New bearded dragon handling

[Connordac18]

Hello!

I got my bearded dragon about two and a half weeks ago, he’s very afraid of me whenever I go to handle him so I havent handled him practically at all, just starting slow showing him my hand and rubbing his back whenever I can. But I also haven’t taken him out to give him baths because I’m worried he’ll grow up to not trust me, but as it’s been two weeks he really needs one soon. I’ve been misting him a lot and he’s very hydrated so I wasn’t really worried about it too begin with but two weeks is long.

This is my first time with a bearded dragon so I’ve been learning as I go, I was just wondering, what did you guys do when you first got them? Did you handle them even when they were scared? I’m just very afraid he won’t trust me if I try to handle him a lot. Thanks so much!

 

[ComicBookMama]

Sometimes it takes them awhile to settle down and start to trust you... how old is your little one? When I got Figment, I took it easy on the handling, but as you are doing, I also petted him in his hab where he felt safest. I also hand-fed him quite a bit. The way to a dragon's heart is through his tummy! Just take it slow and easy, and your baby will come around.

 

[Connordac18]

We believe he’s three or four months, the pet store wasn’t really able to tell us. Ive been home all day due to snow so I’ve been petting him and kind of doing the beginning steps to picking him up ( just putting a finger or two under his belly so he can hold onto them) and he hasn’t run away which is a good sign. I just don’t want to go to long without doing important things like bathing and deep cleaning, but don’t want to push him either to be afraid of me

 

[ComicBookMama]

We believe he’s three or four months, the pet store wasn’t really able to tell us. Ive been home all day due to snow so I’ve been petting him and kind of doing the beginning steps to picking him up ( just putting a finger or two under his belly so he can hold onto them) and he hasn’t run away which is a good sign. I just don’t want to go to long without doing important things like bathing and deep cleaning, but don’t want to push him either to be afraid of me

Just out of curiosity, why do you feel he needs to be bathed? If he’s drinking from your misting and his urates are soft and white, you aren’t hurting him by holding off on bathing. If you’re worried he’s dehydrated, that’s another thing.

As for moving him for deep cleaning... try putting the box or container you’ll be keeping him in inside his hab, and just quickly pop him in.

 

[Connordac18]

I just heard it was important.. but I guess your right if he’s not dehydrated then it’s not a big deal haha, he still has a small enclosure so I’m not sure if I can fit a decently sized container without it taking up a lot of room but maybe I could leave it next to his tank so he’s able to see it so it’s not completely new

 

[ComicBookMama]

I just heard it was important.. but I guess your right if he’s not dehydrated then it’s not a big deal haha, he still has a small enclosure so I’m not sure if I can fit a decently sized container without it taking up a lot of room but maybe I could leave it next to his tank so he’s able to see it so it’s not completely new

I was thinking it would just make it quicker to pop him in, honestly, though I suppose seeing it would have some benefit, too.

What is your setup like for the little guy?

 

[Connordac18]

[/quote]

I was thinking it would just make it quicker to pop him in, honestly, though I suppose seeing it would have some benefit, too.

What is your setup like for the little guy?[/quote]

He's in a 20 gallon, although I have a forty on stand by, I got the 40 like a week after getting him and was considering moving him but didn't want to stress him out even more after being so new to everything haha