | Reply
He is very cute. However, my dog would probably eat him if he was living with me.
Christy Tuller | Feb 13, 2009 | Reply
My son would love to have a “mini- dinosaur” for a pet. She is beautiful and I hope you have many more years with her.