Beardie Biting Everything

[Buzz24]

hello! i just got a new beardie. he’s 1 year old and i got him from a reptile shop and i’ve had him for a week now but i’ve noticed he bites everything! he bites the log. he bites the thermometer. he bites his bowls with his food and today he latched onto my finger and bit me. he bites the paper towels. i’m not sure why he keeps biting everything. if i could get any insight that would be awesome
thanks!!

 

[KarrieRee]

hello! i just got a new beardie. he’s 1 year old and i got him from a reptile shop and i’ve had him for a week now but i’ve noticed he bites everything! he bites the log. he bites the thermometer. he bites his bowls with his food and today he latched onto my finger and bit me. he bites the paper towels. i’m not sure why he keeps biting everything. if i could get any insight that would be awesome
thanks!!

What are you feeding for supplements? What kind of uvb are you using? Coil or a long tube fixture?

 

[AHBD]

That might be why he was surrendered to the shop. Use gardening gloves to handle him until he settles in. I'm not sure about why he'd be attacking his tank decor but it might be super stressed and aggressive. Hopefully he'll settle down after some time.

 

[Buzz24]

What are you feeding for supplements? What kind of uvb are you using? Coil or a long tube fixture?

i’m feeding the calcium supplement and the tube fixture.

 

[KarrieRee]

i’m feeding the calcium supplement and the tube fixture.

What brand and bulb please-- improper surface basking temps and uvb can cause aggressive behavior-

 

[xp29]

Is he attacking everything or just trying to eat everything? If he is attacking he is likely scared and it's defensive. In that case be patient and work on getting him to trust you. He probably wasn't handled much in his last home and is insecure.
If he is trying to eat everything, he may not have been fed properly and is desperate for nutrition, in that case be careful not not let him over eat as he will likely regurgitate it. It could also be a need for calcium and vitamins. Give him calcium once daily, i would do multivitamins 4 to 5 times a week at first then after a couple weeks 3 to 4 times. But above all be patient, these lil guys are smart enough to figure out your the good guy, but you have to teach them at their pace.

 

[Buzz24]

uvb is zoomed reptisun 10.0 uvb t5 HO and his basking is 95-100 and cooler side is 75

 

[AHBD]

Yeah he just needs to settle in most likely. Most of the time an adult beardie has been surrendered after someone has lost interest. There may have been kids in the previous home that mishandled or even teased and hurt him.
It has nothing to do with lighting or lack of vitamins so no, don't give him vitamins 4-5 times a week, just 1-2 times, calcium + D3 the same, maybe one extra day of calcium w/out D3.

 

[Buzz24]

Is he attacking everything or just trying to eat everything? If he is attacking he is likely scared and it's defensive. In that case be patient and work on getting him to trust you. He probably wasn't handled much in his last home and is insecure.
If he is trying to eat everything, he may not have been fed properly and is desperate for nutrition, in that case be careful not not let him over eat as he will likely regurgitate it. It could also be a need for calcium and vitamins. Give him calcium once daily, i would do multivitamins 4 to 5 times a week at first then after a couple weeks 3 to 4 times. But above all be patient, these lil guys are smart enough to figure out your the good guy, but you have to teach them at their pace.

i’m giving him is space but always talking to him. he hasn’t black bearded on me once. i had asked the reptile shop if he was a turn in and they said he was from a breeder and grew up there. i’m thinking that maybe he always had to fight for his food. idk. he eats really well and i’m making sure not to over feed him at all.

 

[AHBD]

He grew up as in no one bought him ? That's possible but you never know. It's good that he's eating well even though he's stressed. Can you post pics of the dragon and the enclosure ?

 

[Buzz24]

He grew up as in no one bought him ? That's possible but you never know. It's good that he's eating well even though he's stressed. Can you post pics of the dragon and the enclosure ?

this is him. his enclosure has a wood log and a hide log and some flat rocks and a hammock. 40 gallon tank. i don’t believe anyone has ever bought him. idk if he’s just on edge from people maybe holding him to see what he’s like. i’m not sure. i know nothing internally is wrong because his poop is good for the most part i know a diet adjustment is there along with the stress of moving.

 

[AHBD]

Are you sure it's a male ? Not that it makes a difference.

 

[Buzz24]

Are you sure it's a male ? Not that it makes a difference.

i’m pretty sure. i see his femoral pores on his back legs

 

[KarrieRee]

i’m pretty sure. i see his femoral pores on his back legs

Where is his uvb? Screen will determine where it need to be placed- whether it's a wide hole or fine mesh type - are you getting temps w/ a digital probe thermometer-

 

[AHBD]

O.K. So back to the biting, is it constant and when he bit you was it hard enough to draw blood ? If he's biting cage decor it doesn't look like he hurt his mouth.