Bearded Dragons vs. Iguana - Differences and Similarities (2023)

Have you ever had trouble distinguishing between an iguana and a bearded dragon? At first glance it may seem like a challenging task. However, these reptiles have some key differences that make them unique.

A key difference is their size. Iguanas are known to grow much larger than bearded dragons. In addition, their diet and care also vary.

Nonetheless, with proper care, iguanas and bearded dragons can make fantastic pets.

To better understand these fascinating creatures, let's take a closer look at their similarities and differences.

visual differences

Key Differences Between Bearded Dragons and Iguanas

Bearded Dragons VS Iguana: Overview

BEARDED DRAGON:The bearded dragon is a captivating reptile with a prehistoric appearance that typically grows to around 2 feet in length.

When faced with stress or predators, this fascinating creature isblows out the throatto show off his unique, bearded looks, hence his name. His beard also plays an important role in mating.

You'll often find it enjoying time in trees and bushes, and it's a common sight around human habitation. Although its body is flattened and covered in spiky scales that may appear menacing, they are not very sharp.

are bearded dragonsfound naturally in Western Australia, where it inhabits dry, subtropical forests, savannas, and coastal areas. They come indifferent colorsand are relatively easy to care for.

LEGUAN:If you're thinking of keeping an iguana as a pet, you'll be glad to know that there are several species to choose from. However, the most popular is the green iguana, also known as the American iguana. These creatures are native to South America but can be found as far north as Mexico.

Unfortunately, the green iguana is considered an invasive species in many areas of the United States, including South Florida, Texas, Hawaii, and the Virgin Islands. Despite this, many people still keep them as pets.

These lizards can grow over 4 feet long and weigh over 20 pounds. They are sure to make a statement in any home!

Bearded Dragons VS Iguana: Personality

BEARDED DRAGON:Bearded dragons are generally docile creatures, however they can be quite territorial creatures and tend to establish social hierarchies when housed with their own kind. This can often involve aggression and submission.

In fact, some males can even change color to assert dominance. The most dominant male in the group will assume a dominant stance and may even start fights with males who are not showing submissive behavior.

LEGUAN:The green iguana is a popular pet thanks to its stunning colors and friendly nature. Unlike the bearded dragon, which adopts an aggressive posture and puffs out its neck when threatened, the iguana prefers to run away and hide or swim away when near water.

It's only when it has no other choice that it puffs out its body and neck. It can also hiss to scare off predators. When these tactics don't work, it will whip its tail and use its sharp claws for protection.

Bartagamen VS Iguana: Sigh

BEARDED DRAGON:When it's time to mate, the male does a little dance during which he bobs his head, waves his hands, and stamps his feet. He then starts chasing after the female, nibbling her neck so they can get into the right position for mating.

The female can store some sperm and lay two batches of eggs, each containing between 10 and 30 eggs.

Interestingly, the ambient temperature can play a large role in determining the sex of the offspring. For example, if it's particularly hot outside, a male embryo can become a female no matter what its chromosomes say.

LEGUAN: Iguanas lay a significant number of eggs, anywhere from 20 to 70, once a year. They perform this ritual during the breeding season, where they protect the nest while they build it. However, after laying the eggs, the female iguana will leave the nest, leaving the eggs vulnerable to predators.

After 10 to 15 weeks, the eggs hatch and the iguana babies stay close together for the first year of life. It is fascinating to know that during this period the males take on the role of protecting the females from danger and even endanger themselves to protect them. It's worth noting that iguanas are the only reptile species to display such protective behavior.

Bearded Dragons VS Iguana: Habitat

BEARDED DRAGON:You need one120-gallon tankwith many branches to climb. You will also need to install a UVB light to keep them warm and help them digest their food.

You must coat the crickets you feed your petCalcium and vitamin D supplements. This helps prevent a serious condition called metabolic bone disease. By taking these steps, you can help your bearded dragon thrive and live a healthy, happy life.

LEGUAN:Iguanas make fantastic pets, but they need plenty of space to thrive. They require a habitat that is at least 6 feet tall, 6 feet wide, and 4 feet deep, although bigger is always better.

They also need to add lots of logs and wood so they can create a natural environment and climb around, which they love to do!

They also need a basking area with a consistent temperature between 100 and 115 degrees Fahrenheit. You can accomplish this by placing a heating lamp directly over the area and using a few more heating lamps to keep the rest of the habitat warm between 80 and 85 degrees Fahrenheit.

Heat should come from above as iguanas cannot sense heat from below and can burn themselves. The bulbs must also provide UVB light if your pet spends most of their time indoors as this is important for their health.

Bearded Dragons VS Iguana: As pets

BEARDED DRAGON:Bearded dragons make ideal reptile pets for beginners. They are suitable for both children and adults. They love socializing and will spend long hours by your side, which means your children can enjoy their company without fear of running away.

