10 DIY Bearded Dragon Toys You Can Make Today (With Pictures)
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As a bearded dragon owner, keeping your pet entertained and engaged is important. Toys are a great way to do this, and if you’re short on cash or just enjoy getting creative, making your own toys can be a fun and rewarding experience. Here, we’ve compiled a list of DIY bearded dragon toys that you can make at home right now.
Before We Begin
It’s important to keep in mind the safety of your lizard when making your own toys. Avoid using any materials that can be harmful or toxic and supervise your dragon during playtime to make sure they don’t ingest any small parts. These toys can be customized and tweaked to make them more interactive, like adding sounds or textures to give your bearded dragon more stimulation and activity. Here are some more safety tips:
Safety Tips for Beardie Playtime
- Always supervise your beardie while playing so you can intervene if needed.
- Playtime should be supervised but not overly intrusive. You want to encourage natural behavior, such as exploration and play.
- Make sure the toys are appropriate for their size and age level.
- Avoid using toys that contain small parts that could be swallowed or cause choking.
- Make sure the toys are made of non-toxic materials.
- Provide a variety of stimulating activities and toys to keep your beardie engaged.
- Change up the items in their enclosure regularly to keep playtime interesting.
The 10 DIY Bearded Dragon Toys
1. Bearded Dragon Dig Box by EverythingDevine
| Skill Level: | Beginner |
| Skills Needed: | None |
| Tools Necessary: | None |
| Supplies: | Cardboard or Plastic Box, Potting Soil |
This is a great way to give your bearded dragon some stimulating playtime. Beardies have a natural instinct to dig and explore, so the Dig Box will give them a place to do just that. This box is intended for bearded dragons that are gravid, but you can use it for mental stimulation as well. You can bury treats and other fun items for your beardie to dig and find.
2. Bearded Dragon Harness by Creature Kids
| Skill Level: | Easy |
| Skills Needed: | None |
| Tools Necessary: | None |
| Supplies: | Beads, Paracord or sturdy rope, Scissors |
Make your own DIY Bearded Dragon Harness by stringing together beads and paracord or sturdy rope. Then you can walk your beardie like it’s a dog on a leash! Most creatures love to spend time in nature, so this is a perfect way to safely explore the world without the risk of losing your bearded dragon. Bonus points: this craft is taught by adorable kids!
3. DIY Reptile Hammock by Pet DIYS
| Skill Level: | Easy |
| Skills Needed: | None |
| Tools Necessary: | Sewing machine, scissors |
| Supplies: | Fleece fabric, Velcro, suction cups |
Make a cozy spot for your bearded dragon to relax and lounge with this DIY Reptile Hammock. This hammock is made out of fleece fabric and is attached to the side of their enclosure with suction cups. You can customize it with different colors, patterns, and shapes to make it even more special.
4. DIY Lego Lizard Stairs by Pet DIYS
| Skill Level: | Easy |
| Skills Needed: | Lego building blocks |
| Tools Necessary: | None |
| Supplies: | Lego pieces |
Give your bearded dragon an exciting play area and a fun way to get to higher points by making these DIY Lego Lizard Stairs. Your beardie will love climbing and exploring around their new stairs, and you’ll get a fun building project out of it. Plus, you can customize the Legos to match their enclosure and add other fun elements like plants or shells!
5. DIY Wooden Lizard Bridge by Pet DIYS
| Skill Level: | Intermediate |
| Skills Needed: | None |
| Tools Necessary: | Drill |
| Supplies: | Wooden dowels, craft wire or hemp cord, wire cutters or scissors |
This DIY Wooden Lizard Bridge is perfect for adding a bit of excitement to your beardie’s enclosure. Not only is it super fun for them to explore and swing on, but it’s also a great place to take a nap, and we all know that’s a priority in any happy pet’s life.
6. Hanging Veggie Treat Toy by Pet DIYS
| Skill Level: | Easy |
| Skills Needed: | None |
| Tools Necessary: | None |
| Supplies: | Carrot, bell pepper, squash, string, suction cup |
Make a fun and tasty treat toy that will keep your beardie entertained during mealtime. You’ll need to attach the veggies to a string and hang it or attach it to the side of the enclosure with a suction cup. These two veggies are safe for bearded dragons, but if you choose to use any other vegetables, make sure they’re safe for your beardie first.
7. DIY Reptile Hammock, Macrame, Knotwork by beardeddragon.org
| Skill Level: | Intermediate |
| Skills Needed: | Macrame, knotwork |
| Tools Necessary: | None |
| Supplies: | Paracord, hemp cord, or sturdy rope, scissors |
Take your DIY Reptile Hammock to the next level with this macrame, knotwork version. This is a great project for those looking for a challenge and wanting to create something unique and intricate. You’ll need to use paracord or sturdy rope, scissors, and a lot of patience! Create your own custom design based on colors, patterns, shapes, and sizes- the possibilities are endless!
8. DIY Mesh Reptile Hammock by reptileny
| Skill Level: | Easy |
| Skills Needed: | None |
| Tools Necessary: | Scissors |
| Supplies: | Suction cups, mesh bag or backpack |
Pet supplies can be pricey, especially bearded dragon hammocks considering what they’re made of. With this DIY hammock you can save a significant amount of money and time. All it requires are suction cups and some mesh fabric. The mesh in this video was cut from a cheap mesh bag. You can make this hammock for your bearded dragon for less than $5 with supplies from the dollar store.
9. Cat Ball Toy by Lilith LeChat
| Skill Level: | Easy |
| Skills Needed: | None |
| Tools Necessary: | None |
| Supplies: | Cat ball toy |
Okay, so this one isn’t a true DIY as far as having to make something. But if you have some of the jingle ball cat toys laying around, you can give one of them to your bearded dragon to play with. There are tons of videos on YouTube like the one above of beardies playing with these cat toys, so it’s clear that they love them. And even if you don’t have any of these toys laying around, you can buy them for very little money at most department and pet stores.
10. Cat Feather Toy by starkyst8
| Skill Level: | Easy |
| Skills Needed: | None |
| Tools Necessary: | None |
| Supplies: | Cat feather toy |
You know those feather wand toys that cats like to play with? It turns out that bearded dragons like them too. Again, this is not a DIY that you have to make, as you can just use a feather wand you have at home or buy a cheap one. Although there are creative ways to make one if you want. But the great thing about this toy is that you can play with your bearded dragon both inside and outside of his enclosure with these toys.
What’s Next?
You’ve made a cool toy for your beardie, but how do you know if they like it? Let’s take a look at some common signs of happiness and upset.
Signs Your Bearded Dragon Is Happy
- Your beardie is active and exploring its environment.
- They are engaged in playtime with you or their toys.
- Their tail is held up, and they have bright eyes.
- They are eating well.
Signs Your Bearded Dragon Is Not Happy
- There are signs of stress, such as pacing, shaking, or sleeping more than usual.
- They may become irritable when touched or handled too much.
- If they start to bite, it could be a sign they don’t want to be disturbed anymore.
Conclusion
These are just a few examples of fun playtime ideas for your bearded dragon. Be sure to use caution when introducing new items into the enclosure, as some may pose potential safety risks. Always supervise playtime so that you can intervene if needed. Lastly, remember to have fun with it! Watching your beardie explore their environment is always a rewarding experience.
Featured Image Credit: Tenshi, Shutterstock
