Bearded dragons are very popular pets because they are easy to take care of, have great personalities, and are affordable and easily accessible. Bearded dragons are amazing animals for first-time reptile owners, but things can become a bit complicated when you are searching for the best bearded dragon breeder.
If you are a first-time reptile owner, you likely do not have any experience with or connections to the reptile community as a whole. This means you may struggle when deciding which bearded dragon breeders you can trust and which ones you should avoid.
The availability of reptile breeders can be overwhelming, even to the experts! This article will help you identify what makes a good reptile breeder. This way, you can consult with your local breeders and see if they match up to your standards of care.
So, who are the best bearded dragon breeders in the US? Don’t worry; we won’t leave you hanging. We have compiled a list of our top four breeders based on our comprehensive and detailed list of criteria.
The Best Bearded Dragon Breeders in the USA
Now it’s time to go over our top four bearded dragon breeders in the USA! These breeders were picked based on the criteria we have given you on how to choose a high-quality bearded dragon breeder.
These breeders are listed in order of their overall quality, though all four of them are reputable, responsible, and highly recommended.
Dachiu Bearded Dragons
Dachiu Bearded Dragons has been in operation for 20 years! They are a husband and wife team who are highly knowledgeable reptile enthusiasts. They are true herpers and have avidly bred bearded dragons since their first scaly baby in 1996.
Dachiu is completely transparent about their breeding procedures and what morphs they have available for sale. Their cheapest bearded dragon is currently $75, and their most expensive is $275.
They also often attend reptile expos where they offer expert advice and allow customers to view their animals up close and personal. They have many expos that have been booked through the end of the year (2021) which you can attend.
Dachiu always ensures their customers receive their bearded dragons the very next day after the animal has been shipped. By using one-day shipping, they can ensure the bearded dragon does not spend any more time than absolutely necessary in the shipping box.
The deal clincher for us is on their website: “It is our responsibility to answer any questions or concerns that you may have.”
CB Reptiles
CB Reptiles is a family-owned and run reptile breeding program. They breed and sell bearded dragons as well as other reptiles such as chameleons and iguanas.
CB Reptiles ensures customer satisfaction and bearded dragon safety by shipping overnight. The bearded dragons come with heating or cooling packs depending on what their needs are and what part of the country you are in.
They have a full care guide on their website and a YouTube channel where you can check out their animals as well as the breeders themselves!
Currently, they have beardies of various morphs for sale ranging from $89.95 to $899.95.
CB Reptiles always respond fast and have multiple ways that you can contact them. They have a seven-day health guarantee on all of their animals, which means they care about you and the animals they are breeding and shipping.
What we really love about CB Reptiles is that they have a biologist on site who oversees the bearded dragon breeding program (as well as their other reptiles)!
Carolina Classic Dragons
The owner of Carolina Classic Dragons, David Freeman, is a certified herp enthusiast! He has over 25 years of experience in the reptile trade and is well known, respected, and loved in the reptile breeding community.
Not only is Carolina Classic Dragons a breeding facility, but they are also a boarding facility. This means there are thousands of people who rely on them to take care of their precious bearded dragons when they are away from home for an extended period.
What more of a testimonial do you need?
The best thing about CBReptiles is the fact that David Freeman has his Bachelor’s of Science in Biological Science! That means he understands bearded dragon breeding on a deeper level than a lot of other breeders.
Phantom Dragons
Phantom Dragons is a reputable breeder based out of California. Their website offers you a full photo display of almost any morph you could think of. They are efficient and communicate well with their customers.
Morph Market consistently gives them a 10-star rating, which means they are reliable and have a loyal customer base.
They do not add shipping fees to their costs; however, the shipping costs are presumably factored into the total cost of the bearded dragon because they can be quite pricey.
The deal clincher for us is that Phantom Dragons has a detailed history of sales available on their website for anyone to browse through! This can give you an idea of the many reptiles they’ve sold and allow you to look through their reviews more in-depth.
