FREAKS OUT NOW

[JeepMiller09]

My bearded Dragon Chance was an amazing little guy. One that i could hold cuddle and do anything with no matter what. Now he is over a foot long and i would say 6-7months of age i believe. Now all of a sudden Chance freaks out when i try and pick him up. He will run from me, trying and bite me and avoid me. When i do grab him he thrashes back and forth. Gapping his mouth and what sounds like hissing at me. Once I have him up out of his tank he stops. His temps are perfect and he has a Rept sun 10.0 tube that he can get 6inchs from. I am feeding him Roaches 20 twice a day and 2 salads a day. I do not dust them with any type of powder as i believe dubias do not need any extra powder (please correct me if I am wrong) What I have tried doing to corret this behavior is feed him by hand and also not allow him to hunt his food any more. I pick him up every time no matter what. Once he settle downs i present the roachs in a cup for him to eat out of while in my hand. I am trying to get into his head "if i let him pick me up I GET FOOD!!!" Then i put him on my shoulder and let him chill up there for about 20 mins. I might feed him some greens while he is chilling. This has been going on for about 3 weeks now and I do this routine every day and nothing has changed at all. What else can I do or do I just keep doing what I am doing?? Please Help


Thanks
Miller

 

[catUK]

It sounds like what your doing is a great idea. Are you picking him up and approaching him from the side so you don't spook him? He could be acting like this because he's going through (early) puberty. I read this on a site:

there are some perfectly docile dragons that suddenly become feisty around 8 months, during the stage commonly known as "Beardie Puberty".

Just keep on at what your doing, it will probably pay off in the end. You could also try the old trick in the book of putting a worn item of clothing in his viv so he gets used to your scent.

 

[JeepMiller09]

Wow didn't know bd go through puberty. I hope that is the case bc I miss being able to pick him up with out a fight! Thanks a ton!

 

[catUK]

Wow didn't know bd go through puberty. I hope that is the case bc I miss being able to pick him up with out a fight! Thanks a ton!

Yeah, think mine is starting too :? . Hope he chills out soon

 

[JeepMiller09]

Mine is so bad now that I have to put a oven glove on just to keep him from biting me when I first pick him up. Grrrrr just keep at it I say to myself. I just ordered hornworms as a treat when he calms down. I hope this helps.

 

[BeardieGrandma]

I think you do need to dust the Dubias...check the board, but I'm pretty sure the only live feeder you don't dust are the reptiworms...

 

[JeepMiller09]

I think you do need to dust the Dubias...check the board, but I'm pretty sure the only live feeder you don't dust are the reptiworms...

Yeah I had been dusting them in the morning but not at night. I will be sure to do it both times! I also dust his salad in the morning with cal!

 

[catUK]

I think you do need to dust the Dubias...check the board, but I'm pretty sure the only live feeder you don't dust are the reptiworms...

Yeah I had been dusting them in the morning but not at night. I will be sure to do it both times! I also dust his salad in the morning with cal!

Dusting them in the morning is fine, they only need livefoods dusted with calcium one feeding per day

 

[BeardieGrandma]

Yes, what CatUK said - that's what I was trying to get at

 

[JeepMiller09]

Great news! Chance let me pick him... O wait now her up with out freaking out!!! lol took about 4 weeks. I Hope she is done with the freaking out! Every time i pick her up i will hold her for about 20 mins and then place her back in and give her a huge hornworm!!! I think this helped alot!

 

[catUK]

Great news! Chance let me pick him... O wait now her up with out freaking out!!! lol took about 4 weeks. I Hope she is done with the freaking out! Every time i pick her up i will hold her for about 20 mins and then place her back in and give her a huge hornworm!!! I think this helped alot!

Ah thats great news. Also, terri used to be a boy too lol