new owner

[jwilusz]

Well I finally got a beardie. It's a little older then I wanted but still I have one

I do not have a name yet. I also do not know the sex right now. I just brought it home today. The person that had it before me had one rock and a standard coil bulb. I was very disappointed. The only heating in the cage was a heating pad. This has changed. I ordered a very good bulb from light your reptile and also got a heat bulb that should be good for basking. It is temporary because I have a different one in mind from LLLreptile but at least it will be better than something not providing any heat. I was astonished as I was able to HAND FEED a cricket to it. The best feeling in the world was putting it there and trusting that this lizard would not bite me. I may have also pushed it a little bit today but I very slowly with one finger pet the head between the eyes. It gaped at me and also puffed out. The whole time I reassured it that "I wont hurt ya". After that small incident I decided it best to let it be. Hopefully tomorrow I can try touching it's back. Obviously I don't plan on attempting a pick up for a little while I want it to trust me that I won't hurt it.

 

[AHBD]

Hi there, congrats on your new scaly friend ! Despite the previous lack of proper care it looks quite alert + healthy, so way to go for saving him from a possibly sad future. Sounds like you're getting everything set up right and hopefully he'll settle in soon.

Nice that he'll eat from your hand, he'll get used to you that way....once a while they can become " finger biters " if hand fed all the time, so watch that he doesn't associate your hand with food only.

As for petting, it actually is not comfortable when a beardie's head is petted but can actually make them feel more vulnerable. They have an organ called the parietal eye on top of the head [ also called 3rd eye , Google for more info on that ]. Some owners think they like that because they may close their eyes during the petting, but in reality they only tolerate it and are waiting for it to stop.

Just let him get used to your hand for a week or so.....sometimes just picking them up soon after you get them and holding gently but firmly to your chest will help them to see that there's no need to be scared. Some owners put a shirt or something they recently wore so the dragon gets used to your scent but your scent is already all over the tank, the food items, etc.

So be patient, always be calm + move slowly and he should settle in with a little [ or sometimes a lot ] of time.

 

[jwilusz]

So if I want to pet him is the back going to be ok. Seems to not mind that to much. Did not know Bout the third eye or I would have never done that. As far as picking him up it likes to bask on this log it had in the old tank but the basking bulb isn't over there. I thought about moving it but then he climbed on the big brown one. The other owner said he was quite time but for a while now has been a little neglected because he didn't have the time to sit with him. I have unfortunately been more busy than usual these past couple days and haven't really had a chance to go in there and just sit with him and talk to him hopefully will get the chance in a hour or so. I'm so excited!