Calamity Lucy.

xp29

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Beardie name(s)
Ruby, Sinatra, Zsa Zsa
So when I brought Zsa Zsa home, she was the most food aggressive beardie I ever had.
She doesn't hold a candle to Lucy. It is absolutely impossible to hand feed her without getting bit. She leaped through the air tonight and got my finger tip. She was literally swinging from my finger lol. She hung on for like 10 seconds. The only reason she let go was she saw the hornworm on the floor that she knocked off my finger. She is getting big enough now that her bite hurts. I really do wish I had named her Calamity she is certainly a spicy little girl now.
Here are a few pictures I took tonight 🙂
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ChileanTaco

Sub-Adult Member
Beardie name(s)
Taco
Really pretty coloration :)

Regarding biting when feeding:
Does she grab food with her tongue? Or directly with her mouth? Is it like "with the tongue, and as the tongue can't get the finger, then with the mouth"?
(I'm asking as my dragon always only uses his tongue, completely chameleon-style. So the most I could get is a sticky lick :D Getting accidentally bitten, I had only seen this with reptiles not using their tongue to catch insects, like sand lizards.)
 

xp29

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Beardie name(s)
Ruby, Sinatra, Zsa Zsa
Lucy is beautiful! I always admire the patterns on her back! :love:
I think she wants to prove to you that she is Calamity lol.:LOL:
Usually by the time they are her age/size they have started to calm down some. Not Lucy, she has become more and more assertive as she has gotten bigger. She isn't mean at all but she definitely does what she wants lol.
 

xp29

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Original Poster
Beardie name(s)
Ruby, Sinatra, Zsa Zsa
Really pretty coloration :)

Regarding biting when feeding:
Does she grab food with her tongue? Or directly with her mouth? Is it like "with the tongue, and as the tongue can't get the finger, then with the mouth"?
(I'm asking as my dragon always only uses his tongue, completely chameleon-style. So the most I could get is a sticky lick :D Getting accidentally bitten, I had only seen this with reptiles not using their tongue to catch insects, like sand lizards.)
If her food is in a bowl she will use her tongue. If I'm hand feeding she will charge at the bug with her tongue at the ready but usually just slams into it teeth first. She isn't trying to bite me, she is just that excited to get the bug. It's like she thinks if she doesn't rush in and grab it that it might disappear.
 

ChileanTaco

Sub-Adult Member
Beardie name(s)
Taco
She isn't trying to bite me, she is just that excited to get the bug.
That I've understood well ;)
That
It's like she thinks if she doesn't rush in and grab it that it might disappear.
I had with reptiles (and other animals) that grab directly with their mouth, teeth, beak.
I think the "blind spot", so not seeing what is directly in front of them when it's close, adds to it.

I was just wondering how an animal used to grab it with the tongue could bite when eagerly grabbing something. But now I understand.
Mine always used and uses his tongue, so such accidents won't happen. However, with him only using the tongue, in the rare case I hold the insect instead of placing it on my hand, I will have to release the bug quickly when the tongue shoots out, as my finger's grip is stronger than his tongue and then he gets... nothing. And is disappointed. If I release it too soon, it falls down and... he' disappointed, too ;)
Usually by the time they are her age/size they have started to calm down some. Not Lucy, she has become more and more assertive as she has gotten bigger. She isn't mean at all but she definitely does what she wants lol.
Mine, at that age/size, started to dare taking food from my hand. I think, before "Mr. shy guy" had feared that something bad might happen when he steals food from me*. Really, I think so. Before, he looked at the insects I offered from my hand, like "they move so appetizing, I really want them... but human is bigger than me and I don't dare stealing". (When he finally tried it, and of course nothing bad happened but more insects appeared, he understood :))
Most food goes into his bowl, but from time to time I hand feed, i.e. offer a bug up at his basking spot when I see him sitting there.

*None of my pets (= excludes: wild-caught foster animals) I had so far took so long to understood that taking food from me is fine. Insects took it immediately (might not have really realized they are eating something that is placed on a human that could potentially be a threat?), birds very soon (likely remembered them of being fed by their parents). For a reptile, I think it's a bit harder as there is just no parent that offers food, or mate that shares in nature, and everybody being around food wants it for themselves. So a big thing to learn :)
 

xp29

BD.org Addict
Photo Comp Winner
Original Poster
Beardie name(s)
Ruby, Sinatra, Zsa Zsa
That I've understood well ;)
That

I had with reptiles (and other animals) that grab directly with their mouth, teeth, beak.
I think the "blind spot", so not seeing what is directly in front of them when it's close, adds to it.

