baby beardie biting !!!!!! need advice please

[elmowrey]

we just got a new bearded dragon im madison the 12 year old that lost my late pet willie we just got a new one and he is jumpy and trying to bite when i feed him this is his 1 st day with us is there anyone who can give some advice thank you . sincerly, madison

 

[elmowrey]

i think maybey its just a phase but i really need advice my old lizard was sooo calm so i really need the advice

 

[JenFid]

Maybe give him a few days to settle in, sometimes babies need up to two weeks to get used to a new home. What happens if you just put your hand in the tank without trying to feed him? My baby girl would open her mouth at me constantly any time I tried to pet her when I first got her, and I would leave my hand in there until she closed her mouth. After a week or two she stopped altogether when she figured out my hand wasn't a bad thing

And babies are much more active than adults. He might just be reacting to his new environment.

 

[Aceyourface]

I agree give it a few days maybe even weeks. My Thor went through a phase like that when she was younger. Tiny little thing but feisty. But eventually she realized I could be trusted. And she's never been aggressive towards me since. Seeing as its his first day it's understandable he's probably scared and confused and needs time to get used to his new surroundings.

 

[Drache613]

Moved by Moderator from General to Behavior

 

[elmowrey]

Thanks for ur help he does it when I put my hand in the tank I have been doin the hand thing and he closes his mouth but when I take my hand out he opens it again but thanks for ur advice it means a lot to me. Sincerly
Madison

 

[Aceyourface]

So is he just opening his mouth? Or is he lunging for it and nipping? Most of the time they will just puff up with their mouth open. If that's the case just continue to do the hand thing. Thor would've only threaten like that. But I had my hand partially covered with a sweatshirt for just in case. A few times she did nip the sweatshirt a little. But then I would pick her up anyways and she would be over it. It's kind of a tough call because you don't want to stress them out but you need to show them your the boss but your also friendly and not wanting to eat them.

 

[elmowrey]

he has not nipped but im happy to say that i put my hand in there he opens his mouth but then he closes it and he will let me pet if i do it olny a couple times but its getting better thanks sincerly ,madison

 

[elmowrey]

i hope to stay in contact with all of you its nice to know theres other people that love their dragons as much as i do sincerly, madison

 

[JenFid]

he has not nipped but im happy to say that i put my hand in there he opens his mouth but then he closes it and he will let me pet if i do it olny a couple times but its getting better thanks sincerly ,madison

I'm really glad to hear that, I knew he would come around for you Just keep it up!

 

[elmowrey]

Thanks for ur help with this he just barely nipped my thumb last night so I'm gonna be more careful but I belive he will come around so I will post an update later.

 

[elmowrey]

Well we brought our baby beardie home on August 25th. I have tried everything to get him to stop opening his mouth everytime I get near the tank. It seems after a couple of weeks he wasn't keeping his mouth open as long and didn't always re-open it upon any movement. I was getting optimistic that the phase was ending but then it took a turn for the worse. Now he's jumping at me in attack position trying to bite. He did the same thing to my mom this past weekend when she was putting some food in his tank. My mom does not want me putting my hands in there anymore (even with the gloves I was using) because of the agressive attack jump he's doing. I miss my Willie Dragon so much. He was the most amazing pet I ever had. Now I don't know what to do with this one. I don't know why he doesn't like us and it makes me very sad.

 

[JenFid]

Oh no, I am sorry to hear that! Has anything changed in his surroundings or set up that might have spooked him? If you haven't already, try offering him feeders or his favorite veggie/fruit by hand.