Does my Steve hate me?

[justinewin]

Hi, I just bought a subadult bearded dragon last week. His new terrarium is still being built so I temporarily placed him in a 50L plastic container. I'm constantly talking with the prev owner about Steve's veggie diet and offered them to him but he's not accepting any of them. He would eat super worms, but not that much like I was expecting. His prev owner told me he was a good eater. ?_?

Moreover, I noticed how he wants to get away from me whenever I hold him. There are only few times when he's calm while on my shoulder or arm. How can I build a good relationship with him?

I'm new being a beardie mom. Did anyone experience this before? Thanks for your help!

 

[Mysty]

From his perspective it is understandable. What he has experienced of you so far is being in a tub.

Once he is in a viv and can feel secure, he'll go through an adjustment period. It could take some weeks. Keep offering food but otherwise leave him be. Unless:

If you have a large storage tub and he is not aggressive it might be good to put some items which are going into his new viv, basking rocks wood etc and letting him familiarise. I would not let him free roam around the home at this point as if he's very unsettled he's likely to hide under something.

 

[kingofnobbys]

No he doesn't hate you. He simply doesn't know you yet and you need to build trust with him.

He is very likely feeling very insecure and upset about being abandoned by his previous keeper and having a total stranger forced on him (you).

he is also likely not happy about his tank. Relocation stress is very common.

best you can do is let him settle in and spend lots of time where he can see, hear and smell you and let him observe you, see you putting his salad in with him, depositing bugs in there with him or offer them to him by hand.

If he trying to get off you when you pick him you it may be that you frightening him how you pick him up and maybe not supporting his body correctly (and he's scared you''ll drop him). Try slipping your hand under his belly and chest and scooping him , making sure he sees you at all times and then depositing him in you tummy/ chest/ lap so he can look at your face and talk to him and pet him , and place your left hand over his back end to support him and make him feel secure.
Have a few food treats handy, see if he will take them if you deposit them where he can see and reach them , even better , if he'll take them from between your fingers on off your open hand.

Food is a great bonding tool with lizards. Take your time and let him set the agenda , he'll soon come around and choose to trust you, eventually he'll even enjoy being with you and even love you.

If he's like the juvenile and subadult beardies I've seen , including my own, he's very curious about you and this new surroundings , so make the room beardie safe and let him have supervised floor fun time , when he's run out of steam he'll find somewhere to nap , that's a good time to pick him up for a snuggle before returning him to his tank.

 

[kingofnobbys]

Hi, I just bought a subadult bearded dragon last week. His new terrarium is still being built so I temporarily placed him in a 50L plastic container. I'm constantly talking with the prev owner about Steve's veggie diet and offered them to him but he's not accepting any of them. He would eat super worms, but not that much like I was expecting. His prev owner told me he was a good eater. ?_?

Moreover, I noticed how he wants to get away from me whenever I hold him. There are only few times when he's calm while on my shoulder or arm.<<<< please - only let him get on your shoulder when you are seated on the ground or the bed or the lounge or the carpet floor.
He's going there because they like high vantage points and your neck is nice and warm.

How can I build a good relationship with him?

I'm new being a beardie mom. Did anyone experience this before? Thanks for your help!

 

[justinewin]

Thanks for the advice guys! I just brought him home with me yesterday and it somehow improved our relationship. I used to leave him at the office where his 'temporary home' is.