How can I get my beardie to like my older brother?

[SpyroSkylander]

Hello fellow beardie lovers, I recently moved my bearded dragon to my dad's house as my mother wasn't willing to look after him after I moved out and he's settled in fine, he seems to be doing a lot better here. There's just one thing, he hates my older brother. I have no idea why, my brother tries to interact with him but Spyro just won't have it. He's confusing me because he waves at him constantly but also puffs his beard up and flattens his body when my brother is anywhere near his viv. He is great with me, he never gets angry with me, he is very sweet and snuggles me all the time. I want to be able to make him more comfortable with my brother's presence as I don't like seeing him stressed. Any suggestions?

 

[morphmom]

Bump!

 

[Kaiser]

Hello. He must be uncomfortable with the move and change in environment, as well as the new people in the house. It may take him a while to settle down.

In particular with your brother, he's displaying what some people consider as signs of submission and attempted dominance (waving and puffing up, respectively), so he must feel threatened somehow by your older brother. You should let him settle down from all the new stimulus first, and slowly get him familiarized with your older brother. One way to indirectly do this is to place one of your brother's worn shirts or something that he wears in the terrarium with your bearded dragon. This allows your bearded dragon to get comfortable with the scent of your brother.

Otherwise, slowly go about allowing your older brother to have short sessions of coming into (slowly approaching) contact with your bearded dragon. When their relationship seems to have improved a bit, have your brother hold him daily.

Good luck!