Beardie has grown afraid of me.. Biting

[paperplanes]

I may be guilty of not spending time with him anymore I'm thinking that's why. I brought him out the other night and he was fine. But suddenly he looked at me and darted for the closet. I never seen a beardie that fast. Anyways now he is very apprehensive towards me and will try to bite when I hand feed him. He is not being submissive. He jumps at my every move. I'm wondering I'd this is because I am not bringing him out to explore he thinks I am invading his territory now? Also how can I correct this behavior? If I move his enclosure into the living room will he get used to people again? I dont want to deal with an aggressive beardie.

 

[w0554096]

I had a very similar situation to yours. We got really busy at one point when my dragon was a juvie, and weren't handeling him as much and he became very jumpy and aggresive if you would try to handle him. After he'd bitten me a few times I was very aprehensive around him, which probably made him even more on edge..
Anyways, I hated being scared of him and having him not really social, so I started out wearing a glove..he of course bit me a few times through the glove, which I allowed. Once he realized I wouldn't go away after biting he would settle a bit, and then I'd take him out.
At first I'd just hold him for a few minutes and put him back, a few times a day, then I started letting him run around our rec room, and again I would pick him up and put him back down as much as I could while he was out.

Well, it wasn't even two weeks before I could't get him back in his tank! He would cling to my arm and then crawl back up to my shoulder every time I tried to put him away!
Every dragon is of course different, but as a species beardies to tend to be quite docile and tame, so alot of the time (especially when they've been previously handled) it doesn't take much to make them comfortable with you.
Good luck!

 

[paperplanes]

Ok I will try the glove. He was at a time similar in the sense that he never wanted to go back in once he came out. He isn't full grown yet but I know he will still have a strong bite.

 

[Tins]

I had this problem for a bit myself. Everytime I put my hand inside the tank she would turn black and puff up and open her mouth, getting ready to bite me. What I did was everytime she did that, I would put a piece of lettuce in her mouth. Confused the crap out of her at first, and after awhile she kind of just gave up. Also I think it was during lizard puberty when this happen.. if there is such a thing.

 

[paperplanes]

Well hes almost a year now. And quite small for his age i think. I just dont know. I want to know why hes become afraid of me. every so often he cowers into a corner. sucks himself in and becomes real skinny. and will jump away if i try and touch him.

 

[cook]

I had this problem for a bit myself. Everytime I put my hand inside the tank she would turn black and puff up and open her mouth, getting ready to bite me. What I did was everytime she did that, I would put a piece of lettuce in her mouth. Confused the crap out of her at first, and after awhile she kind of just gave up. Also I think it was during lizard puberty when this happen.. if there is such a thing.

there is a puberty stage haha, and like regular kids they become grumpy towards their parents and stuff. funny animals.

Well hes almost a year now. And quite small for his age i think. I just dont know. I want to know why hes become afraid of me. every so often he cowers into a corner. sucks himself in and becomes real skinny. and will jump away if i try and touch him.

do you have a proper viv set up for him? a good UVB light, good sized tank? no sand? good temps and stuff? all of this can cause him to be stressed and not like you too. list what you have. These comments could have been worded nicer.(from moderator)

 

[paperplanes]

i have everything correct trust me.

 

[cook]

hard to trust someone i don't even know.

maybe try to feed him some treats? like wax worms or hornworms, but try to make it apparent youre the one doing it and they arent just appearing out of no where. beardies are animals of habit, if you keep being nice and handling them and giving them treats and stuff they will love you, but if you neglect them they will grow ill towards you. The word "neglect" didn't need to be used here. (from moderator)

 

[paperplanes]

(comment removed by moderator) listing your set up constantly is tedious, i know how to care for my animal. i have the proper lights temps and substrates and all that jazz.

 

[cook]

what? no need for that (bad word removed by moderator. A reminder, this forum is viewed by children 13 yrs old so it needs to be clean) attitude. you're the one that came in asking for help, i offered some, and i asked simple questions that are hugely important to how a beardy feels. no reason to start calling names and stuff...

 

[paperplanes]

hard to trust someone i dont even know with a (bad word removed by moderator) attitude

 

[cook]

lol im not going to get into some childish argument like you want.

hope all goes well for your beardy. (comment removed by moderator)

 

[paperplanes]

you know im right. comment removed by moderator.

 

[Gail]

You are both being childish and it needs to stop before the post is reported, name calling and flaming of any kind is not tolerated.
That being said, he is probably afraid of you because he hasn't been handled enough. The only way to remedy it, is to just start handling him. He's only a little lizard, don't let him scare you, reach in and pick him up. You wouldn't let a little kitten scares you, you would hold it and pet it, same goes for your dragon.

 

[Gail]

Cook, paperplanes is not a neglectful owner. You have both been reported for breaking forum rules. Shame on you both.

Paperplanes, I know you are upset but that was uncalled for. You should know better.