This Bearded Dragon Has the Most Unusual Object of Affection

Bearded dragons are among the most beloved reptiles in the pet world. Although they can be aggressive and territorial in the wild, they’ve gained a reputation for being cute and friendly in domestic environments. They don’t need to fight a hierarchy for food or territory in controlled environments, making them docile.

Each bearded dragon has its own unique personality, and this one featured on @thedodo’s Instagram account shows off just a little of that wild side we don’t often see. A sock is a strange item to be territorial over, but there’s a good reason for it.

Bearded Dragons Can Bond Easily

In their natural habitats, bearded dragons live among others in their species. This often leads to territoriality, so they’re recommended as solo pets. Despite this, they quickly bond with their human owners. Signs of this newfound trust include beardies that sit with their owners for prolonged periods of time or allow owners to pick them up frequently. Beardies enjoy the physical affection, a stark contrast to many other reptile species.

The more familiar a beardie is with its owner, the more social it will become. Some owners even train their beardies to come when called or follow simple commands. This intelligence extends beyond bonding with their owners, though. While reptile treats help reinforce training, how does it explain a beardie bonded with a sock?

Some Objects Are More Appealing Than Others

It’s important to note that bearded dragons do not form emotional bonds. Their bonds are born of recognition and familiarity with their owners. Therefore, they do not form attachments to inanimate objects. The beardie in the video above is quite an anomaly in terms of its comfort object.

Early in the video, we can see territoriality toward its owner’s feet. After determining this beardie was focused on the sock, it seems to form an attachment to the object. While this is not an instinctive behavior, there might be a logical reason for this beardie’s sock obsession. Some lizards enjoy interacting with particular objects, such as small toys, balls, and mirrors. A sock wouldn’t typically make the list, but there must be something about it that this beardie enjoys. It could be the texture, the way it flops, or the color.

Thanks to its eyesight, this beardie can likely tell the difference from one sock to another. Bearded dragons can see a range of colors, not unlike humans. They can also see ultraviolet light, meaning they have better color eyesight than humans do. This beardie is likely attached to this sock, like another lizard might prefer one toy over the other. Their incredible eyesight allows them to locate things like this, making hiding such a beloved toy tough.