I was just wondering how an animal used to grab it with the tongue could bite when eagerly grabbing something. But now I understand.
Mine always used and uses his tongue, so such accidents won't happen. However, with him only using the tongue, in the rare case I hold the insect instead of placing it on my hand, I will have to release the bug quickly when the tongue shoots out, as my finger's grip is stronger than his tongue and then he gets... nothing. And is disappointed. If I release it too soon, it falls down and... he' disappointed, too ;)

Mine, at that age/size, started to dare taking food from my hand. I think, before "Mr. shy guy" had feared that something bad might happen when he steals food from me*. Really, I think so. Before, he looked at the insects I offered from my hand, like "they move so appetizing, I really want them... but human is bigger than me and I don't dare stealing". (When he finally tried it, and of course nothing bad happened but more insects appeared, he understood :))
Most food goes into his bowl, but from time to time I hand feed, i.e. offer a bug up at his basking spot when I see him sitting there.

*None of my pets (= excludes: wild-caught foster animals) I had so far took so long to understood that taking food from me is fine. Insects took it immediately (might not have really realized they are eating something that is placed on a human that could potentially be a threat?), birds very soon (likely remembered them of being fed by their parents). For a reptile, I think it's a bit harder as there is just no parent that offers food, or mate that shares in nature, and everybody being around food wants it for themselves. So a big thing to learn :)
It could be the blind spot adding to it, but she rushes full speed from wherever she happens to be. I know she sees my finger from there. She knows I'm bringing food to, she'll make eye contact and look back and forth from my face to my hands any time I get near. . She does that everytime we approach her habitat. She is probably one of the more intelligent beardies I've had. Anyone happened to be standing there they would think I don't feed her with how excited she gets over food.
 

ChileanTaco

Sub-Adult Member
Beardie name(s)
Taco
It could be the blind spot adding to it, but she rushes full speed from wherever she happens to be. I know she sees my finger from there. She knows I'm bringing food to, she'll make eye contact and look back and forth from my face to my hands any time I get near. . She does that everytime we approach her habitat. She is probably one of the more intelligent beardies I've had. Anyone happened to be standing there they would think I don't feed her with how excited she gets over food.
I have seen exactly this with reptiles grabbing their food not with their tongue, like sand lizards (and, more slower of course, turtles).

She knows I'm bringing food to, she'll make eye contact and look back and forth from my face to my hands any time I get near. . She does that everytime we approach her habitat. She is probably one of the more intelligent beardies I've had.
Mine also does this. Did this also early on knowing I bring food, knowing how the bug containers look like (but just didn't dare to take if from my hand for a long time, and also did not dare to eat at all when somebody watched). He's also doing the eye contact thing a lot, and also for signalizing he wants something/ I should do something. Example: One of the lamps went out when it should not (burned out, or some other problem), then he looks at me, at the lamp, back and forth once we are in the room. I'd really say Taco is not communicating less than the average cat does (and I bet, for most beardies it's the same).

Over all, I think the intelligence of bearded dragons shows in the way they can adapt well to live in a social situation that is far away from their natural one: With a big "other animal" that shares food and who touching them isn't meaning anything dangerous.
 

NickAVD

Gray-bearded Member
Beardie name(s)
Foxy
Usually by the time they are her age/size they have started to calm down some. Not Lucy, she has become more and more assertive as she has gotten bigger. She isn't mean at all but she definitely does what she wants lol.
I think she's very happy. That's why she doesn't worry about little things like your fingers lol.
 

xp29

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Original Poster
Beardie name(s)
Ruby, Sinatra, Zsa Zsa
I have seen exactly this with reptiles grabbing their food not with their tongue, like sand lizards (and, more slower of course, turtles).


Mine also does this. Did this also early on knowing I bring food, knowing how the bug containers look like (but just didn't dare to take if from my hand for a long time, and also did not dare to eat at all when somebody watched). He's also doing the eye contact thing a lot, and also for signalizing he wants something/ I should do something. Example: One of the lamps went out when it should not (burned out, or some other problem), then he looks at me, at the lamp, back and forth once we are in the room. I'd really say Taco is not communicating less than the average cat does (and I bet, for most beardies it's the same).

Over all, I think the intelligence of bearded dragons shows in the way they can adapt well to live in a social situation that is far away from their natural one: With a big "other animal" that shares food and who touching them isn't meaning anything dangerous.
I always say they are far more intelligent than most think. Heck Sinatra will use the doggy door to get outside if I'm not paying attention. (I have a solid door that installs to render it unopenable when he is out)
 

xp29

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Beardie name(s)
Ruby, Sinatra, Zsa Zsa
She really is beautiful and it does look she is growing pretty fast also. Can't wait to see her grown up colors
That's a double edged sword lol. I can't wait to see how she looks grown, but I want her to stay little forever 😀
 

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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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