aggressive and anxious ?

[cruzdavid467]

My beardie is in a 40 gallon + tank and he keeps trying to get out and for the past 3 days when I try to pick him up he won't let me seems to be eating fine and seems healthy but as soon as I try to get him he opens his mouth as a threat and runs away I bathe him daily but its a problem to get him out of the tank any suggestions on what to do ?

 

[MikesBeardies]

Bathe him every other day. Doing it everyday can cause a great deal of stress. Do you have a background on the back of the tank? Sometimes beardies like a lot of my hatchlings look like they want to get out but, majority of the time it's because they can see they're reflection through the glass. Stop handling for a while and only out your hand in the enclosure for baths and serving food. They are very smart lizards and will grow to learn your the hand that feeds him. My hatchlings and adults all jump from they're basking spots when I place my hand in the tank and run to it because they know what they are getting. Either food or a bath. This makes it easier for me to pick up and handle when I choose to with no issues at all. Sometimes they practically run up my arm and hand on my shoulder.

 

[cruzdavid467]

Bathe him every other day. Doing it everyday can cause a great deal of stress. Do you have a background on the back of the tank? Sometimes beardies like a lot of my hatchlings look like they want to get out but, majority of the time it's because they can see they're reflection through the glass. Stop handling for a while and only out your hand in the enclosure for baths and serving food. They are very smart lizards and will grow to learn your the hand that feeds him. My hatchlings and adults all jump from they're basking spots when I place my hand in the tank and run to it because they know what they are getting. Either food or a bath. This makes it easier for me to pick up and handle when I choose to with no issues at all. Sometimes they practically run up my arm and hand on my shoulder.

No I don't have anythng covering the back or sides I did but tooknit down because the crickets were able to climb any suggestions om how to stop the reflection

 

[MikesBeardies]

Background posters and pictures are placed on the outside of the enclosure not the inside. I tape mine to the back. I don't cover the sides. When they occasionally look like they are trying to escape I know its because of the reflection.

 

[LaWishfulDragon]

When I first got Sparrow he was just the same way the first couple of days. He was abandoned by his previous owner and people would send him back to the store, and he was never handled. When I got him home he would pancake and puff out when I tried to pick him up, but he would trust me enough to hand feed him and I would make sure he saw me put roaches, superworms, crickets, etc. in his food dish. He'll get better and learn to trust you when he realizes that your the hand that feeds him. He still kinda moves away from me when I go to pick him up, but he's alot better from when I first got him. Just keep at it, try holding him for a little bit so he get's use to you or put a piece of fabric that has your scent on it in. I have a dig box that I put him in at night when I go to sleep and lay the piece of fabric over him so he realized that he will know it's just you and it's safe to be around.
Good luck I really hoped I helped

What's your beardie's name??