(Not So) Fearsome Two-Headed Dragon

Featured in Ripley's Believe It or Not!

History With the Venice Beach Freakshow

Back in March, we introduced you to Toby the Two-Nosed Dog. He was the latest find of Todd Ray with the Venice Beach Freakshow.

Toby’s doing great, but it looks like his status as the newest addition to the Freakshow family has been usurped by Ray’s new find: the still-unnamed two-headed dragon.

Bearded Dragons

Bearded Dragons originate in Australia and are a desert reptile.

They’ve become very common pets due to their hardy nature and simple habitat needs. They’re also one of the few species of reptiles that are naturally tame and don’t mind being held and handled by people.

As common as Bearded Dragons have become in American homes, a two-headed dragon is still a rare sight. Rarer still is finding one with the coloring of Ray’s. Orange and red colors aren’t unheard of, but the dragons naturally range in color from brown to gray.

In His Own Words

I was lucky enough to get to exchange emails with Ray recently. Here’s what he had to say about his new pets.

Ripley’s: How’d you hear about the dragons hatching?

Todd Ray: They were born in China almost a year ago. Recently, the owner posted a video of them on Facebook, and a friend of mine tagged me on it. When I saw the video, I was determined to find out more and see if I could buy them. I contacted the owner, and he said someone in China had offered $5000 for them, but he didn’t feel like they really appreciated this special reptile. I offered him $6500. He knew about my background and agreed to sell them to me.

R: What all is included in shipping bearded dragons from China to California?

T: A bunch of paperwork and headaches! I had to speak with the USDA, Fish and Wildlife, US Customs, and cargo at the airlines. I ended up having to hire a customs broker, and that helped a lot. My main concern was that the flight was long, and I didn’t want them to be over stressed or too cold. Luckily, they arrived vibrant and very alert!

R: You said they’re right-side dominate, but the left one is a tough guy, can you expound on that a bit? What are their specific personalities?

T: The left one is sort of growing out of the side of the right one. The right one has more of a full body while the left one only has front legs. So, the right one is physically dominant. However, the left one’s personality is mentally dominant! He thinks he is a tough guy! When I feed them, he’s the first to pull towards the food. When he wants to go a different direction, he will reach over and poke at the right one’s head like he’s saying, “Come on! I want to go this way!” The other one is much mellower.

R: Do you have to buy double the amount of crickets to feed them?

T: Yes, almost double! They eat a lot every day….crickets, super worms, greens, etc.

Names

Ray still hasn’t decided on a name for the adorable critter. He’s looking for ideas, so if you’re interested in helping to find a name this two-headed dragon, feel free to make suggestions. He thinks they’re a female, and he’s looking to give them powerful female names. For now, Thelma and Louise are in the lead but feel free to head over to the Venice Beach Freakshow Facebook and Instagram pages to make your suggestions.

You can also keep an eye on the Freakshow’s website and Youtube Channel for more news on the newest members of their ever growing family.

Source: (Not So) Fearsome Two-Headed Dragon