Aggressive Beardie

[lilblack94gt]

So, about 2 months ago, I rescued a beardie. I am pretty sure the beardie is a female. She is about a year old, at least thats what the people said when I rescued her. She is tiny compared to my 4year old beardie. Anyways, she does not like people at all. I have to use a plastic coat hanger to distract her to get her food bowl in and out. Anything that goes in or near her cage, she puffs up, opens her b=mouth and black beards. She has bitten me twice already. I have tried feeding her superworms with tongs and then petting her when she is full. Still lunges and jumps to try to bite me. I am at a loss. I know she was abused and that they neglected her. How can I let her see that I am not going to hurt her? That she can trust me to hold her?

Bath time is interesting because i have to wrap her in a towel and she struggles and tries to bite and get out of my hands. I have tried hand feeding, and offering treats. I have tried to pet her to show her I mean no harm. What now? Do I just accept she is aggressive and let her be?

 

[lilblack94gt]

I feel like I have made some progress this weekend. Either that or she was ready for bed, but when I went to clean poo out of her cage, she didn't even hiss at me or black beard me. The poo was on the paper towel she was on and she just cocked her head and watched me. I nudged her in the rear with my finger and she moved onto her basking log so I could swap the paper towels out. The whole time she just sat on her basking log and watched me.

 

[RockHound]

I'm dealing with some aggression issues with my beardie as well. I've noticed that taking a step back and working slowly with them really helps.

Sounds like she's doing better and will probably come around. Try working with her shortly before lights out, when she won't be in an active mood. And even then, work with just petting first. Then maybe holding her in her tank before taking her out. Just have to be slow and have patience. Manhandling them too much doesn't help - there was a point where Sierra would lunge at me because she expected it. In only a couple days after just working with her in her tank, she is already MUCH better, with the hissing and mouth-opening to a minimum.

It's hard not to get frustrated. I SOOOOO wish we could communicate with them better. I think you'll be fine though! Keep at it!

 

[lilblack94gt]

Thanks for the encouragement! it really helps to know other people are experiencing it too. I never had to deal with aggressive behavior from my 4 year old male. You can do just about anything to him and he will just sit there and stare at you like " Are you done yet?" But it is so different with Botch. She is so scared of hands, I know she had to either never been handled or abused before I got her. I have been trying to pet her just after feeding her and right before bedtime to let her know I mean her no harm. I need to go get some waxworms or phoenix worms and try to hand feed her. I hate the super worms lol I will not touch them unless it is with the feeding tongs lol!

When I do have to handle her for bath time, I use a towel and cover her head. She seems to struggle a little and then calm down some. I just dont make any sudden movements near her cause it seems to startle her and then she jumps and tries to bite. I guess it is just goin g to take time and patience.

 

[lilblack94gt]

After bathing Botch the other day, I was able to sex him. Turns out he is male too. Since I have the cages stacked on top of each other and the beardies are able to see one and other, could this be why Sam has been black bearding and head bobbing? Could it also explain why Botch is so aggressive?

 

[miloandrufusdragons]

After bathing Botch the other day, I was able to sex him. Turns out he is male too. Since I have the cages stacked on top of each other and the beardies are able to see one and other, could this be why Sam has been black bearding and head bobbing? Could it also explain why Botch is so aggressive?

Possibly but your poor baby has been soooooooo abused that I don't think there is much hope in taming him left.

 

[mikem83]

It is very unfortunate that they amazing creatures more than not end up in the wrong hands with people who get them for the wrong reasons. They are just acting defensive in their nature because of the neglect he had probably suffered. Best thing to do as previously stated is to take things very very slow. At this point the more you interact with him the more stressed out he will be. Just continue to take baby steps in order to show him you mean no harm. Im sure he will come around for you but you need to rebuild his trust. Good Luck!!

 

[PicosParent]

Awwww...how sad for you. Don't give up! Have you tried putting a T-shirt that you wore in the cage to help get him accustomed to your smell? When I went out of town, I had to put a T-shirt in Pico's cage and he sleeps on it instead of in one of his hammocks or on his log because he misses me. I got him at 8 years old and he had been very abused but he is very attached to me now. As a matter of fact, the people watching him had me call every night and put me on speaker phone to talk to him or he would not eat or move off the T-shirt. Good luck!!! Love and patience will conquer all!!!