How do you bond with your beardie

[Batfreddy]

I've had my beardie for 8 months now and we haven't really bonded yet. I don't get it! I got her from Petsmart if that helps root it from the sourse. When I first got her she would eat 3 pieces from my hand on a lucky day. Now she will eat and eat :lol: but if I hold her she tries to scoot away from my hand (she'll crawl up me arm to get away from my hand) and she tries to get away from my face too. Her tank is in a lonely room because the temperature in my room gets too cold in winter and too humid in summer. My dad doesn't like animals other than cats, so I can't keep her downstairs in the family room not to mention my cat tries to get to her all the time (why my beardie's room door is always closed) how can I bond with her other than taking her out at night when shes sleeping so she can sleep on my chest.

 

[CooperDragon]

It's good that her appetite is up. She may be closed off because she's in a remote room. Try to take her out and let her explore a safe area of the house. You may be able to bond with her using some soft worms as treats. Maybe take her outside for a while if the weather is nice and bring some worms as treats.

 

[Batfreddy]

i have freeze dried worms because she'll eat those and freeze dried crickets like live worms. I'm trying to play with her but she just sits there and does nothing :?

 

[CooperDragon]

Can you give me some details about her setup? Lighting, temperatures, tank size, that sort of thing. If you can upload some photos that may also be helpful.

 

[Batfreddy]

She got a40 gallon tank, heating pad, 100 watt basking bulb, 17 UVB tube bulb (the one that goes across the top in case I got the type wrong), 2 hides, pellet food mixed with freeze dried bugs (she doesn't like fresh greens so I re hydrate some dehydrated fruit and veggies and mash it into the pellet food). I use a digital thermometer and the warm side is 93 F, the basking 100.3 F and the cool side is 85 F

 

[Batfreddy]

The substrate is newspaper

 

[CooperDragon]

Your temperatures sound good. I'd get rid of the heating pad because they're designed to sense and regulate heat from above so you're better off with basking lights mounted higher up. Can you post some photos of her and her setup? you can upload them here https://www.beardeddragon.org/useruploads/ and post them using the XIMG button in your thread.