Juvenile beardie, need advice.

[Ccm7]

Hello,
I have my juvenile for almost two weeks. I've been doing research for taming and I don't know what to do. I hand feed it (too small to tell if it's a boy or a girl) pet it, but when I try to pick it up it hisses at me or runs. I go really slow from the side so he/she can see me. The temp is good, greens everyday and also crickets. I've ask a bunch if people in what to do.
Some say just pick it up it will be fine, other say let it come to you. I just don't want not to pick it up thinking it will never be picked up. If it's hissing I don't want to get bitten nor I want to stress he/she out.
Please help.
Thanks

 

[Ccm7]

P.s I've had one before and it's never hissed or anything.

 

[Ccm7]

I have a juvenile beardie. I've had him(it's too young to know the gender so I'll say he) for almost 2 weeks.

He's really cool. I sometimes hand feed him, when I can't it's because I have work. I've been reading to let them get used to their new homes for about a week before trying to pick it up. Well now it has been almost 2 week I've tried picking him up but when I do he hisses. I pet him on the head and he closes his eyes.

I've read a couple things, For example, some people say to just pick it up to get used to you. Others say let it come to you. The temp are good, he's eating crickets, and his salad. I've been very careful with not startling him. I DO NOT come from above. I talk to him. I just want to hold him when ever I want lol. Please comment back, I need advice. Thank you

 

[Brooke74]

The dragon is just scared and not used to being handled. Usually with consistant handling they tame out and calm down, the sooner you start the better! While it may stress the beardie out now, in the long run it will be beneficial to both of you

 

[Ccm7]

Well thank you, now when I do try to pick it up, it hisses at me. What do I do?

 

[Brooke74]

You'll have to pick it up anyways..if you're scared of getting bit, you can use a glove. Try to go from underneath him rather than just snatching him up

 

[Ccm7]

I tried doing that but he\she runs and freaks out. I tried putting a cut out of an old shirt over him but until tried taking him out without hurting him, he goes crazy and runs

 

[Ccm7]

Oh and hisses at me

 

[Brooke74]

It won't get better unless you handle him. You'll have to be firm, but not overly so. You can let him walk your hands and lap, but pull him back afterwards. He's scared and not used to contact, and is using "self defense" against you.

 

[Ccm7]

What do u mean overly?

 

[Brooke74]

I mean, you shouldn't squeeze it.

 

[mikeynyhc]

the glove thing worked for me, because I did not want to get bitten, She is getting better, still opens her mouth at my hand if she gets cornered, but it is getting better, she doesn't hiss anymore.. the more you get her out of the tank, the easier it will be to reach in and get her, I also figured out that the longer i put my hand in and chase her around the tank, the more aggressive she gets, you have to go in and retrieve her fairly quick the first few days, and let her hang out with you in a safe area outside of the tank everyday. It will get better, trust me, I thought mine was evil the first few weeks until I really said screw it and grabbed her one day (gently) and let her roam free in a safe environment. It does take time, but you will see progress within a week if you are do it everyday.

 

[Ccm7]

Thank you, did she try and bite when you first out a glove on? And what kind of glove did you use?

 

[mikeynyhc]

I used a winter glove lol she was opening her mouth at my hand wide and following it VERY closely when cornered. I used the glove for about two days just to get her out, once out of the tank, i took the glove off. I reach in now and just scoop her quick, she has not actually bit me, but if I put my hand toward her when she was watching it with an open mouth I know she would bite. she still SOMETIMES opens her mouth when I reach in like I said, and the best way I found is to scoop her up from under when she is running up the glass! it works well. she had her mouth open a few times when in my hand but she calmed down once out of the tank. the more you take her out, the less she will get annoyed. Think of it this way, the tank is their home, room, dwelling whatever you call it, a hand reaching in must be frightening and their instincts kick in if they are not used to it. Find the best way to retrieve her that works for you and her. i grab her when she is running up the glass, I don't give her a chance to go into defense tactics anymore, that was my downfall, and she knew it would keep my hand out of the tank. some people say it takes weeks, for me it went quick as long as its everyday, stick a shirt you've been wearing in there at night.

 

[Ccm7]

I'm going to try that out thank you. So when she has he mouth open you didn't just pick her up? Or did you wait until she ran up the glass?