My beardie doesnt like when i try to pick him up...

[Ejames1226]

I got my first beardie a month or so ago, i named him Ammo. Im going to try and post up a pic in here.

Anyways, Hes probably about 4 months old, and whenever i try to pick him up, its always a battle. He never hisses or does anything defensive, he just runs away from my hand, often running into the glass. I read that they dont like being aproached from above, so i sort of get down on my knees to his level, and stick my hand in front of him and slowly move it twords him, but he freaks out and runs around. Once i get a hold of him, i hold him in my hand, and ill see him breathing really fast, and it will slow down to normal pace in a minute, and he will just chill out in my hand, and sometimes i see his eye lids slowly close, untill he hears a noise aand his eye lids will open half way then he gos back to sleep. I usually try to pick him up atleast 2-3 times a day, for about 5-10 minutes each time, but when i let him rest on my shoulder he usually gets antsy and tries to run away.

My question is, is this activity normal for younger beardies? Anything i should or shouldnt do?

This little guy is great, he has his own personality, and is just so fun to watch!

 

[ArdorAndZeal1]

first of all, great attitude!!

you have the right idea, and keep reaching out to your beardie and being patient

i had some problem times too with my beardie...

try holding your beardie for quality time when he/she is sleepy and the lights are off.

Also, beardies like to feel safe... and tend to move towards "caves". So, make your hands into a cave and be calm, and your BD will settle down eventually (but watch for quick moves for FREEDOM!)

Also, lay your beardie on your shirt and and cover her/his head with a blanket, lightly. This will help the BD feel safe.

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Make sure you dont have any smells/odors on you or near you that may threaten your BD. Like a cat odor... hand soap/lotion -- potporri (spelt that wrong)... but you get the idea.

 

[Ejames1226]

Thanks for the fast response, and the tips!

 

[ArdorAndZeal1]

of course!

Please keep me posted!

it may help to hold your BD on the ground so the stakes arent so high, literally. this way you are calmer and know that your BD wont hurt itself jumping off your couch or something

 

[Ejames1226]

of course!

Please keep me posted!

it may help to hold your BD on the ground so the stakes arent so high, literally. this way you are calmer and know that your BD wont hurt itself jumping off your couch or something

Well i had him on my lap one time at the computer desk, and he jumped from my lap to the ground and started running. THat was the first and only time he has jumped off me. Since then i keep in mind that he could jump at any moment, so i usually sit at my desk and have him in my hand just above the desk. Good advice though.

Also i saw your sig says "Dont use night lights" I have a "night time" light, that is blue, and gives off very little light, but it keeps the cage around 85 at night while he is sleeping. What is wrong with night lights? Makes the cage look neat at night too

 

[ArdorAndZeal1]

ha, i bet it does! blue light sounds cool!

but, dragons are very sensitive to lightwaves, so even while they are sleeping, their body, particular there (third eye, i belive [pineal eye]) is telling their brain "BLUE LIGHT IS ON, BLUE LIGHT IS STILL ON.... STILL ON.... BLUE WAVELENGTHS....." etc.

so, its akin to having someone say your name while you are sleeping.
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it may not have any noticeable effect on your dragon, but it raises their stress levels and can contribute to a less healthy, happy dragon over time.

complete darkness is the way to go.

 

[Ejames1226]

Intresting. Thank you very much!

 

[ArdorAndZeal1]

no worries

 

[Epic]

how cold does his tank get at night? if it's not below 65-60, no heat is needed.

 

[ArdorAndZeal1]

technically true, but 75 is a safer bet. Just to help prevent issues.

and, its getting colder.

Undertank heaters work well, and your dragons seek them if they want more heat etc.

Ceramic heat emitter would be the best, i think you can even put that on a thermostat.

 

[Ejames1226]

***Update***

So Ammo has been shedding, and growing, and he doesnt like me holding him at all right now. He has shed off all his skin except for his head i belive. Whenever i go to pick him up he really puts up a fight to get away from me. I recently installed a reptisun 10.0 bulb, wich seems to do good for the cage. Well i havent been able to pick him up for about 2 weeks. When i get him in my hand he find his way out. Last night i got him to sit in my hand, and when i put my hand down for him to get off, he didnt want to get off. Just tried to pick him up now, and he put up a fight, and ended up biting me for the first time. Felt like a cat bite, no blood or anything, but why is he acting up?

 

[silverblade760]

hey,

i have the same problem, i dont mean to interrupt your post but the problems very similar with my dragon. He's about 4 months old and is very scared. My temps are fine, around 104 for the heat side and i use a reptisun 10.0. he's in a 40 long for now. I normally hand feed him veggies and waxworms when i have them. anyway back to the problem... he opens his mouth towards me as if to bite, when he does this i stick a carrot in his mouth or shut it with my finger to show him i don't care that he opens his mouth. he also runs around scared and today when i tried to grab him from his front side he opened his mouth, started to hiss and was kind of backing up. I tried to do the "beardy burrito" but its kind of hard when u cant even pick him up. Even if hes been asleep, one touch and he's immediatly awake and ready to bite. he normally eats about 50 crickets a day and then i feed him collard greens, carrots, and squash. any ideas????


Bilal

 

[Ejames1226]

Anybody else? Now he is blackbearding me, and hissing.

 

[Ethelia]

Hi there.

My first dragon was a rescue, who had never been handled, so we had to tame her from scratch like you are having to do!
Although Dex never puffed she would go to bite me and PANIC if i tried to hold her.

I used the following tricks that helped her settle down:

- put your hand in her tank, flat, but dont touch her. she'll see your not there to grab her. do this every now and then for a day or so.
- once youve done for a while start only hand feeding her (wriggley mealworms work best) if she goes to bite you. be brave and try not to flinch. just raise your hand up and remove the food. she'll soon learn biting isnt a good idea.
- then go for handling her again but do it an hour or so after lights out when she'll be sleepy and bored of fighting. at this time you can try thr 'beardie burrito'. this involves wrapping your beardie in a blanket/towel like a newborn baby and laying them on your chest. if she doesnt like the beardie burito try wearing a dressing gown, alot of beardies enjoy softness. Dexter loves mine.
- when handling in this taming period make sure your not wearing any strong aftershave and that you dont smell like food.
It can also help to find an old item of clothing of yours (or cut a chunk out of it) and leave it in the tank. She will become used to your smell.

and repeat!

Although you might end up getting a few scratches it is VERY important not to just put her down if she struggles. She will learn that fighting gets her her own way and will make the process longer and harder.


Good luck and keep the faith.
I promise it gets better.

 

[Ejames1226]

Thank you very much! Ill be sure to update this thread in a while when he gets older!