agressive behavior?? [closed topic]

[Tori]

ok so recently i put a post saying that i think my bearded dragon (Toni) hurt his foot. his foot is fine but he is SUPER aggressive and has been gaping his mouth whenever i stick my hand near/in the cage. he bit me for the first time today and i dont know what to do. im afraid im a bad pet owner. ive had one lizard before this and she was SO easy to take care of. never agressive accept for when she laid her eggs.

Toni is about two months old (give or take ive had him for a month but i got him from a pet store so idk) and has shed once after i got him. he eats mostly greens and has crickets 3-4 times every week. im trying the old t-shirt thing and i put it in there 30 minutes ago and hes checking it out as i write this.

thanks,
Tori

 

[Skipper7]

Not sure if its related, but he needs much more insects!! Two or three feedings a day of bugs at this age!

 

[Tori]

Ok so ive been hand feeding him (and feeding him more bugs) and ive been picking him up with a glove (because of the bite) everyday and today after i fed him by hand he let me pet him in his viv!! (he did run a little but no gaping) i had to take out that t-shirt though because he only has a 20 gallon (at the moment, when he gets bigger im switching him to a much larger tank) and it was giving him no free space to walk around. also i forgot to remove it during the day so crickets hid in it. but im pretty sure we are making progress

 

[Zanna]

Hi Tori,
Glad to read yr making progress. If you have yr baby in a 20 gallon im guessing you come in from the top to feed or handle him/her? If this is the case, pls keep in mind that it's instinctual for them to relate this to predator grabs. Not to mention we are giant size lol. There's a couple of good vids on how to handle your dragons out there. But the basics are, come in from in from or side slowly, gently, and scoop slowly making sure to support them.

My girls getting bigger and fatter and went thru a growth spurt, just today while learning to maneuver in her new big tank I picked her up clumsily and got a whip in the face from her tail! I just wasn't supporting her right. I add this only to let you know.... you are not alone and definitely not a bad pet owner. The fact that yr here shows you are a great one!!! Beardies should have a warning sticker .... learning curve coming quickly! Lol

 

[Tori]

Sadly he did bite me yesterday but im getting mealworms today or tomorrow and i read that everytime they open their mouth to stick a treat in their mouth. idk if this will help but im just trying to get him to like me more

 

[Skipper7]

Try taking him out just before or after the lights go out. If he is sleepy he may tolerate you more.