Aggression in young beardy

[pacoparrot]

Based on his size he is approx. 6 months old. He was not fed well in his previous home and now he eats like a pig. He beards, hisses, and even opens his mouth and lunges. Will this improve with age? Can I do anything to show him I won't hurt him and I provide food? He hasn't bitten me yet but I'm definitely not looking forward to it.

 

[vampy]

Aww, poor little guy.

How long have you had him? If it's less than a couple of weeks I'd leave him to get settled in before messing with him too much, and if he's shedding he might be grumpier than normal, so I'd leave him alone then too. Otherwise, I'd just get him used to being handled, whether he likes it or not!

The easiest time to handle them is when they are full of food and sleepy, so last thing at night just when his lights are about to go off is a good time to start with him getting used to you. Pick him up from the side (rather than scaring him with your hand looming over him), supporting his belly and all his feet and ignore any struggling and try and get him to just sit still on your hand, or on a blanket on your lap or something. Only put him down once he has stopped struggling.

My bf's last beardie hadn't been handled much and used to hiss and puff up and generally get upset if you so much as touched him, though he only bit once. Bf got him out for just a few minutes at a time about 10 times a day, no matter how much he tried to run away. Within a couple of weeks he was a lot better but still freaked out if you touched his tail, now he is the friendliest thing ever.

He also said that his first beardie was similar when he rescued her, and he won her round by every time he picked her up he dropped a couple of drops of fruit juice mixed with water on her nose...she soon learned to associate handling with yummy juice, and settled down very quickly.

Some people have said that they get a bit more aggressive when they start to reach sexual maturity, but I've got no experience of that cos ours were got as adults and the babies are still too young, but I'm not sure if your guy is still a bit young for that.

Good luck with him!

 

[AmandaL]

I have the exact same situation! My dragon is probably 4-5 months old. He came from a home where the girl who got him couldn't keep him anymore and he was living with her grandmother and not getting the right care. He was very underweight so I've been working on that.
He is exceptionally unfriendly, though. He hates me being near him. When I do handle him, he puffs out his beard and opens his mouth and gets very stressed. I've been working with him every day and, granted, I've only had him a few weeks, but it doesn't seem to be improving.
Everyone keeps reassuring me that this will get better with time, though. Do you have the tank where he can see you often? Do you talk to him? People have told me that when he opens his mouth I should put bits of greens in it, so that's what I'm trying to do now.

 

[pacoparrot]

Believe it or not he's actually improving a tiny bit with each feeding. He enjoys his roaming around time and when I go to pick him up he lungs and hisses.

 

[wykd]

gotta be careful with these little ones. I had a lil one maybe 9 inch that was a fireball, hated me so much that soon as I slide the cage open he would lunge to get out. ie take a leap 4 out the cage 4ft high. Sometimes he would get by me and land on the floor and try to scurry for cover. Anyways when held he would sit there and bit and bit and bite on my hand/finger anything he could get in his mouth. Was cute cause he was so small it didnt hurt me, but sadly it did hurt him. He broke his jaw in 2 places from me letting him bit on my hand.

 

[Benjirah]

I would suggest that you make sure his tank is correctly set up.

Then, to get him "tame/used to you" keep trying.
Do not give up just because he doesn't want you to.

Keep trying to give him attention, move slow. try to touch under his chin.
most important thing is to be persistent. good luck.