HerHabitat is easy to set up and maintain, and youLive longwithout significant health problems.

LEGUAN:If you're an experienced pet owner with lots of space, creating an ideal habitat for an iguana can be a rewarding and exciting endeavor.

We do not recommend iguanas for novice reptiles as their habitat is comparatively more difficult to create and maintain. It's also important to note that handling reptiles can be somewhat dangerous, even for experts.

That being said, for experienced owners, an iguana can make a wonderful and relatively calm pet that is quite colorful and has a longer lifespan than a bearded dragon.

A large tank will make you feel like you have a piece of nature in your home and your friends will surely be impressed and excited to visit.

Bearded Dragons VS Iguana: Lifespan

BEARDED DRAGON:The average life expectancy of a bearded dragon remains the sameThe captivity is about 10 to 15 years! This area depends entirely on how wellOftake care of your beardie along with their genetics.

LEGUAN:The normal life expectancy of iguanas is around 10 to 15 years! Their lifespan can vary due to genetics, species, environment, or simply the way they have been cared for.

Wild iguanas typically live the longest and at the end of this spectrum, although pet iguanas typically live at least 10 to 15 years. Some even make it past their twenties!

Bearded Dragons VS Iguana: Diet

BEARDED DRAGON:Bearded dragons are omnivores, eating insects as well as fruit or vegetables, which can make feeding them very expensive.

If feeding live insects to your beard freaks you out, you either need to move on or overcome that fear. You can expect to spend around $10 to $30 each week to feed a bearded dragon. More on thisbearded dragon diet.

LEGUAN:Iguanas are herbivores, which means they only eat vegetables and fruits. It's actually pretty cheap to feed an iguana, you should expect to spend $20 to $40 a month on an iguana depending on how much you feed your adult iguana.

Make sure you feed your iguana at least once a day, or every other day if it's overweight.

Bartagams VS Iguana: Cost

BEARDED DRAGON:If you are getting a bearded dragon you should only get it from either a breeder or an animal rescuer as they give it away for a lot cheaper and the dragons are usually healthy and healthymuchhappier.

Bearded dragons are not very expensive, but the cost of caring for them is quite high, so in the end they even out. A bearded dragon can range from $20 to $160, with the baby bearded dragon being the cheapest.

However, the price can vary greatly depending on whatArtof Morph that you want to buy. Usually the regular bearded dragon is on the cheaper end, and a more exotic morph like the witblit bearded dragon will set you back a pretty penny.

LEGUAN:Iguanas can be purchased from pet stores, breeders, and rescue organizations. Many end up on rescue missions after their owners realize they are unable to meet the species' care requirements. They are usually available for $20 to $50 if you buy or adopt them.

Don't be fooled by a pet store's claim that a small iguana will keep this size. These creatures grow fast. Look for an iguana with clean eyes, healthy skin, and normal droppings that is active. Low body weight, mucus around the animal's nose, lumps or lesions on the skin, and lethargy are red signals.

Finally, confirm the legality of owning a pet iguana in your location by checking your local regulations or by consulting an exotic animal veterinarian. You should also check if a local vet accepts iguanas as patients.

Bearded Dragons VS Iguana: Size

BEARDED DRAGON:To properly care for a bearded dragon, you must first determine how large they will be when fully grown. This is important as it will help you choose the best enclosure and create a feeding strategy.

During the first three months of their life, these reptiles grow rapidly. Bearded dragons will continue to grow an additional 1 to 2 inches per month for the rest of the year. During their second year of life, these reptiles can grow an additional 1 to 2 inches.

Bearded dragons can grow from 17 inches to almost 26 inches tall and weigh anywhere from 0.5 pounds to 2 pounds. This can make wearing super easy! Some people even keep their beards on their shoulders while doing chores. Who knows, you might be one of those people too! Continue reading our postbearded dragon size.

LEGUAN:When fully grown, an iguana can measure anywhere from 5 inches to 7 feet in length. This varies by species, which vary in color, shape, and size. By the age of three, iguanas typically reach full adult size.

There are now 35 species that can be kept as pets, and they all vary in size, so knowing what you want to have or adopt is important.

Bearded Dragons VS Iguana: Daily Grooming

BEARDED DRAGON:Feces and uneaten food must be removed from the cage daily, as well as the water and food bowls washed with soap. You should also bathe your bearded dragon once or twice a week.

You also have to take care of the food insects of your bearded dragons. You must buy them and charge them well for at least 24 hours before giving them to your bearded dragon.

At the Gut Shop, bugs are fed and watered in a container. The cleaning of the cage should be done daily.

