Hates being handled?

[harlock]

Hey Guys

Stumpy has been with me for over six months now and everything has been all right uptill last few weeks. Noticed a major shift in his behaviour - he literally hates being handled now. Sometimes he just runs away and I give up on picking him up not to stress him up. Other times if I pick him up he inflates his lil airbags and pretty much doubles his size + seriously tries to run away. After few seconds he calms down and then spends and hour or so on my shoulder etc...

Why such a major behaviour change?

And another question what to do now? Should I give him some space or should I continue handling him to show who is the alpha lizard here? ;-)

 

[ErinMeetsMachine]

I would continue to handle him. He's just moody. Maybe, unlike Spot, he really likes his tank and doesn't want to leave.. but once he does he realizes how nice it is to be out.

 

[Ethelia]

Hey there,
Yup sounds like spring fever to me.
Around this time (end of brumation) lots of dragons become very hormonal and excitable.
Ruben, my lazy boy, has been spendind his days whacking the glass with his tail and scurrying around non stop. Someone wants a lady dragon! :shock:
Its something in the air I guess.

Definatly keep going with the handling. If he's being a nightmare to hold, get him out, let him run around, then when he's bored/tired he'll find a spot to take a nap, then just scoop him up and grab some dragon on slave time!
You can also try the beardie burrito if he's a wriggler.

Holly

 

[harlock]

Thanks for the info, i thought it might have been something along them lines but wasnt sure as he not even a year old.
Talking of lady dragons - would it be suitable to keep male and female in the same tank together? I know keeping two males is a no no for sure.

 

[Alix1378]

usually people only keep m/f combos if they want to breed. but long as the tank is big enough an you dont mind taking chances of some babys i think it would be fine

 

[ErinMeetsMachine]

being aware also of the costly effects of beardie babies

 

[harlock]

Actually, thanks for mentioning it - I didnt realise the babies were so expensive. Is it a huge cost to take care of them?

 

[ErinMeetsMachine]

I know that it's a fragile thing. You need an icubator, vermiculite.. not to mention that you'll have multiple babies who eat upwards of 100 crickets a day

 

[harlock]

well thanks for letting me know then, looksl ike poor lil Stumpy won't be gettign a female friend after all