I've had my beardie for about 2 months now. I've posted quite a bit about him. He eats like a horse now and is shedding and growing repetitively. When I first had him, he could care less that I picked him up and handled him, fed him, whatever. Well a week after that he has been nipping, running, taking stances at me. Honestly I thought he will adjust, but after 2 months I'm starting to get a little pissed haha.. I don't sqeeze him or even try to irritate him at all. I pick him up sometimes he doesn't even care, other times he will corner himself and try to bit me. I do not over head grab, I offer my hand, and he still goes for a bit. I got him as my first reptile, I have 3 now. He is the only one that gives me issues. He runs, bits, and seems to get stressed wayyyy easier then most beardies I handle. He is fed right, temp in cage is right, has water and fresh veggies everyday. I'm just confused. I got a Beardie first because I was told its an easy start hell my ball Python was in her cage for less then a day and she let me handle her and when I am playing computer games sometimes she just chills on my shoulders. How can I get more trust and bonding with my beardie ? Really want him with him before he gets bigger and it becomes worse.
now my reply is not beardie based at all because i am not an expert but i thought i would reply with what i hope are some helpfull hints.
i have a pair of dragons pebbles and Bambam. their bodies are the size of an egg which makes them about 4 months old.Pebbles is great and loves to get the warmth from my hand but Bambam is picky - if his belly is full and he has been basking for a bit he will agree to be handled but other wise he just runs from me
i always approach my animals from beneath them and stroke their chins before i pick them up. stroking their chin means they are distracted by the touch and do not see/notice my other hand so much. - birds of prey would swoop down in the wild so coming from above just makes them nervous and jumpy.
most animals are food orientated so i would use food to train my dragon. find something they really like and when they hungry hand feed feed it. save that food for hand feeding only- increase your contact over time until they can only have that food when you are holding them. i would would use something like blueberry or dandelion.
i have started taking my animals out side - they notice when i get out the cage i use to take them in the garden and are much more co-operative because of the reward they get.
i hope you get some more responses to this from more experienced owners.