Bearded Dragon showing signs of aggression?

[samchavles]

Hey all, my BD Jerome, about 7 months old now, is starting to show signs of aggression. He's a red leatherback dragon, and in the mornings when he wakes up he is usually happy and ready to eat, beard and underside is completely white, and he's vibrant orange! Which is good I think because I've read usually they are stressed and black in the morning because of temp drop. For the past week, he has woken up on edge with his beard completely black. Today, I turned on his light, and a bit later I saw him on his basking rock, puffing up his chin and opening is mouth wider then I've ever seen it open. Almost looked like a frilled dragon. I went to simply pet him and he let me for a second, deflated his beard, then snapped and bit me. And he didn't let go until i pulled him off. he's only bitten me twice before and that was him missing the food, but I pet him all the time in his tank so he definitely didnt mix my hand up for food this time, he was just angry. If this continues I won't be keeping him, he actually drew blood today.
Temps are and have always been 110 on basking, 80 on cool. Reptisun 10.0 UVB. Eats a good load of phoenix worms every day.
Thanks!
-Sam

 

[daner923]

Around that age they can begin to go through puberty. It can take a couple months to get through it. I would put a shirt you have worn in with him so he gets used to having your scent around again. It's also possible something was just bothering him. Maybe he's getting ready to shed as well?

 

[samchavles]

No shed, he just finished and his skin is always discolored grey as he readies to shed. Puberty? Well, if the biting continues, Puberty or not, I'll be re homing him and getting an Adult. And as far as my scent goes, he is with me every night sitting on my shirt as I play video games, so that can't be it.

 

[zandi202]

When I got my first bearded dragon, Jace, he was aggressive. I bought a pen from Petco and would sit myself in there with him for 1/2 1x a day, sometimes 2x a day. The Petco employee explained to me I had to nip it in the bud right from the get go. Now he is a big cuddler.

 

[samchavles]

I've had him since he was a hatchling though, and his tank hasn't been moved in that time. The setup was such a paint to get right that I've made sure nothing ever moves.

 

[zandi202]

Well Jace was starting his boyhood phase when I got him, much to what Daner was saying.

 

[Lindz0518]

No shed, he just finished and his skin is always discolored grey as he readies to shed. Puberty? Well, if the biting continues, Puberty or not, I'll be re homing him and getting an Adult. And as far as my scent goes, he is with me every night sitting on my shirt as I play video games, so that can't be it.

Honestly if it is puberty then it will pass. There is really no need to rehome him just because there is an issue. That is a little harsh, when you take on a pet, that is a lifetime commitment. He just needs patience and somebody willing to work with him.

 

[samchavles]

No shed, he just finished and his skin is always discolored grey as he readies to shed. Puberty? Well, if the biting continues, Puberty or not, I'll be re homing him and getting an Adult. And as far as my scent goes, he is with me every night sitting on my shirt as I play video games, so that can't be it.

Honestly if it is puberty then it will pass. There is really no need to rehome him just because there is an issue. That is a little harsh, when you take on a pet, that is a lifetime commitment. He just needs patience and somebody willing to work with him.

I have 4 dogs, and him. I did my share of research before getting him, and did not realize the puberty phase. if his grumpy behavior continues, fine, but if the biting and lashing out continues, I'll find him a home that has the patience to deal with it.

 

[Lindz0518]

I have 3 dogs, 2 beardies, 3 leos and 2 children, 1 child is severly disabled. I wasn't trying to be rude, just trying to understand why people buy animals that as soon as they do something they don't like, they're gone.

 

[samchavles]

You weren't being rude at all, sorry if I came off with that tone. I think tone is really hard to tell in text unless you're really explicit. And it's not like I'm getting rid of him now. I said if the biting continues I would rehome him. Not as if I threw him on craigslist the second he bit me. Going to give it a while before I make a decision, and it all depends on the behavior.

 

[Lindz0518]

Yes tone sometimes get lost in translation. Hope his attitude gets better.

 

[samchavles]

So do I

 

[zandi202]

The trick is to show him you aren't afraid and that he can't get what he wants. Tough love. Like a child.

 

[samchavles]

The trick is to show him you aren't afraid and that he can't get what he wants. Tough love. Like a child.

I did, when I flung him off I picked him up and yelled "Who the **** do you think you are?" It's odd I know, but having dogs my entire life I talk to my animals.

 

[Goonie]

[Moved from General to Behavior]