My bearded dragon hates me :'[

[Annalee]

I've had my beardie, Charmander for about 5 months now. He's about 8 or 9 months old. He had always been so friendly and sweet. Was very docile and loved to sit on my chest while I watched tv. It was amazing.

Three months into me owning him, he got severely ill. He had a calcium deficiency. They aren't sure why as I had been feeding him a proper diet and dusting his food on a regular basis. They gave him a shot and me some calcium syrup to feed him for a week or two. He was better almost immediately.

Though he was physically better, he's seemed to hate me ever sense. Two months, almost three have gone by and the behavior persists. He never wants me to hold him, getting him out of his tank to give him a bath is difficult and once I get him in, he beards at me the entire time. In order for him to enjoy it, I have to leave the room. It's frustrating.

I've tried what I did initially with him, placing my hand in the tank for a few minutes a day to try to get him used to my presence but it hasn't helped at all.

Does anyone have any advise? I love this little guy and I'm at a total loss as to how to get him to even tolerate me again!

 

[brittani299]

Could you tell us your tank setup please

 

[Brandonforty2]

If he's nine months, it could be that he is going through a teenager phase. They get all rebellious and stuff.

 

[Annalee]

He must have read my post or something! Ha ha. He's been a lot more tolerant as of late. In fact, he's asleep on my stomach as I type this now. I'm thinking the distrust stemmed from the medicine I had to feed him and he's starting to know that I'm not his enemy now. :]

 

[bunnyrut]

yeah, Mr Dargon would run to the other side of his viv (or hide in his box) and glare at me when i would force something he doesn't like into his mouth.

he hates liquid calcium, but loves acidophiliz+, so if i don't get the combinations of everything the way he likes it i can forget about cuddling with him for the rest of the day.

 

[Annalee]

yeah, Mr Dargon would run to the other side of his viv (or hide in his box) and glare at me when i would force something he doesn't like into his mouth.

he hates liquid calcium, but loves acidophiliz+, so if i don't get the combinations of everything the way he likes it i can forget about cuddling with him for the rest of the day.

He definitely hated that liquid calcium. Thankfully, I no longer have to supplement him with the liquid and a regular dusting is all he needs.

 

[SuperBDmom]

Try to make his forget his mistrust issues by giving his live feedings outside hte tank for a while. He can start to associate you/coming out with a good thing, then he may honestly forget.

 

[Annalee]

Try to make his forget his mistrust issues by giving his live feedings outside hte tank for a while. He can start to associate you/coming out with a good thing, then he may honestly forget.

I always take him out while I feed him. He has to sit on my hand though or he will run off. He's very active unless he's in my hand or sitting on my tummy when I lay down halfway under my shirt lol. He likes to poke his head out or his tail out while I watch tv or am on my laptop. I think the pressure of the cloth is comforting to him or something. He's a cutie.