Free roaming is NOT going well

Frozen in fear, been in same position unmoving for about ten minutes now. Ugh.

 

[Sue E.]

Frozen in fear, been in same position unmoving for about ten minutes now. Ugh.

Back in tank, still frozen in fear. He does cling to me when I get him out, but I think thats more in desperation than trust. At keast I made a beardie safe spot for him to roam.

 

[ChileanTaco]

Back in tank, still frozen in fear. He does cling to me when I get him out, but I think thats more in desperation than trust. At keast I made a beardie safe spot for him to roam.

Mine started just like that - he was close to 1 year old when he first dared to go down to the floor and just at there.
Over time this evolved to:

stage 1:
- him walking around in the room I went with him
- he trying out what is climbable, trying to get up a bookcase but that's too slick, he tried it each time until once he briefly showed a grey beard (I imagine like a person saying the "f" word) and giving that up

stage 2:
- went into other rooms on his own
- daring more to try out things (e.g. climbing inside a paper lamp shade that looks like a ca tunnel but vertically)
- figuring out what shadows are and there is neither human nor dragon behind the wall (we have very large windows and he casts shadows low on the wall and door - first he scratched when a shadow appeared, maybe thinking it of a semi-transparent wall and somebody behind)

stage 3:
- confident when walking around
- knows places, has his routines
- looking for me when I "disappear" (i.e.: he is in the dining room which connects to the kitchen, I go around the corner to briefly get tea - he comes looking)

 

[Sue E.]

Mine started just like that - he was close to 1 year old when he first dared to go down to the floor and just at there.
Over time this evolved to:

stage 1:
- him walking around in the room I went with him
- he trying out what is climbable, trying to get up a bookcase but that's too slick, he tried it each time until once he briefly showed a grey beard (I imagine like a person saying the "f" word) and giving that up

stage 2:
- went into other rooms on his own
- daring more to try out things (e.g. climbing inside a paper lamp shade that looks like a ca tunnel but vertically)
- figuring out what shadow are and there is neither human nor dragon behind the wall (we have very large windows and he casts shadows low on the wall and door - first he scratched when a shadow appeared, maybe thinking it of a semi-transparent wall and somebody behind)

stage 3:
- confident when walking around
- knows places, has his routines
- looking for me when I "disappear" (i.e.: he is in the dining room which connects to the kitchen, I go around the corner to briefly get tea - he comes looking)

Thanks for this! Kai is just like Taco..shy. You give me hope that he will get better. Here he is now, like this morning's terror never happened.

 

[xp29]

Thanks for this! Kai is just like Taco..shy. You give me hope that he will get better. Here he is now, like this morning's terror never happened.

He'll get bolder, it just takes some time. Even my bravest beardies acted like that at first. Once he adjust, you'll be chasing him all over lol

 

[Sue E.]

He'll get bolder, it just takes some time. Even my bravest beardies acted like that at first. Once he adjust, you'll be chasing him all over lol

I was going to give him a "you havent pooped in a week" bath but I decided that that was enough for one day lol (although he does like baths)

 

[xp29]

I was going to give him a "you havent pooped in a week" bath but I decided that that was enough for one day lol (although he does like baths)

Be careful with thecfree roaming in that front, running works it our of them also

 

[Sue E.]

Be careful with thecfree roaming in that front, running works it our of them also

I wish haha.

 

[ChileanTaco]

Mine sometimes (but rarely) poops outside of the enclosure. There is luckily nothing that's hard to clean - floor is tile, and we don't have upholstery or similar hard(er)-to-clean fabric things.
With birds, it was worse: Pooping literally each 5 minutes, and of course flying around... so poop on top of books and such.

 

[Sue E.]

Mine sometimes (but rarely) poops outside of the enclosure. There is luckily nothing that's hard to clean - floor is tile, and we don't have upholstery or similar hard(er)-to-clean fabric things.
With birds, it was worse: Pooping literally each 5 minutes, and of course flying around... so poop on top of books and such.

We went to Bird Kingdom in Ontario once (great place) where you can walk around among the birds, with different levels. It has plants and trees inside and the birds fly around free, pooping on peoples heads too! Its a very clean and natural looking place, but you better wear a hat haha.

 

[ChileanTaco]

@Sue E.
I was in similar ones, and don't have a problem with it - clothes are washable, skin is also, I don't wear expensive clothes or handbags, and there are likely bathrooms also. I'm quite a "dirty? no problem, can be cleaned up later" person, same with outdoors, gardening etc. and would never miss out the fun just because of "dirty".
At home, despite I really liked my birds, I see it a bit different as opposite to clothes and skin and hair, not everything at home can be cleaned easily. I tend to have a lot of books, I like such as drawing and painting and crafts, and birds nibbling and pooping just can destroy such things and not everything can be put away. Also I tend to have my stuff neat and I'm ashamed if giving back something I borrowed in a worse condition than I got it, or (back then I was still at school) handing in homework with a nibbled edge or a stain.
For that, with a (my) dragon it is so much easier I think.

 

[AHBD]

Frozen in fear, been in same position unmoving for about ten minutes now. Ugh.

I wonder if you tossed a coveted superworm a few feet from him if he would unfreeze very quickly ? Baby beardie steps must be rewarded !

Kai the dragon, let out to free roam
Said " what is this ??" ,this is not like home
The floor is too slippery for me to explore
Get me outta here and don't try this no more !!

Well toss me a worm and maybe I'll move
And then you'll see I've got nothing to prove
Greens won't tempt me so don't even try
Because you know they call me "sly Kai ".

 

[Sue E.]

I wonder if you tossed a coveted superworm a few feet from him if he would unfreeze very quickly ? Baby beardie steps must be rewarded !

Kai the dragon, let out to free roam
Said " what is this ??" ,this is not like home
The floor is too slippery for me to explore
Get me outta here and don't try this no more !!

Well toss me a worm and maybe I'll move
And then you'll see I've got nothing to prove
Greens won't tempt me so don't even try
Because you know they call me "sly Kai ".

Love this!!! (Yes, thats a good idea too)

 

[AHBD]

Yeah try 1 worm but then quit if he goes for it. He might just amble off looking for more. Oh and always be sure there's nothing on the floor that he might swallow like a coin, rubber band, paper clip , etc.

 

[Sue E.]

Yeah try 1 worm but then quit if he goes for it. He might just amble off looking for more. Oh and always be sure there's nothing on the floor that he might swallow like a coin, rubber band, paper clip , etc.

Oh you know me, lol, I even stuffed towels under the fridge and stove even though I doubt he could fit under them, just in case. And put a rubbermaid lid with heavy backpacks behind to block off the safe kitchen from the other rooms. You could eat off that floor today lol.