Baby beardie behavior

[Kimmi0205]

We are new to beardies and my son got two babies about 10 days ago. After the first few days we had to separate them because one was getting dominant over the other, so the dominant one went to my son's dad's house and the other stayed with me. The beardie that dad took is doing great! Loves to be held and is very gentle. The beardie at my house was originally the more laid back one, but that changed after the first few days. Anytime we reach in to pick it (not sure if its gender) up it opens its mouth wide and sometimes hisses. I've read a lot about this and people say to just be persistent, but I'm worried not only about its behavior but also about stressing it out by being persistent. Is there anything I can do differently to make my beardie comfortable again? I've also seen people suggest picking up their beardie when the beardie is drowsy or sleeping. Will it tolerate me picking it up while it's sleeping? Thanks!

 

[bsapavel]

Well, I suggest to talk sweetly to it for a couple of days when feeding it or when passing by its tank. After that, try to pet it while talking to it in a soft voice. It will calm down the dragon and he/she will gradually get used to your touch. Refrain from picking it up by pinching the belly as it goes against their instincts and simulates what a predator would do. Instead, slide a finger under its chin and turn your hand 180 degrees and it should not be afraid of that method. If it tries to run off your hand, try to pinch it very gently between your thumb and pointer finger right below the neck. When holding it, pet it and talk to it and it should calm down if you do this for a few days. I speak from experience.

 

[joef]

Well, I suggest to talk sweetly to it for a couple of days when feeding it or when passing by its tank. After that, try to pet it while talking to it in a soft voice. It will calm down the dragon and he/she will gradually get used to your touch. Refrain from picking it up by pinching the belly as it goes against their instincts and simulates what a predator would do. Instead, slide a finger under its chin and turn your hand 180 degrees and it should not be afraid of that method. If it tries to run off your hand, try to pinch it very gently between your thumb and pointer finger right below the neck. When holding it, pet it and talk to it and it should calm down if you do this for a few days. I speak from experience.

^This does cover most of it^, but also, when taming a reptile back up, you gotta have good energy, if your mad, or frustrated, they can sense that. Have it set in your mind that you are going to tame it up, and be persistent. And when it is sleeping, you might be able to pick it up, but you might also frighten it more. When my beardie is sleeping, i can pick him up and hes almost 100% limp, so try to pick it when its sleeping and just see what happens. If it freaks out and runs when you do it, then leave it alone for the night. If you can pick it up, calmly set it on your lap or something for a while. Just be persistent.

 

[kingofnobbys]

Take your time , the little beardie is stressed and scared .... so your no 1 priority is to gain it's trust...

I find that if you set up a routine that is much the same every day, and stick to it, this helps.

Also as mentioned , never chase a scared little beardie about in it's tank, this will only reinforce it's fear of you.
Never approach it from behind or from above - very predatorlike.

Spend lots of time hanging out near it's tank where it can see study you and hear you. Let it see you get bugs ready and depositing them a few at a time in it's tank , will learn you are the bringer of yummy bugs.

I'd be using handfeeding as a bonding ritual with it, but only the first few bugs each day , this way it will soon learn you are not going to harm it and they learn the hand feeding lurk very fast and this is great way form a tight trusting bond with your lizard.

Make sure your child only handles the beardie UNDER VERY CLOSE SUPERVISION.