offspring , there is a very good chance she would view it as a tasty item of food ! These largely ‘ antisocial ’ creatures simply do not enjoy nor seek affection or physical contact , so why would we force multiple individuals to live together unnaturally in a confined space long term ?
The drive to provide a pet reptile with a ‘ friend ’ because he is ‘ lonely ’ is a perfect example of the anthropomorphisation of animals by humans ( i . e . attributing human traits or emotions to non-human entities ). As highly social and affectionate mammals , we tend to view reptiles from our warm-blooded perspective . A person would eventually go insane if kept in a room on their own , with no human contact or interaction . Some keepers incorrectly assume this is also the case for their pet reptile . For some species , forced cohabitation can actually be cruel and stressful for the animals involved , leading to health complications , serious injury and even death . It ’ s important to remember that reptiles require an engaging life in captivity , and environmental enrichment is a crucial consideration . However , enrichment in the form of a cagemate is rarely a good idea .
Unfortunately some first-time reptile keepers are simply unaware of the risks involved in keeping multiple reptiles together in captivity . They may also be unfamiliar with the nuances of reptile behaviour and misinterpret different warning signs or displays of dominance or aggression between cagemates . Sadly , in many cases , incompatible reptiles are left together until it is too late , and one animal will always come off second best .
The issue also stems from some breeders and pet stores that may not provide adequate information at the time of initial purchase . Special deals may be offered if more than one hatchling is purchased , despite this not always being in the best interest of the animals . A responsible pet store or breeder will provide all of the facts and information , and if a customer insists on purchasing more than one reptile at the same time and housing them together , they should go down that path knowing the risks involved and what to do when issues arise .
In order to gain an understanding of the risks involved in keeping more than one reptile of a particular species together , a number of the scenarios most commonly encountered are outlined below .
Bearded dragons .
“ Aww , they love each other , they are lying on top of each other and cuddling !”
This is a comment that the team at Kellyville Pets are all too familiar with , as customers view our hatchling bearded dragons on display . What may appear to be a show of affection is in fact a sign of dominance , with the dragon on top asserting itself and pushing the other one away from the heat so that it can enjoy the prime basking spot . Although we do not recommend housing more than one dragon together long term , multiple hatchlings may be kept for short periods in large enclosures , provided that they are also very well fed and monitored closely for signs of dominance or bullying .
In the wild , bearded dragons are solitary lizards and it is widely accepted amongst keepers that in captivity it is best to house them individually . There are many cases in which more than one dragon housed together from a young age get along perfectly well , however there are many more instances where the outcome is not so favourable . Two males will almost definitely fight ; a male and female may fight , or the male can constantly harass the female leading to high levels of stress ; and even two females can still fight . The most frequently occurring issues as a result of housing two bearded dragons together include :
Size difference . Often , when two dragons are housed together , one animal will assert itself as the dominant individual and push the other aside when feeding and basking . Over time , the submissive animal begins to lag behind and eventually loses body condition , and a
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