Why a Bearded Dragon Breeder and Not a Pet Shop?
Buying a bearded dragon from a pet shop is not advisable. This is a controversial topic in the reptile community, and many people have differing opinions on the subject. There are several important reasons why we do not suggest you get your beardie from a big chain pet shop.
Most of the time, pet shops are not staffed by people who are passionate about reptiles or know a lot about reptile care. This means they may give you incorrect information about caring for your bearded dragon.
These inexperienced staff members are also busy taking care of the entire pet shop as well as all of the pets (not just the bearded dragons) in the shop. This usually means their bearded dragons cannot get the proper care they require, especially if they are still vulnerable hatchlings.
Bearded dragons in pet shops are also exposed to incredibly high levels of stress due to being housed in small, crowded enclosures and being gawked at all day by customers. This stress can lead to a shortened life span.
When you buy your bearded dragon, you ideally want to be able to spend as many years with it as possible. A bearded dragon from a pet shop will have a reduced lifespan due to the many stresses and general lack of attention they received at the shop.
This is why we always recommend purchasing bearded dragons (and other reptiles in general) from a knowledgeable and qualified breeder.
What to Look for in a Quality Bearded Dragon Breeder
Bearded dragon breeders can be found locally or online. There are so many of them that it can feel very overwhelming when considering which one to buy your beardie from. Here we’ll discuss several points to consider when you are looking for a responsible breeder.
Put together a list of questions (be sure to write them down!) and ask every breeder you contact the same questions. This will help you make a simple comparison between the breeders, and you can pick the one you feel the most comfortable with.
These are some good questions to ask your candidates:
- How long have they been in the business?
- Who else do they recommend?
- What are the genetics of the bearded dragon’s parents, and can you see the parents of the bearded dragon you are interested in?
- How well is the bearded dragon eating, and what is its current diet?
In addition to these questions, here are some other important factors to keep in mind when searching for a reptile breeder.
Effective and Consistent Communication
Getting to know your breeder before buying a reptile from them is a great way to establish trust. Now, we are not talking about coffee dates and late night phone calls! We are merely talking about consistent and effective communication when it comes to asking about and buying your new pet. Here are some things to keep in mind before, during, and after you buy your bearded dragon.
Before
Prior to purchasing your bearded dragon, send the breeder you are interested in an email or give them a call. How quickly they respond, how knowledgeable they are, and how friendly they are can give you an idea of how much they care about their customers.
During
Once you have paid for your beardie, you should be able to maintain contact with the breeder you purchased them from. The breeder should provide you with updates about your beardie if you have arranged for a bearded dragon from a specific clutch and you are both waiting for it to get old enough to ship or pick up.
If they are being shipped, then your breeder should be in constant contact with you about where your bearded dragon is in the process so you are able to keep track of it and make sure your enclosure is set up and ready to go as soon as your beardie arrives at your door. Fast and safe shipping is crucial to ensuring the safety and wellbeing of your new bearded dragon.
After
A quality breeder will offer support after you have purchased your bearded dragon. This does not necessarily need to be extensive; it can be a simple follow up call or email to ensure your beardie is in good health when it arrives.
Good bearded dragon breeders will let you know you can contact them for several years after the initial purchase. This means that you will have access to expert husbandry advice for the rest of your beardie’s life.
Transparency
The level of transparency a breeder is willing to have with their clients is also a good indicator of how trustworthy they are. See if they have any social media accounts, such as Facebook, Instagram, or a YouTube channel where they post about their bearded dragons or any other reptiles they happen to breed.
Not only is social media a great way to pick up tips and good information, but it is also a place to network with other clients of the breeder and ask them about their experiences.
If you are looking at a local breeder, you should be able to request a visit to inspect their enclosures and the overall health and care of their bearded dragons.
If you are working with an online breeder, then you can request a video call so they can show you the bearded dragon you are interested in as well as the lizard’s habitat and the general health of their other bearded dragons.
