Beardie doesnt love me:/

[DylanFreeman]

My beardie is only 3 months old and has been with me for 1 week and will willingly eat out of my hand. However, when i go to touch him or pick him up, he flips. He hates it and will only let me at night. At night he cuddles into my hand but never during the day. I dont know if i should continue to try or just leave him alone until he is ready. I dont want to miss out on taming time. Please help!

P.s he has been scratching his head on a rock so idk if that means hes starting to shed. But he wont even let me touch him let alone bathe for shedding

 

[onceblue]

What you need to keep in mind with bearded dragons is that the flight instinct is what keeps them alive in the wild, especially when they're so young, small and defenseless. He won't let you pick him up because he still thinks you could be a predator.

It's hard, but the only real answer to getting him to adjust to being handled is time and perseverance. You have to be patient. Bearded dragons, really reptiles in general, aren't like dogs and cats where there's a quick and easy bond between them and humans — you need to teach them slowly over time that you aren't a threat.

To give you some perspective: I've had my beardie for two months, and he was owned by a family member before me for one month. He used to puff up, hiss, and run from me. He doesn't do that anymore, but even though he's been with me for two months, he'll still sometimes get nervous when I reach for him. I can tell by his body language — he gets still, looks down, and just kind of freezes. He also still sometimes closes one eye at me, which is typically an indication that he wants me to go away. This is after two months of handling him every single day and following all the tips and tricks to get him adjusted.

But every day is an improvement. Like I said, he doesn't hiss or puff up anymore. When I have him out of his viv, he'll explore a room and then come back and climb on me. Sometimes he'll just perch on my shoulder or head (if you ever let yours do this make sure you have something soft underneath you in case he jumps), or he'll snuggle into my neck. He lets me touch him all over without running away, and will sometimes just sit on my knee and tilt his head at me while I talk to him.

It isn't an instant process, and you just need to keep that in mind and not get discouraged.

Make sure, though, that when you do reach for him you're not swooping down from above (come at him from the side as best you can).

 

[DylanFreeman]

so do you suggest that i continue to try and pick him up and touch him even though he tries to run? I dont want him to continute to think im a threat.

 

[onceblue]

What I would personally do if I were you is give him a couple of days where you don't handle him at all until night time while he's sleepy and relaxed, just to give him a chance to settle down, because it sounds like he's pretty stressed by you at the moment. This is usually recommended when beardies first come home, anyway, because getting used to everything at once (new place, new furniture, new person, handling, etc.) is a lot for them. I'd say keep hand feeding him though since he seems to like that. It's a great way to bond. I would keep those sessions short at first so you don't overwhelm him, though.

Then I would start back over with the gradual handling — moving your hand closer to him without reaching to pick him up, just petting him while he's inside his viv without taking him out, and move up to just holding him right above his basking area, then letting him back down. Baby steps to acclimate him slowly. If he thinks that you're just going to go to grab him every time you reach in and he doesn't trust you yet, he's going to run. But if you let him settle and then build up to it, it will get better.

 

[DylanFreeman]

That was my original plan, but i read somewhere that because it has been over a week he should already bew warmed up to me and i shouldnt worry about scaring him but that doesnt feel right to me. Thank you for all of your help. I have to work tonight so he'll have some alone time for awhile. Much appreciated and ill let you know if i have any more questions. Thanks again!

 

[onceblue]

It usually takes them a few days to a week to get used to their new home, but it doesn't necessarily take that short of time to get them used to handling. Also, there's no one size fits all for beardies. They are individuals and each one is different. Even if one beardie is perfectly fine with being handled all the time after a week, it doesn't mean all beardies will be that way. And the environment they came from previously can also play a part. If they weren't handled frequently as hatchlings, then they may be slower to adjust to being handled. It depends on a lot of factors. Just try not to rush it, he will come around if you're patient.

Glad to help!

 

[DylanFreeman]

Update! He has seemed much more calm these last 2 days because i havent been touchig him. Today he even crawled onto my hand several times to eat a cricket! Any ideas of what to use for treats for trainkng besides hornworms? I want to be able to just get them from pet store

 

[kingofnobbys]

Update! He has seemed much more calm these last 2 days because i havent been touchig him. Today he even crawled onto my hand several times to eat a cricket! Any ideas of what to use for treats for trainkng besides hornworms? I want to be able to just get them from pet store

Excellent progress .

I've had wild water skinks do that and not long after they were taking food from my fingers and letting me pat them and tickle them under their chin.

 

[premammalian]

I do believe he will eventually calm down and let you handle him. He is somewhat small yet, and might perceavve you as a predator. Even bearded dragons can be fearful, don't forget that they have enemies in the wild. I would not annoy him at night just to handle him. He might get as stressed as at day, but because of lower temperature, low light and sleepy condition he won't be able to react. Better to interact with him by day. I believe after another week you will have no problem with your dragon.

 

[DylanFreeman]

Ive been holding him for 15 mins a day for 2 days now and hes warming up to me nice

 

[tengu1]

Hi there

This is quite old now but I was wondering how he is with you now?

I believe things are great now. Like all the others said it takes time and while we are trying to love them and take care of them, they just see you as a predator :lol: so when they get used to traffic and you feeding them everyday it calms down which you have probably noticed.

Hope you are experiencing the good times with him now.

I love it when they sleep on you, it is the cutest thing. Do you take him outside in the sun? Mine sits on my shoulder and basks in the real uva/uvb. They love that. Watch out for crows and hawks though!