Beardie Freak Out

[dylankw]

So I brought my bearded dragon outside today, something I do usually once a day when I can, and she freaked out! Usually she is content to just sit on my arm and bask in the natural sun, the only exception is occasionally she has gotten spooked by something and quickly runs up my arm to my shoulder. When this has happened before I just try to keep her still and calm and take her back inside. Today she did something totally different. She was fine for about the first 30 seconds then out of no where she took off and jumped out of my hands, onto the ground and bolted. I freaked out and tried to catch her, she was much faster then I expected but after she got about 10-12 feet from me and into the grass she spread her body out wider then ever before, bearded up way bigger then ever, looked at me and opened her mouth really wide. I slowly approached her and tried to calm her down. I was afraid she would bite me but knew it wouldn't hurt that bad if she did, so I just tried to slowly pick her up, hoping she wouldn't take off again. She let me pick her up but did not change her position at all until we were back inside. She just stayed all splayed out, open mouthed. After I got her inside she slowly went back to normal. I think it may have something to do with some recent changes. In the past few weeks I have returned to school and my mom has been taking care of her when I am not home. I just got back from 2 weeks at school and noticed her temps aren't as high as they should be. Is that a possible cause of the strange behavior? Am I just being paranoid? I know everyone around here thinks I worry about her WAY too much but I don't think so. Any thoughts?

Thanks,

Dylankw

 

[diamc]

Wow, it sounds like something REALLY scared her, perhaps she saw a hawk. If I were you, I would think twice about taking her out soon again but would make sure she definitely has a leash on as quite a few beardies have gotten lost that way.
I really don't think it had anything to do with her tank temps, sounds like something terrified her outside, perhaps something you weren't even aware of. Even an airplane overhead seems like a predator to them.

 

[trinity040400]

She is probably more in tune to the envirment then you are, so maybe she saw something that might have been a threat. There is no way I can take either of my dragons outside since we have ALOT of different kinds of hawks around. I have a friend who had a parrot that she use to take outside to sit on her fence, she would have hawks swooping down and trying to take off with it. :shock:

 

[TeethandClaws]

i took my beardie out for the first time last week. he was enjoying the sunshine sitting next to me on the chair swing until a little gust of wind blew in our direction. he didnt like it, so he ran up my arm and snuggled in for protection XD

 

[Snowball0807]

I would get a leash/harness for him before you take him back out.. There's some good ones in the For sale section. Sounds like he saw a bird or even something minor like a dog, cat, rabbit, squirrel (depending on where you live). Even the most tame, easy going beardies can see a bird and freak.

 

[ChiefsDaddy]

Definitely get a leash!

My beardie freaks out outside too. He hears all the bugs, and planes, and crazy sounds of nature and freaks. I have him on a leash, so he can't get away from me. I will just keep taking him outside on the weekends until he realizes that it is OK. He is usually cool for a while until he hears something he doesn't like, then he puffs and opens his mouth, but I can usually calm him down if I hold him up against my chest and give him cuddles.