Bearded Dragons and tortoises have the potential to live peacefully under certain conditions. Although it is not recommended that different species of reptiles (including bearded dragons) be kept together in the same tank, it is possible for them to be placed in separate tanks and come into touch with each other as long as the owner is constantly monitoring the situation.
When you’ve shown yourself that you can effectively house and care for one reptile, it’s common to feel more at ease about bringing home a second one. Bearded dragons and tortoises are typical choices for second pets for many people who already have one type of reptile. However, some owners choose to choose a new kind of reptile altogether.
It is essential that you determine whether or not your bearded dragon and tortoise will get along with one another before you go through the processes necessary to bring home a second reptile. You could have heard many tales that a lot of people who keep reptiles have successfully kept numerous species of reptiles together, including tortoises and bearded dragons.
It is possible for bearded dragons and tortoises to live in the same family home and get along fine (not housed together, more on this later), but there are specific requirements that must be fulfilled as well as small details you should be aware of before proceeding.
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Tips for Successful Cohabitation
1. Keep new pet in quarantine for a period of one month
The term “quarantine” refers to the process of isolating the newly acquired reptile and ensuring that it does not come into touch with any of your other reptiles for a period of one month. This is done to ensure that the new reptile is clear of parasites or diseases.
It can appear very harsh and bizarre at first, but keeping each new reptile you introduce into your house in isolation for a whole month is absolutely necessary to prevent the spread of disease.
This is necessary to guarantee that the newly introduced reptile does not harbor any parasites, bacteria, viruses, or ticks that might be passed on to the reptile already residing in your house. Despite the fact that this may not be something that will specifically make it easier for them to get along with one another, it is nonetheless of utmost step to ensure their health. Bearded dragons are known to be susceptible to parasites like mites and ticks; thus, you ought to treat this matter very seriously.
2. Let Both The Reptiles Know Each Other Gradually
After a month has passed in quarantine, and you have verified that the newly acquired reptile is parasite-free and doesn’t suffer from any underlying medical issue, you may gradually begin exposing the reptiles to one another. This procedure should be carried out in phases. It is essential to give the bearded dragon and the tortoise enough room so that they do not feel frightened or intimidated by one another. Never bring them too close together or make an effort to force them into contact with one another.
Just let them get to know one another for a few minutes, and then separate them so they can talk about it the next day. Continue to introduce them gradually to one another over a few days. If they both appear to be at ease (don’t get scared or aggressive), gradually increase the amount of time they spend together.
After some time has passed, both of them will likely come to accept each other, but none can absolutely promise this outcome. Even though they appear to be getting along just fine with one another, you should never allow them to be in the same room unsupervised and keep a close eye on them at all times.
3. Ensure That Both Of The Reptiles Are Enjoying Themselves
If you notice that one of the reptiles does not appear to be comfortable with the environment at any time throughout the interaction, then you will need to use your best judgment to choose what steps to take next.
The available choices are:-
- Keep them apart for a bit, and then give it another shot in about a week’s time.
- Continue using the strategy for a few more days to determine whether it works for both of them.
- Maintain an indefinite gulf between them both.
In the end, you want to take care of pets that are not only healthy but also happy. It is not in anyone’s best interest for the scenario to persist if it causes your bearded dragon or tortoise to experience prolonged anxiety.
When Housed In The Same Room, Do Bearded Dragons, And Tortoises Get Along With One Another?
There should be no issues if a bearded dragon and a tortoise are kept in different tanks inside the same room. This is something that can be done with relative ease. The temperaments and personalities of each of your reptiles will significantly impact the outcome of this question.
It is possible that certain bearded dragons and tortoises (when kept in the same room) will continue to be agitated, even if they are in separate enclosures. Because of this, they may experience feelings of hostility or anxiety as a result of their dread.
If you wish to have your bearded dragon and tortoise in the same room, we always recommend keeping them in separate enclosures, and their enclosures should be kept at a significant distance from one another. If you don’t have any difficulties, everything is fine with the housing layout, and you don’t need to make any modifications to it at all. In the event that you do experience issues, you will, however, need to ensure that you have an additional room in your house dedicated to housing one of the reptiles.
You should already have this space prepared before you acquire the second reptile so that if issues emerge, you may relocate the new reptile before the situation becomes too stressful. In other words, you should have this room ready before you buy the second reptile.
Can A Bearded Dragon & Tortoise Be Housed In The Same Enclosure?
As mentioned earlier, it’s not advised by the experts to keep both reptiles in the same enclosure. If you are considering housing them in the same enclosure, you need to have a huge space for the following reasons.
- Both reptiles need a lot of space naturally.
- Beardies need a hot, dry environment and a basking spot. While a tortoise needs a hot and humid place along with water spots. So you need a lot of space to accommodate both.
- Beardies are omnivores; whiles tortoises are herbivores, so you need more space to feed them separately.
Take Home Message
Bearded dragons and tortoises can get along with each other in harmony when they are properly introduced. You can even maintain them in a shared place if you have a huge space. However, in most houses, such a huge space is not available, so the best strategy is to keep them in the same room but in different enclosures that are placed wide apart.
