Little spastic..

[JessLC]

Well, I've had Iris for about 2 weeks now. And she is quite the little spaz.

Every time i try and hold her, she is very squirmy and tries to jump out of my hand. She does the same thing if i even just put my hand in the tank to feed her or pet her.

I am wondering if this is still just relocation stress, or if she's gonna be like this forever. Pepper was never like this, she was always very calm.. so i'm not quite sure how to deal with it.

I am trying to take it slow and only pick her up about an hour before bed when she is tired and calm and pet her occasionally.. but i am very supportive of snuggle time hehe.

Any advice on how to get her to calm down?

 

[FranktheTank]

My Sunny was the same way. I'm not an expert, but I'll share with you some of the things I did and still do to help ease her skittishness. For her blankie right now I'm using an old t-shirt of mine that I cut up, so if she poops on it I simply cut a new piece off and replace it. When I first got her, every time I was in her cage for feeding, changing her water, cleaning poop, or what have you I would talk to her and show her my hand and gently pet her only for a second. As time went buy she would allow me to pet her longer and longer till it eventually progressed into her coming to my hand every time I'm in her cage. Sometimes we still play a little chasing game to pick her up, but for the most part she lets me grab her up pretty easily. It's taken about a month to get to where we are now. I believe it's all about working with them. I would be squirmy if a giant hand was coming to get me too! I also always come at her from the front and show her my hand while I talk to her, as I try not to startle her or stress her out. Hopefully some of this helps, or I'm just rambling and I'm sorry :mrgreen: Surely someone with more experience will chime in.

-Kaleen

 

[JessLC]

I will try that, thanks.

She also likes to "sleep in" and i have to physically place her under her basking light in the morning.. Kinda worried about that because 4/7 mornings i am not home and my dad turns her lights on. But, i know he won't check if she actually gets up under the light.

 

[elliotuk]

mine was very jittery like that when i first got it too, it was only 2 weeks old, and everytime i tried to pick it up it would jump out my hand on to the floor.

Its just cause its not used to being handled yet and is scared of you, but regular handling every day will soon see your beardie being happy to be handled by you and it will calm down after a few weeks like mine did

 

[JessLC]

She's slowly becoming more calm. I talked to her before i put my hand in the tank and she actually let me pet her for a bit without leaping across her tank.

Progress!

 

[FranktheTank]

Yay that's great! I'm so glad you're making progress! I talk to my beardies all the time, I might sound crazy but it definitely helps them settle in. They wait for me in the morning now, they're always right there at the front of their enclosure ready for their morning pets!

-Kaleen

 

[JessLC]

It so does.. I picked her up today after she ate and she started squirming asap until i started talking to her. She calmed right down.. she knows my voice. :mrgreen: :mrgreen: :mrgreen:

 

[FranktheTank]

Aw I'm so happy for you! Have you tried putting an old t-shirt of yours in the enclosure yet? If you do, then she'll get used to your scent too!

-Kaleen

 

[JessLC]

I've been reading to do that, but i haven't gotten around to it yet. I'll try and dig one up tonight.