Handling

[ChiliDragon]

So I've been asking around, though I might as well just make a topic.

My little dragon, who has only been with me for about 2 weeks so I'm not horribly worried, does not like my hand at all. Everytime I put my hand in his cage he flinches away, and if I put my hand near him he will open his mouth (which I have read is an aggressive sign?). When I put my hand in his cage I place it far away as possible, and move it slowly towards him where he can see. If I'm lucky I can pick up his claw on my finger, but that's about it. At night when he falls asleep or when he wakes up is the only time I can pick him up. Temperatures and food and health are perfect so it's nothing there.

Any tips? I would get him used to being picked up, but I can't at all without chasing him around his cage, only being able to pick him up when he's exhausted.

 

[SukiLove]

Sometimes it takes time for them to adjust to handling. Nero is just now allowing me to pick him up without trying to run away first and he is 20 weeks old, so it took me 3 months to get him really receptive to handling. Soleil was always easy, she seems to like being handled so has never been an issue for me. I think they are all individuals, and some may take longer than others. Nero used to open his mouth at me too and run away, I just made sure that he was in a place where I could easily get him (even if I had to corner him) and would hold him until he was calm. I NEVER put him back in his cage if he was frantic, I wanted him to associate calm with returning to the cage so he would be less of a maniac eventually. I guess only time will tell. :lol:

I wouldn't give up, just keep trying and he will get used to it. You haven't had him very long so it's hard to expect so much of him so fast. Just keep holding him as much as you can and he will get there.

 

[ChiliDragon]

Thank you so much, I've done what you said, and though it took a little chasing, I got him into my hand. (while I'm typing this, actually, typing in one holding in the other) and he seems fine. No escape attempts and doesn't freak out when I pet him, seems to be just the picking up he doesn't like. I'll certainly do this more often, thank you so much!

 

[onceblue]

Have you tried hand feeding? I started with my beardie by holding a live dubia roach between my thumb and pointer so he could see it moving a little, then very slowly moving it toward him. It took a couple of tries, but he finally took it from my fingers. Once he was doing that with less hesitation, I graduated to putting a live soft-bodied worm (like a reptiworm) on my palm and leaving my palm open so he could see it wiggle as I moved slowly toward him. I chose a worm for this because the dubia are way too fast to keep in my hand for a long period of time. That took a little more time/courage and I had to be very patient and give him plenty of time to make the decision to go for it, but today he stepped on my hand for the first time to get the worm, albeit with some hesitancy. If you try this, I'd definitely recommend doing it right before meal time, when he's fairly hungry, because he'll be more inclined to go after the food.

 

[ChiliDragon]

Yeah I have thought of that, though I haven't been able to order any bugs other than crickets for now. Veggies out of his bowl didn't seem to interest him at all, and I've tried dead crickets though he won't want it even out of my hand. I've ordered worms, so hopefully those will come soon, then I shall try.

 

[onceblue]

Yeah, it's harder to do with crickets since they jump everywhere, and dead ones aren't as interesting because they don't move. When you do get your worms, though, just keep in mind that you may need to keep your hand near him for a little while before he goes for it, and it may take a few tries. Good luck!

 

[SukiLove]

If you don't mind pulling their jumping legs off you could do it with crickets, but I think the dubia are easiest. I will say that you need to be a little careful with that too, both of mine are voracious eaters and have accidentally gotten my finger too! :lol: They are both a little too eager when eating though, at this point they jump onto the bowl before I even set it down.

 

[ChiliDragon]

Update: He let me pick him up without trying to run, only a little flinching. Yet now he's a little grumpypants cause he's starting to shed his head. Worms finally got here, going to try to let him eat off my hand and see how that works, though of course I don't expect him to get it the first time Thank you both for all your help though!