New Owner of 9 week Citrus...training/comfort expectations?

[BeardedJordan]

Hello everyone, I've been perusing (almost abusing) this site for the past month or so to learn about dragons, and it has been exactly one week since I received my little (then) 8 week old boy from Carolina Classic Dragons. He's a beauty, wonderfully cuddly, and has settled into his new home nicely. He's eating well--though I wish he'd eat more veggies and pellets--and has already identified me with the best sleep spot, lol. I love how he'll explore my couch or floor and when he gets tired he just looks straight up at me, and almost charges towards me to find a comfy spot to nap, usually on my neck. Never knew reptiles could behave like this!

But I of course have a question: though my little DaVinci will almost always run up on my hand when I lowered it to him outside of his enclosure, when he is in his enclosure he is a little hesitant to hop on, even though he immediatley brightens up every time I take him out. Sometimes he'll just stand there and let me pick him up, at other times he'll back off a little, nervous. After reading the huge range of behaviors, comfort levels and tamability of these little guys, I think my boy is doing just fine. BUT he is my main man, the pet I've been holding out for for a decade, and I want him to walk on my hand any time I offer it to him. To those of you with similar beardies, can I expect my boy DaVinci to loose some nerves as he ages and come to me more often? Or are my expectations too high?

Thanks!

 

[MsCarter]

Each dragon has his/her own unique personality. They are very smart little guys/girls that use their own minds more than any other companion I have ever had. If he wants to come to you he will, other times he may very well want out but be in that "I don't feel like coming to you, so you can do all of the work and pick me up" mood ? And than there will be times when he just doesn't want to come out and play.

It sounds like you have a very energetic/playful little guy. With him being so new and young he still has plenty of time to become more use to you and learn new things. When he's hesitate just move slow and maybe pet his head a little until he's relaxed before taking him out. And now is a great time to begin hand feeding in order to bond even more. Don't worry too much about salads right now it's very common for babies to refuse them. As long as he's getting plenty of protein he will be just fine. Just keep offering them every day so that he can become more familiar with them and he will eventually come around.

Congrats on your new little guy!

 

[SpacialCoogs]

I would check out a recent post by kingofnobbys. https://www.beardeddragon.org/forums/viewtopic.php?p=1758248

He describes his little guy Toothless and how after 8 months his behaviour changed and he became a snuggle monkey. So keep up the good work with him and be patient and you'll be fine.

 

[BeardedJordan]

Thanks for the feedback. He does seem like his skittishness is due to age--today it looked like he wanted to just jump on my hand, but hesitated. Once I start to put my hand under him he'll step up and walk on, so I'm guessing once he ages a bit and chills out a bit more he'll be much more comfortable climbing on.

Thanks again!