Cyrus tried to bite me

[tweet0302]

My juvenile male every time i stick my hand in his tank he tries to bite me like he lounges at my hand and yes he bitten me a few times so what can i do to get him to stop cuz now I'm scared to put my hand in his tank plz help

 

[Lurhstaap]

Exactly how old is he? It sounds like he may be going through puberty. Aggression toward humans is pretty rare in beardies, but the one time they are likely to act like this, as far as I am aware, is when they are juvenile males going through puberty. It's probable, also, that you are doing something to frighten him. Beardies generally do not bite except to defend themselves and to drive off rival males when they want to mate. So either he sees you as a rival male that needs to be put in his place, or he thinks you're a predator and he's trying to defend himself. If it's puberty, you're in luck -- he'll grow out of it once he's through his hormonal stage. If he's afraid of you, on the other hand, there are things you can do to make yourself less fearsome.

I also have to wonder, how much are you feeding him and how often? And what? I handfeed my beardie and once or twice he has bitten my hand by accident when going for food. If you have ever handfed your beardie, and he is very hungry, he may rush your hand in excitement and bite at it, thinking you are holding food. Mine has never been so hungry as to charge me so aggressively that he missed the food and bit me, but I let mine gorge himself daily, and, of course... I'm actually holding food when this happens.

How long have you owned this lizard, also?

 

[tweet0302]

I've had him since September he about 4-5 months old i feed him a little vegs in morning and around 1-2 i feed him worms then again around 4-5pm lights turn off at seven around bath time he is cool i talk to him every day i put my hand in tank just so he can get used to my hand approaching like i sit it in front of his face and he opens his mouth sometimes he beards me so then i talk to him in calm voice sometime he calms down but soon as i move it he open his mouth and beards me

 

[Lurhstaap]

Well, that's too young for puberty, so with the additional information you have given it sounds like he is afraid of you and trying to defend himself. He must have a very strong personality! Some show fear by running and hiding, others by attacking. He would seem to be of the latter type. Also, it's only November now, so if you've had him since September he is still pretty new to you. Give him some time. The slow gentle approach is a good one with this guy I think. Have you tried putting a shirt with your smell on it in his tank so your scent becomes familiar to him? Overall it sounds to me as if he is just nervous about you -- he may not have been treated well by his previous owner, as you have not had him since birth -- and if you don't give him any further reasons to fear you such as aggressively grabbing at him, he should get over it with time.

 

[tweet0302]

Well i had him since he was young i got him from petsmart and no i haven't put my shirt in his tank yet I'm about to look for one now and put it in there

 

[Lurhstaap]

In that case he probably was never handled until you bought him, which is why he's afraid of your hand. If he was ever picked up at all it was probably by being grabbed rather roughly and startlingly. So he thinks that's going to happen every time. The shirt thing helps A LOT because one of the things that upsets them is an unfamiliar smell which seems predatory, so if you make your smell a normal part of his environment, it will alarm him a lot less when he detects your scent, because he will already be used to it. Keep us posted, but I think his youth and newness to your home are most likely to be the problem from what you have described.