Why bearded dragon become defensive after shedding?

Status
Not open for further replies.

rubymiss

Member
Hi everyone
Im new in this place.and Im new for bearded dragon too.I need your help! I have had my Rankins dragon for 1 month , She is a 3.5 month old baby, she eat good, poo every day,she raised in 20 gallon tank, right temperature .She used to play on my hand and sleep in my hair,always curious about my face. she is shy to other people.she just finished shedding last week. After shedding , she change a lot,I mean her behavior. She become defensive, run away from my hand, I have hard time to pick her up (I always scoop her up and support her tummy and leg, she was always fine) .She look like she scare of me. I keep thinking how I did wrong, did I hold her too much? (1-2 hrs a day) or she got scared by bird one time when I took her out ? (she want to jump into bush but i catch her back)..or simply because of shedding? she is not curious about outside world anymore like before, always alert and look scared. I really want to have good relationship with her! I dont know what to do.can anybody give new mom like me some suggestion . Thank you so much to read it.Ruby
 

kingofnobbys

BD.org Sicko
Can't say I've seen this with the three sets of hatchlings I've had.

All mine have been OK while shedding, if a bit nutty and scratching and rubbing on everything in sight.

That said I always seem to one who's a livewire and not real keen on being picked up or snuggling (at the start) and one who seems to love being out on me .

My current brace (Caesar (the livewire) and Cleo (smooger)) are getting only as much QT on me each day they will tolerate before wanting to go back into the rearing tub.
For Caesar - longest snuggle so far has been about 5 min then he decides "I want off".
For Cleo - she'll stay on me / nap on me for up to 30 minutes , and she's getting this 2 or 3 times per day. When she's had enough she lets me know by crawling off me onto the armrest and looking into the rearing tub = means " please put me back in daddy".

I suggest if your hatchling wants some space , don't force yourself on him. He'll come around when he feels safe and confident with you.
 

KarrieRee

BD.org Sicko
Beardie name(s)
Hiccup he is 6 and Blaze is 4
Sounds like the bird deal traumatized her--- it may take some time to get over that -- your gonna haft to go slow and start taking her into surroundings where she can get comfortable again -- like your bedroom or Living room etc.............. I wouldnt take her outside tho --- I am hesitant to take mine out as I have a lot of birds in my yard and just sitting on the chair in front of the LR window he is alert and watching and yesterday something spooked him and he went and got on the seat of the chair and went and hid behind the throw pillow --- he is scared of birds -- which is to be expected since they are a predator- he is more scared of them than my cats --- which are also a known predator but they dont bother him --- smell and walk away- but I am always watching just in case --
Karrie
 

rubymiss

Member
Original Poster
kingofnobbys":14ud2ir8 said:
Can't say I've seen this with the three sets of hatchlings I've had.

All mine have been OK while shedding, if a bit nutty and scratching and rubbing on everything in sight.

That said I always seem to one who's a livewire and not real keen on being picked up or snuggling (at the start) and one who seems to love being out on me .

My current brace (Caesar (the livewire) and Cleo (smooger)) are getting only as much QT on me each day they will tolerate before wanting to go back into the rearing tub.
For Caesar - longest snuggle so far has been about 5 min then he decides "I want off".
For Cleo - she'll stay on me / nap on me for up to 30 minutes , and she's getting this 2 or 3 times per day. When she's had enough she lets me know by crawling off me onto the armrest and looking into the rearing tub = means " please put me back in daddy".

I suggest if your hatchling wants some space , don't force yourself on him. He'll come around when he feels safe and confident with you.

Hi kingofnobbys
Thank you for the reply. Your lizards are so smart to know how to communicate with you .I left my lizard alone for couple days and she came to me by herself yesterday. Sometimes I just want to hold her so bad. But as you said.I should respect her personal space more. now she is still alert and a little bit scared of me. But I'm happy to understand her more. I just have to be more passive to her instead of showing my passion too much. thank you so much. Ruby
 

rubymiss

Member
Original Poster
KarrieRee":149hcz7f said:
Sounds like the bird deal traumatized her--- it may take some time to get over that -- your gonna haft to go slow and start taking her into surroundings where she can get comfortable again -- like your bedroom or Living room etc.............. I wouldnt take her outside tho --- I am hesitant to take mine out as I have a lot of birds in my yard and just sitting on the chair in front of the LR window he is alert and watching and yesterday something spooked him and he went and got on the seat of the chair and went and hid behind the throw pillow --- he is scared of birds -- which is to be expected since they are a predator- he is more scared of them than my cats --- which are also a known predator but they dont bother him --- smell and walk away- but I am always watching just in case --
Karrie
Hi KarrieRee
Thanks for the reply .you are right. Baby lizard are perfect birds food. And I noticed that even I put the lizards tank by the window but the curtain and windows are always close. She still get scared by the birds sounds outside. So I decided to move the tank somewhere quiet.
I think it's better to take her out after she get bigger. Now I would just keep her in the house all the time. thanks for the suggestion. Ruby
 
Status
Not open for further replies.

Members online

Latest resources

Latest posts

Latest profile posts

I miss you so much, Amaris 💔
What is a quick way to warm up a cold beardie? His heating element went out overnight and now he's very cold.
Pearl Girl wrote on moorelori1966's profile.
i feel so sad reading your about me 😢
Clapton is acclimating okay I think. He's quick as lightning so I'm not sure how much I should bring him out of his house yet. He's not at all interested in his salad though. I wonder if I should change what I'm giving him. Least he's eating his crickets.

Things to do:
Buy calcium powder
Material to raise surface for basking spot
Scenery decals for back of tank

Forum statistics

Threads
155,897
Messages
1,255,662
Members
75,965
Latest member
williamyoung
Top Bottom