i need tips/advice for handling my first dragon! PLEASE.

[moongypsy]

I posted this in an introduction (with a photo as well) but I am pasting here the text - maybe someone can give me some advice.


'm setting up her tank right now, cleaned out her rug, etc.

I am a little bit scared to grab her but I know she won't do any harm. I plan on handling her a lot, I just dont want to scare her and force my touch on her since she doesnt know me. She seems fairly nice though because my boyfriend touched her and she stood still. (his mom said she needs to be tamed a lot though..)

If she puffs, do I leave her alone or just continue to grab her?

Any tips of handling a brand new dragon is much appreciated. I will post another picture once I have everything set up for her.

PS - As for the crickets - I know it has to be the size of the space between her eyes - so I went to petco and they only had LARGE and SMALL. Is there Medium or should I just get small (although they seemed really tiny) (and there were a few crickets in the tank as I cleaned and she ate one - it didnt seem too big but it def looked smaller than what I saw at Petco)

THANKS!


- I will also be renaming her. Her name she originally had was Sara, but I plan on changing it.


- edit: Also, I just saw she has one eye open and one eye closed and she has her head to the ground as if she's sleeping and I think it's black. (from what I saw from the side) so I just leave her alone until she moves on her own? Can I put on gloves just this one time to move her to the heat? (as i said, I'm setting up her tank)

edit: I think she's turning a bit gray/black. she still has one eye open and the other closed.


thanks!

 

[jjh1]

I never wear gloves to pick my beardies up and yes I would move her to the heat side she is probably cold.
As for picking her up pick her up and just hold her in the viv thats what I did for the first couple of times then I put my male on my arm and then he climbed up my arm now he never wants to be in his viv .
As for feeding crix if the small are way to small then meds are fine just watch to see how many she eats give her 5 if she eats them give her a few more then you will see how many she will eat in 15 mins thats what you give her.
How old is she?
The puffing up is that she is scared some times they beard for all sorts of reasons but they wont bit and if they do its not that hard of a bit to behonest.
Dont be afraid they are more afraid of you. Talk to her pet her and just make her feel safe.
My male now he sleeps on a baby blanket that I made as a hammock and I call him he knows when I pick him up usually he hold on but then falls asleep on me or wants to explore.
My female sometimes will get the puff on I have had her since Dec , I will say whats that puff all about and she stops lol, I pick her up she climbs to the top of my head and sit in my hair looks around the room lol.
Just enjoy your beardies and ask questions this group is great!
Oh and my name is Joanne
you can pm me if you like as well
Cheers
Joanne

 

[Pilot996]

Usually PETCO sells only small or large.I think there is a medium but I never see it.I just look at all the crickets see that there are big ones and not too many dead.

 

[moongypsy]

I never wear gloves to pick my beardies up and yes I would move her to the heat side she is probably cold.
As for picking her up pick her up and just hold her in the viv thats what I did for the first couple of times then I put my male on my arm and then he climbed up my arm now he never wants to be in his viv .
As for feeding crix if the small are way to small then meds are fine just watch to see how many she eats give her 5 if she eats them give her a few more then you will see how many she will eat in 15 mins thats what you give her.
How old is she?
The puffing up is that she is scared some times they beard for all sorts of reasons but they wont bit and if they do its not that hard of a bit to behonest.
Dont be afraid they are more afraid of you. Talk to her pet her and just make her feel safe.
My male now he sleeps on a baby blanket that I made as a hammock and I call him he knows when I pick him up usually he hold on but then falls asleep on me or wants to explore.
My female sometimes will get the puff on I have had her since Dec , I will say whats that puff all about and she stops lol, I pick her up she climbs to the top of my head and sit in my hair looks around the room lol.
Just enjoy your beardies and ask questions this group is great!
Oh and my name is Joanne
you can pm me if you like as well
Cheers
Joanne

thank you so much, i will be reffering back to this for a while untilI I tame her. She's been seeing me every day, today is the 2nd day I have her. She still isnt eating. I gave her cilantro and tried giving her crickets, she doesnt want any. Maybe its because shes adjusting ? (she usually does eat crickets) :love5:

 

[Kaiser]

I never wear gloves to pick my beardies up and yes I would move her to the heat side she is probably cold.
As for picking her up pick her up and just hold her in the viv thats what I did for the first couple of times then I put my male on my arm and then he climbed up my arm now he never wants to be in his viv .
As for feeding crix if the small are way to small then meds are fine just watch to see how many she eats give her 5 if she eats them give her a few more then you will see how many she will eat in 15 mins thats what you give her.
How old is she?
The puffing up is that she is scared some times they beard for all sorts of reasons but they wont bit and if they do its not that hard of a bit to behonest.
Dont be afraid they are more afraid of you. Talk to her pet her and just make her feel safe.
My male now he sleeps on a baby blanket that I made as a hammock and I call him he knows when I pick him up usually he hold on but then falls asleep on me or wants to explore.
My female sometimes will get the puff on I have had her since Dec , I will say whats that puff all about and she stops lol, I pick her up she climbs to the top of my head and sit in my hair looks around the room lol.
Just enjoy your beardies and ask questions this group is great!
Oh and my name is Joanne
you can pm me if you like as well
Cheers
Joanne

thank you so much, i will be reffering back to this for a while untilI I tame her. She's been seeing me every day, today is the 2nd day I have her. She still isnt eating. I gave her cilantro and tried giving her crickets, she doesnt want any. Maybe its because shes adjusting ? (she usually does eat crickets) :love5:

Just give her some time. Relocation stress is common for bearded dragons, oftentimes resulting in a reduced or complete lack of appetite. She'll eventually warm up to eating (relocation stress may last up to a week or so), and hopefully she'll warm up to you as well. Best wishes. :]

 

[jjh1]

I never wear gloves to pick my beardies up and yes I would move her to the heat side she is probably cold.
As for picking her up pick her up and just hold her in the viv thats what I did for the first couple of times then I put my male on my arm and then he climbed up my arm now he never wants to be in his viv .
As for feeding crix if the small are way to small then meds are fine just watch to see how many she eats give her 5 if she eats them give her a few more then you will see how many she will eat in 15 mins thats what you give her.
How old is she?
The puffing up is that she is scared some times they beard for all sorts of reasons but they wont bit and if they do its not that hard of a bit to behonest.
Dont be afraid they are more afraid of you. Talk to her pet her and just make her feel safe.
My male now he sleeps on a baby blanket that I made as a hammock and I call him he knows when I pick him up usually he hold on but then falls asleep on me or wants to explore.
My female sometimes will get the puff on I have had her since Dec , I will say whats that puff all about and she stops lol, I pick her up she climbs to the top of my head and sit in my hair looks around the room lol.
Just enjoy your beardies and ask questions this group is great!
Oh and my name is Joanne
you can pm me if you like as well
Cheers
Joanne

thank you so much, i will be reffering back to this for a while untilI I tame her. She's been seeing me every day, today is the 2nd day I have her. She still isnt eating. I gave her cilantro and tried giving her crickets, she doesnt want any. Maybe its because shes adjusting ? (she usually does eat crickets) :love5:

Just give her some time. Relocation stress is common for bearded dragons, oftentimes resulting in a reduced or complete lack of appetite. She'll eventually warm up to eating (relocation stress may last up to a week or so), and hopefully she'll warm up to you as well. Best wishes. :]

Striker my male took about a week to warm up to eatting anything and Athena started to eat in about the same time so dont worry
Just have fun with her
Joanne