If you ever feel like the breeder is trying to hide something from you, run! Trust your gut when it comes to picking a breeder. You want to get a bearded dragon that is in good health and has been taken care of properly.
Reviews on Online Shipping
Online breeders and mail-order breeders will typically ship your bearded dragon directly to you. It is a bit strange to think of shipping or mailing a live animal, but it is safe to do and fairly common, especially with reptiles! However, it does have its risks.
The big question to keep in mind here is: does the breeder have a live arrival guarantee? A live arrival guarantee means the breeder promises to deliver the animal alive and will offer a full refund if it does not.
With a live arrival guarantee, quality breeders will wait until the weather is optimal (not too hot or too cold) to ship your bearded dragon to you. This shows they care for the health of the animal and not just about their bottom line.
Some breeders will even have a set number of days guaranteed for the bearded dragon. If there is something wrong within the number of days the breeder has set, then they will refund or replace your purchase.
A sign of a quality bearded dragon breeder is if they will tell you exactly how the animal is packaged and how their safety is guaranteed during shipping. Breeders who take care of their animals are always willing to share their knowledge and information about their practices.
Buzz Word Bashing!
Buzz words are words that companies use to advertise things because it grabs the audience’s attention. In the bearded dragon industry, those buzz words are “fancy” and “pygmy.”
“Fancy” is the term given to bearded dragons who have interesting colors and markings due to selective breeding. If a breeder is boasting about their fancy bearded dragons but cannot tell you the lizard’s exact morph or what their specific genetics are, then they probably do not know what they are doing.
There is a bit of danger in buying a fancy bearded dragon without knowing what morph it is and without knowing what morphs its parents were. Some morphs, such as silkies, have severely shortened life spans due to their complicated health problems and care requirements.
Here’s a more comprehensive look at fancy versus normal bearded dragons.
The same warning goes for a breeder that uses the buzzword “pygmy.” The smallest subspecies of bearded dragon is rare and protected in Australia. This means they will not and should not appear on the breeder market in the USA.
When a breeder uses the word “pygmy,” it usually means they are selling a dwarf morph. Without knowing the reptile’s genetic history, you would be risking a lot of vet bills and potential heartbreak by buying one.
What Do Their Clients Say?
Previous clients are the best source of information on any business. If they are happy with their purchase, they will give glowing reviews. However, if the smallest thing has gone wrong, you know the review will be brutally honest.
Look at the reviews on your breeder’s website. Check out their social media accounts and see the tone of the comments. Have a look at competitor sites and see if they have done a review of the breeder in question.
Additionally, many reptile enthusiasts on YouTube will do reviews on their favorite breeders while giving their viewers information on how to look out for dodgy breeders.
FAQs About Bearded Dragon Breeders
Where can I buy a bearded dragon?
With many years in this industry, I see that there are many locations you can buy a bearded dragon such as: Reptile specialty stores, local pet stores or exotic animal breeders, reputable breeders.
Is getting my bearded dragon from a reptile expo better than getting it from a breeder?
Reptile expos are excellent places to go if you are looking for a bearded dragon. At a typical reptile expo, you will be able to consult with a number of breeders and view their animals. Here you will be able to chat with them and closely examine the animal yourself.
How much should I pay for my bearded dragon from a breeder?
Bearded dragons come in all colors and patterns, which will affect their price. You can get a bearded dragon for anywhere from $40 to $800 (or even more in rare cases) depending on what type of morph they are. Here is our guide on the real cost of owning a bearded dragon.
Conclusion
Bearded dragons are incredible pets for first-timers as well as experienced owners. They come in many colors and patterns from a multitude of breeders. To ensure you get the most time with your bearded dragon, they need to come from a high-quality bearded dragon breeder.
Singling out the breeder of your choice among all the rest can take some time and effort, but it will all be well worth it when you spend the next 10 to 15 years with your scaly friend.
