handling issues

[jcot13]

i have a 10 month old beardie who doesnt quite enjoy being held, which reallly stinks because i reallly enjoy holding him. when i try to get him, he runs away. right niw, his tail is in shed, could this possibly be why he doesnt want to be held? what do you reccomend i do? thanks!

 

[myzeak]

you can try hand feeding, placeing your hand in the tank and leave it there a couple of minutes a few times so he gets used to you, put a worn t-shirt in with him, and wait for him to sleep then pick him up till he gets used to you.

Have you handeled him before shed? the shed can make him grouchy. just dont chace him or you can scare him even more

 

[jcot13]

i have tried handling him before, he's still very skiddish. i willl try the t-shirt idea. as far as handling him after falling asleep, i've tried that many times... until he started making a hissing sound (which i was hoping was a love hiss ) i willl keep trying though, i reallly just want to be able to hold him and just let him cling on me without having to worry about him jumping off!

 

[myzeak]

i have tried handling him before, he's still very skiddish. i willl try the t-shirt idea. as far as handling him after falling asleep, i've tried that many times... until he started making a hissing sound (which i was hoping was a love hiss ) i willl keep trying though, i reallly just want to be able to hold him and just let him cling on me without having to worry about him jumping off!

how are you aprotching him? if you come in from the top he could think you are a bird trying to eat him, if you move slow and come from the front it is better for him

 

[jcot13]

i approach him from the front. i have a front sliding glasss door, so i dont think thats the problem. i slowly move hand over toward him and "pinch" (not really pinch, just not sure how to describe it) his sides and lift him into the air. while in the air, i get the "tail twirl" and flailing of legs. i set him down on my hand and keep a firm yet soft grasp so he doesnt run away while i gently stroke him. once out he is GENERALLY good, he does get a little antsy after awhile. the hard part isnt so much getting him out, i do have problems but i can overcome them, the hard part is keeping him out. im thinking its a trust issue, where i dont trust him from running away and he doesnt trust me from... who knows. but i guess i could use help in both aspects.

 

[myzeak]

as long as you keep up with handaling then he will eventualy calm down. I have read were people just set there hand flat on the bottom of the tank then slowly move it tward there dragon till it has to put its front legs in there hands then rear. young one will try and run alot untill they get used to you or calm down. Mine is a 50% chance of him staying still, or running away (still working on him and he is prolly 5 or 6 months old)

 

[jcot13]

yeah, i'lll see what happens. i've been working on him in the tank, so he's used to me messing around in there. baths happen in the tank , handling, as much as possible. thanks for your help! i'lll see how it works!