Mean Dragon

[Jessicakenitzer]

Help I have a very mean little dragon. She is 4 months old here is a bit of history. She was a gift for my 11 year old she was 3 weeks old when we got her from pet smart. The first month she was fine however we had been given some miss information about the care for this animal by the pet store. Her UV light was dead for 2 months, she ate only meal worms 5-6 a day and crickets 1-2 a day. She shed once during the first 3 months and didn’t grow at all. At about a month into having her she started nipping. I moved her from my sons room to the living room where she could see everyone to try and socialize her. My husband and I had been doing research and have fixed lights heat put sand started giving her roaches and crickets In a separate cage for feeds now she is eating 20 bugs a day plus a good amount of vegetables we feed her by hand every day. She has calcium powder and sand. We hold her several times a day every day. She finally shed all the way and is growing like a weed in the last month and a half. However her attitude is worse the bigger she gets she flat out attacks us leaping at us hissing beard out chasing our hands. We are fed up is this animal going to get better? What can I do! Help!!! My son wants nothing to do with her now and I’m worried the bigger she gets the more the bites hurt.

 

[CooperDragon]

If she is only 4 months old then I think she definitely has time to mellow out as she grows into adulthood. Part of her behavior might be a phase due to hormones which can make them irritable and grumpy, but I think a lot of it likely has to do with the misinformation you got (unfortunately quite common and not your fault) and the inadequate conditions for her to live in. I think that addressing her setup as you've been doing is the right way to go and will help quite a lot in the long run. Once everything is comfortable for her and provides for her needs then she will start to mellow out and settle in.

Can you please review your current setup? I'd like to get more information about what you have in place (types of lights, distances, surface temperatures, etc) so I can provide advice for improvement if needed. If you can post photos of her and her setup it would also be helpful. You can upload photos here https://www.beardeddragon.org/useruploads/ and post them to your thread using the XIMG button when you reply. I'll be happy to review what you have in place so far and recommend improvements to make sure everything is just right for her.

 

[Jessicakenitzer]

Ok I will take pictures and send them thank you so much.

 

[Aaradimian]

she flat out attacks us leaping at us hissing beard out chasing our hands. We are fed up is this animal going to get better? What can I do! Help!!! My son wants nothing to do with her now and I’m worried the bigger she gets the more the bites hurt.

Hi,

Sorry to hear you've got a feisty beardie, but don't give up on her! In addition to CooperDragon's always-sage advice, you might consider this: It may sound weird, but you could try putting your hand in the cage with a glove on and allowing her to bite. If she finds that a) biting you produces no reaction and b) that the hand presents no danger, she may learn not to do it. After that, you can put a treat in the glove so that she associates a hand in her viv as a good thing. Eventually, you should be able to dispense with the glove entirely.

I never had to do this with my dragon, but I did something similar with a white mouse I had when I was a kid. He would bite every time I picked him up, and I would jostle my hand as long as he did it. He eventually learned that bite="earthquake" and quit doing it. I realize 2 different species, but maybe a little Pavlovian behavior modification is in order.

 

[Jessicakenitzer]

 

[Jessicakenitzer]

The highest temp in her basking area is 94. Lower temp on one side is 82. She also has a heated bottom under her hammock. She seems to be always climbing up towards the light. Also the dog bed is right by the Lizard tank we were thinking about moving the tank in a down stairs office where we are at a lot but she will have more quite time as well. We have children a baby cats a dog maybe it’s all too much?

 

[Jmaj]

Hello, I was reading your post and read you have yourself a stubborn one. I didn’t really get to read about your setup you have. I have had a similar experience in the past. They tend to get timid when they are in a high traffic areas at a younger age. I would also look into getting a side open terrarium or possibly building one if that could be an option. I’ve also seen if you get your tank closer to chest level. That way nothing is looking down on her all the time. That will comfort her during her bond. As we reach down to pick them up they tend to get nervous. It takes them a bit to get used to it. Ive noticed with mine they love there quite time. But they also love there friend time. The more you hold them the more they trust you. I’ve also noticed ceiling fans freak them out when you are holding them. It must simulate a bird of prey.

 

[Jessicakenitzer]

I hate where she is at and plan on moving her this weekend to a higher up level. Good to know about the fan we don’t have one in the rooms where she is at. I do want to get her a different cage as well and that makes sense the opening on the side not the top. I will keep plugging along trying to tame this dragon lol. My friend has one and he is sweet and playful and so chill I hope ours will get to that point.

 

[Jessicakenitzer]

Can you see the pictures?