Do beardies release venom or any thing harmful when bitten.?

Question

He bit my sister and we just wanted to know.

Answer 1

They actually have a substance similar to rattlesnake venom, but the concentration is too low to actually harm people. There might be some swelling and pain, but it isn't going to be as serious as a snake bite.

The main danger with handling (non-venemonous) reptiles and amphibians is salmonella bacteria. These creatures use these microbes to digest food, but it can cause problems if humans infect themselves. Always wash yoour hands after handling any reptile to prevent a nasty case of diharreah.

Reguarding handling your pet, do not suddenly grab any lizard which isn't used to being handled. Bearded dragons have a reputation for being docile, but are so only after they are used to physical contact. The best way to establish this is to stroke the dragon's head. Carefully watch for any signs of stress. Dragons typically extend their black "beards" and open their mouths as a warning sign. Wait for the lizard to calm down and try again. Eventually it will get the message that your hand isn't anything dangerous. Stroke the lizard more and more and it will eventually be tame enough to pick up. Remember that this is a gradual process and the lizard is in charge, not yourself.

Another good technique is to place some small food items in a plastic pitcher, preferably one with straight sides. The dragon will tend to run into the pitcher after food. After finishing it's snack, it can be slid out of the mpitcher into your hand. Hold the dragon from below and the warm feeling of your hand will tend to calm the lizard down immediately. Of course, it will tend to want to get out of your hand soon, but small dragons can be safely restrained in this manner. What you have to teach your pet is that it is not to move out of your hand when it is being heald.

Finally, do not lift any lizard by it's tail. It is very stressful and some species will even amputate their tails to get away. Fortunately, bearded dragons do not do this. I have also learned that the dragon ought to be removed from it's enclosure before attempting any cleaning or rearranging. Mine had a fit when I tried this and was obviously very disturbed because I was messing around with it's "stuff".