agressive, mean beardi

I was given my beardi a few months ago, I think he is a male, his name is oliver, he is almost a foot long from head to tail, a friend of the person who gave him to me used to antagonize him and flick him on the head, Oliver is very aggressive, every time I try to take him out to feed him he bites me, his stomach is covered in stress marks and I have started to notice that his beard when he flares up at me is black instead of its usual white/tan color. I don't know what to do or how to help my beardi be less aggressive and he has stopped eating, I managed to get him to eat yesterday after being bitten several times and probably scaring him even worse...... I just don't know what to do or how to comfort him, every time I set him down he tries to run and hide under surfaces. please help


I have started to notice that he tries to get out of his enclosure at night if I leave his heat light on

Don't rush things start slow leaning over talking comforting to him next stick ur hand in the in closure letting him be aware that ur not a threat do this for afew weeks so he gets use to you and seeing that u mean no harm to him the last step would be gently brushing his head letting him see you first slow steps are the best because you don't want to scare him. The last step will be you picking him up after he lets you pet him do this for quite awhile don't just snatch him out.

Thank you so much

Dragons prefer it dark and cool at night to allow their metabolism to slow down so they can actually rest, no light emitting heat source is needed. It disturbs their sleep patterns in turn making them grumpy, lethargic and, can make the not eat as well. The only type of heat you need at night is a CHE "ceramic heat emitter", they produce heat but no light. You will only need one if you house temp drop below 65° at night.
This will also help him settle in better.

Also be aware that beardies can see something above them as a threat like a bird of prey. Always go in from the front at the beardie's level so you are not perceived as a threat.

Placing your hand in the viv for a few minutes before feeding may help him associate your hand with tasty food is coming, rather than something scary that needs attacking.

mcguire":342ia1sw said:

I was given my beardi a few months ago, I think he is a male, his name is oliver, he is almost a foot long from head to tail, a friend of the person who gave him to me used to antagonize him and flick him on the head, Oliver is very aggressive, every time I try to take him out to feed him he bites me, his stomach is covered in stress marks and I have started to notice that his beard when he flares up at me is black instead of its usual white/tan color. I don't know what to do or how to help my beardi be less aggressive and he has stopped eating, I managed to get him to eat yesterday after being bitten several times and probably scaring him even worse...... I just don't know what to do or how to comfort him, every time I set him down he tries to run and hide under surfaces. please help


I have started to notice that he tries to get out of his enclosure at night if I leave his heat light on

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I hope that person is no longer included in your circle of friends, if that person was such a sadistic bully to a beardie, they will be the same with people too.

Yes , you are going to have to teach the beardie that you are nice , you wont hurt him , and you can be trusted, this will take time.
Spend lots of time hanging out near his tank where he can see and hear and generally observe you.
The when he's tired , get him out and place him on your chest with a t-shirt over him, he'll settle faster and will likely start to relax and dose off.
While he's very sleepy gently stroke him on his back , avoid his head, as he has trust issues at present with hands near his head and is scared of them.

mcguire":11cf2cj9 said:

every time I try to take him out to feed him he bites me, his stomach is covered in stress marks and I have started to notice that his beard when he flares up at me is black instead of its usual white/tan color. I don't know what to do or how to help my beardi be less aggressive and he has stopped eating, I managed to get him to eat yesterday after being bitten several times and probably scaring him even worse...... I just don't know what to do or how to comfort him, every time I set him down he tries to run and hide under surfaces. please help


I have started to notice that he tries to get out of his enclosure at night if I leave his heat light on

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Hi McGuire, thank you for saving this stressed out beardie from his bully tormentor! It's a shame your friend wasn't able to gather the courage to stand up to his friend that did that to him, but hopefully with lots of time and patience you can remedy it!

It will take a lot of time and patience, and your new beardie may never come to enjoy physical interaction from people. It sounds like he was teased a lot as a juvenile, and that will seriously impact his impression on people for life. Stop trying to pick him up and handle him for the time being. I know this will be hard, but leave him alone to settle into his new habitat. Let him learn that it is a safe area, where he will not be poked and flicked and harassed. His habitat is his home, and he needs to feel secure there first. You may need to adjust how you house him in order to do this, to make it easy for both of you.

Let him adjust to seeing you and having you around, and associating you with good things. Start by putting your hand in his habitat, but do not interact with him at all. Let him see your hand cleaning things, moving decorations around, and placing tasty FOOD in a food dish. Let him see that your hand is not there to hurt him, but to take care of his space and to give him FOOOOOOOD. Do not try to force him to take food from your hand, and instead invest in a pair of feeding tongs. You may need to let him adjust to the feeding tongs just as he will need to adjust to your hand, but he may feel more secure taking food from the tongs, while keeping an eye on your hand. As he gets comfortable taking food from the tongs, start sliding your hand further and further up the tongs with each feeding. GO SLOWLY. DO NOT RUSH. If he gets aggressive, wary, or moves away, go back a bit or retreat. Eventually, he will take food from your hand after associating it with so many good, stress-free feeding times!

Once he is comfortable with you feeding him by hand, you can also get him comfortable with you touching him. Don't go near his head, and don't approach him from above or in front as other posters said. First make sure he is in a good mood: if his beard is already dark and he's grouchy just leave him alone. If he keeps making aggressive displays at you, with just your hand in the viv, leave him alone. If he's fine, but a little wary, and his beard is alright, THEN: Approach him low, from the sides, and start off with soft, light touches going in the direction his scales grow. Let him move away if he wants to, don't chase him, and keep it positive. If he lunges to bite...let him. Don't let him learn that if he bites, you retreat, as this will reinforce the behavior. Just let your hand go limp, move it away slightly, but keep it in the viv. Wait for him to calm down, move decoration food dish around, THEN remove your hand or try to touch him again at a much slower pace. Teach him your hand will go away when he is CALM, not when he bites.


And yes, turn off his light at night. They are like us and prefer it dark, as there is a sensitive third eye on the top of their head that picks up any light. Let his sleeping area drop to as low as 70* F at night. If it gets colder than that, look into buying a Ceramic Heat Emitter to keep him warm, without adding any light. This may be why your beardie tries to get out of his viv, and another reason why he looks so dark: he's stressed out from not getting away from the light!!!!

EDIT:
Your beardie runs and hides because he does not feel safe or secure. This is normal, and okay. It just means he isn't ready for that level of interaction with your world. Let him get safe and secure in his habitat first, and then with you. THEN you will start to notice him get more comfortable and confident and not hide as much.

OH!!! Another user posted this in a different thread I just found. This method works great for all sorts of critters!!! I used to have a stallion that would charge me over the fence line. I would just sweet talk him and give him scratches under the chin and eventually it stopped. I like the stuffing food in his mouth idea when he tries to bite!

I will say this now because i had to cool off before i addressed this part. Yes, i read it but, took me some time to figure out how to word it without repercussions.

I'm sorry but if someone (friend or not) attempted to thump my dragon (in any way shape or form) their next date would be with an intensive care nurse. I can't believe that your friend would stand by while his so-called friend did this. Must be afraid of his friend. Sorry but I am not afraid of anyone or anything when it comes to my dragon. I will do severe harm to anyone or anything that remotely looks like they might attempt it.

Cinnasticks":afzktuy8 said:

OH!!! Another user posted this in a different thread I just found. This method works great for all sorts of critters!!! I used to have a stallion that would charge me over the fence line. I would just sweet talk him and give him scratches under the chin and eventually it stopped. I like the stuffing food in his mouth idea when he tries to bite!

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Works with all lizards, they soon associate the hand with food and pleasure (lizards are very much food orientated)...