Bonding with Beardie

AgentFella

Member
Beardie name(s)
Crouton
Please read all of this before responding!
Currently my beardie has been super antisocial and hates any physical contact. Don’t get me wrong, he loves me. He runs over to me during feeding time, doesn’t flinch when im petting him or in general petting him, has never black bearded or even flared his beard at me, and he is super happy now. He just HATES to be held or carried anywhere, no matter how i attempt to hold him, he leaps away and goes back to where he was before, no matter where. But recently, he’s getting bored of what he has. He glass surfs at night and sometimes during the day, i assume because of boredom (He has correct lighting, no loud noises, 4x2x2 tank, etc to cause glass surf) and I really am getting stressed myself because I want him to have a great life and not to be stressed from boredom his whole life.
I want to handle him more but no matter what i try he just leaps away. I REALLY want to bond with him better. Is there any way to get a sub-adult beardie to start to like handling?
If it helps, i moved him into a larger tank today. (he’s been glass surfing in the past enclosure as well)
Any tips to bond?
 

KarrieRee

BD.org Sicko
Beardie name(s)
Hiccup he is 6 and Blaze is 5
Please read all of this before responding!
Currently my beardie has been super antisocial and hates any physical contact. Don’t get me wrong, he loves me. He runs over to me during feeding time, doesn’t flinch when im petting him or in general petting him, has never black bearded or even flared his beard at me, and he is super happy now. He just HATES to be held or carried anywhere, no matter how i attempt to hold him, he leaps away and goes back to where he was before, no matter where. But recently, he’s getting bored of what he has. He glass surfs at night and sometimes during the day, i assume because of boredom (He has correct lighting, no loud noises, 4x2x2 tank, etc to cause glass surf) and I really am getting stressed myself because I want him to have a great life and not to be stressed from boredom his whole life.
I want to handle him more but no matter what i try he just leaps away. I REALLY want to bond with him better. Is there any way to get a sub-adult beardie to start to like handling?
If it helps, i moved him into a larger tank today. (he’s been glass surfing in the past enclosure as well)
Any tips to bond?
Put a blanket or piece of clothing in his hide so he gets used to your smell- how old is the dragon? Are there any lights on in the tank at night? Usually dragons will.go to sleep when lights are out- they can't see if the room is dark- what are the ambient temps in the tank at night?
 

AgentFella

Member
Original Poster
Beardie name(s)
Crouton
Put a blanket or piece of clothing in his hide so he gets used to your smell- how old is the dragon? Are there any lights on in the tank at night? Usually dragons will.go to sleep when lights are out- they can't see if the room is dark- what are the ambient temps in the tank at night?
No lights on at night, at night it’s around just over 70F. Usually a little warmer in the summer.
 

KarrieRee

BD.org Sicko
Beardie name(s)
Hiccup he is 6 and Blaze is 5
No lights on at night, at night it’s around just over 70F. Usually a little warmer in the summer.
So good temps- not sure why he would be glass surfing if he can't see- how old is he? And is he sporting any stress marks
 

AgentFella

Member
Original Poster
Beardie name(s)
Crouton
So good temps- not sure why he would be glass surfing if he can't see- how old is he? And is he sporting any stress marks
He’s about 10 months, he has barely visible ones on his belly but i imagine some more coming from moving tanks into a bigger one.
 

xp29

BD.org Addict
Photo Comp Winner
Beardie name(s)
Ruby, Sinatra, Zsa Zsa
Please read all of this before responding!
Currently my beardie has been super antisocial and hates any physical contact. Don’t get me wrong, he loves me. He runs over to me during feeding time, doesn’t flinch when im petting him or in general petting him, has never black bearded or even flared his beard at me, and he is super happy now. He just HATES to be held or carried anywhere, no matter how i attempt to hold him, he leaps away and goes back to where he was before, no matter where. But recently, he’s getting bored of what he has. He glass surfs at night and sometimes during the day, i assume because of boredom (He has correct lighting, no loud noises, 4x2x2 tank, etc to cause glass surf) and I really am getting stressed myself because I want him to have a great life and not to be stressed from boredom his whole life.
I want to handle him more but no matter what i try he just leaps away. I REALLY want to bond with him better. Is there any way to get a sub-adult beardie to start to like handling?
If it helps, i moved him into a larger tank today. (he’s been glass surfing in the past enclosure as well)
Any tips to bond?
Something I do is to get them out just before lights out. Darken the room and let them fall asleep on me. They come to expect it fairly quickly. Once the they are comfortable with that, they generally calm down soon after.
 

Rocky2022

Gray-bearded Member
Beardie name(s)
Rocky, Ruby
It's been a year and my beardie Ruby is the same. However, he won't ever sleep without sleeping on my clothing. I respect that he needs time. I whine about it but little by little he'll come around. Have short visits with him. I'm talking about pat his head then put him back, let him watch you. No overhead movement.
The next time, hold him for a minute.
Until this day, Ruby let's me hold him but if I move, he jumps away.
I try to be patient, I got him at 8 months... who knows what he endured. Shower him with love and eventually he'll come around. I get kisses every blue moon but if I move, he runs.

We can totally whine together because it sticks but don't give up on him.
 

Oskar

New member
Beardie name(s)
Oskar
The stress mark lines, do they look like creases in the skin or is it discoloration? I'm only curious so that I know what to watch for.
 

KarrieRee

BD.org Sicko
Beardie name(s)
Hiccup he is 6 and Blaze is 5
The stress mark lines, do they look like creases in the skin or is it discoloration? I'm only curious so that I know what to watch for.
1737232372732.jpg
 

ChileanTaco

Sub-Adult Member
Beardie name(s)
Taco
@Oskar
The picture posted above is a good example on how they can look like.
Can also look more like a leopard pattern (but also then, on the belly and grey on white).
 

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Does this look like a healthy beardie
LarryTheLizard wrote on ForLeonard!'s profile.
Aww your profile picture is precious ❤️‍🩹
Hey! I'm planning on ordering a 4x2x2 for my next beardie but I'm worried about lighting. I have a UVA and a UVB but they are small (the UVA just being a bulb and the UVB being 12 ish inches?) My house is drafty so I need a strong light that puts off quite a good amount of heat, any suggestions?
cookie event at my library today, quite fun! Made some bracelets for my comrades too, to give them at church in the morning. Got a busy day tomorrow even though I’m off work… i go back on tuesday so atleast I’ll have 2 days off to rewind….then back to hell lol

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