LEGUAN:Iguanas depend on schedules, eating, pooping, napping and doing other things at the same time each day. Based on your lifestyle, this can be both a good thing and a terrible thing.

You must allow your iguana to defecate daily. You will also need to prepare fresh salads for your iguana on a daily basis.

In addition, spray your iguana twice a day and bathe it every day or at least four times a week. Food and water dishes must be washed daily.

Bearded Dragons VS Iguana: Lighting

BEARDED DRAGON:A UVB tube lamp is required for your bearded dragon's enclosure, which you can mount inside the cage using the 3M command. A sunlight is a must, a halogen bulb will do (don't waste money on "reptile bulbs"). It should be fully assembled to one side of your system.

You should also get a ceramic heater if the temperature in your house drops to 60 degrees at night. It should only be used at night.

LEGUAN:Iguanas need UV radiation, especially UVA and UVB radiation, to survive. UVA is required to keep the iguana happy and healthy. UVA can be easily accessible to an iguana through window glass or ordinary room lighting.

The iguana's UVA requirements can be met by providing a UVA source such as window exposure or room lighting.

Iguanas are basking reptiles that needa lotof UVB too effectivesynthesize vitamin D, which allows them to absorb calcium from their meals. When the iguana's calcium metabolism is disrupted, the nervous system begins to pull calcium from the bone structure to meet its needs.

Bartagamen VS Leguan: Heizung

BEARDED DRAGON:Bearded dragons need heat to digest food and keep their immune systems healthy. SheWilleget sick and die if they don't get it. Bearded dragons are sun lizards, meaning they get their warmth from a sun-like heat source overhead.

Bearded dragons need a temperature gradient in their cage to maintain their body temperature as they are cold blooded. They can survive high sun temperatures but need to be able to go to cooler parts of the cage to avoid overheating. Keep the temperature of the cage around 90 to 95 degrees Fahrenheit and 80 to 85 degrees at night.

More on thisLighting and heating requirements for bearded dragons.

LEGUAN:Iguanas are cold-blooded and need extra warmth to properly digest. They like temperatures between 84 and 90 degrees Fahrenheit during the day and 70 to 77 degrees Fahrenheit at night. When a reptile is cold, it cannot digest its food efficiently and is more likely to become unwell.

Lizards prefer a temperature gradient that allows them to move to a warmer part of the cage when they are cold and vice versa. Install a good quality thermometer in the cage where the iguana spends most of its time so you can keep an eye on the temperature.

Bearded Dragons VS Iguana: Humidity

BEARDED DRAGON:Relative humidity should be maintained between 35 and 40% to ensure your bearded dragon's habitat is very similar to their natural environment.

This humidity level is similar to that found in Australia's hot, dry inland regions, which is good for your bear's health. Among other things, high humidity can put your fragile bearded dragon at risk of serious breathing problems.

LEGUAN:Iguanas are native to a tropical climate and need high humidity to survive. It can be difficult to maintain proper humidity levels in the cage (between 65 and 75 percent). Spray the cage and iguana with water several times a day, place a humidifier in the room where the enclosure is located, and place large tubs of water in the enclosure to increase humidity.

To improve moisture availability, bathe or wash your iguana every day. This is recommended for a number of reasons including hygiene. Moisture levels that are appropriate for the iguana will help keep it hydrated and aid in shedding by moisturizing and softening its skin.

Benefits of Bearded Dragons as Pets

Now that you know the basics of a bearded dragon, let's look at some of the benefits of having one!

• Easy-care
• Relaxed
• secure
• Freundlich
• Intelligent
• Not too big

Disadvantages of bearded dragons as pets

Now that you've seen the pros, here are some cons of a bearded dragon.

• Fragile
• Nutrition is expensive
• They must be fed live insects

Benefits of iguanas as pets

Assuming you've readeverythingwritten above, here are the benefits of an iguana!

• herbivores
• Long lifespan
• Stark
• Clever

Disadvantages of iguanas as pets

Here are some of the downsides of an iguana.

• Aggressive
• Need a lot of space
• Not child/pet friendly
• Not the best for first time owners
• Sharp claws and teeth

Which is the best pet for you?

If you are considering a reptile as a pet, you may be wondering which one would be best for you. While both the bearded dragon and iguana are popular choices, we recommend the bearded dragon for most people. Here's why:

First, an iguana needs a large living space that can take up an entire room in your home. Maintaining the temperature in this habitat can be a challenge, especially during the colder months. On the other hand, a bearded dragon needs a smaller and more manageable habitat.

Second, an iguana can be aggressive towards humans, striking with its tail or sharp claws. However, bearded dragons are generally docile and friendly towards their owners, making them a great choice for families with children.

In summary, while both the bearded dragon and iguana make attractive pets, the bearded dragon is the more practical choice for most people. We hope this guide has helped you make an informed decision.