no luck taming

[verena]

Hi,
I have had my bd for two months now, and I don't seem to be making any progress taming her. She lets me put my hand in the cage and takes food from my hand, but when I try to take her out of the cage she runs away from me. I have tried to just leave my hand open in front of her to see if she will climb on her own, but she doesn't. I have picked her up gently and I take her out of the tank everyday to let her run around on the bed or in the bathroom. I don't know what else to do and I am getting really frustrated and discouraged...Am I doing something wrong? Is it ok to take her out of the tank even though she does not want me to? Any suggestions or words of encouragement would be extremely welcomed...

 

[ronni1221]

How old is she? Where did you get her?

If she's young, it will take her a while to get used to you. It took Brutus 4 to 5 months. Young beardies are shy and skittish.
If she's adopted, then her previous owner experience may not have been ideal. It may take alot of work.

The main strategy that works is persistence! It took me a long time to get Brutus used to me. He didn't want to get out of the tank and freaked out every time. Keep reading others' posts about getting dragons comfortable with you. I think eating out of your had is GREAT progress. It took Brutus alot longer than 2 months to attempt that!

Good Luck!

 

[DistDrag]

You mentioned taking her out of the tank? Some dragons do not like being picked up from above. This is something that may just take time. If she'll eat from your hand it sounds like she is comfortable with you. How is she once you get her out of the tank? Is the problem just with catching her?

 

[verena]

I got her as a baby when she was maybe 5 weeks old? the pet store salesperson could not tell me how old she was..I never pick her up from above, usually I slide my hand under her from the side or the front very sloooowly. Once I get her out of the tank she seems to be ok...she wants to explore and run around. She has never puffed up or try to bite me...What do you think?

 

[DistDrag]

I guess I should clarify but in a tank even though you may be putting your hand under her to pick her up...You are actually reaching down through the top opening. That is what I mean by picking her up from above as apposed to a viv that would open from the side.

 

[verena]

Thanks for the clarification, I thought I was doing it the right way...So what do you think I should do? Is it ok to pick her up? Sometimes I have to pick her up to clean the tank or to give her a bath...What would be the best way to get her used to me and not be scared?

 

[ronni1221]

I don't think Brutus likes to be picked up by my hands in any way. I've tried them all. Once he's out and about he's fine. He runs up my arms, climbs all over the couch, tries to jump off my head, etc. I think being picked up isn't necessarily comfortable- Brutus squirms no matter how I hold him. He sits with me every night, and sometimes he still get skittish when i stick my hands in the tank or touch him. If it's an open-top viv, there's nothing you can really do about coming in from above. My opinion- they'll get used to it. Just be consistent and safe when handling.

 

[verena]

Thanks for your advice..and I have another question..when people say that their bd is tamed or docile, does that mean that when you put your hand in the tank it will climb on it on his own? What kind of behavior should I expect when Lola is tamed?

 

[ronni1221]

Beardies have a range of personalities, like any other animal. Some are eager for human attention, and some don't care one way or the other. I think when people say that their beardie is "tame," they mean that they can take them out, let them explore, sit with them... without the beardie being aggressive towards them. No biting, open-mouth, etc. I think everyone gets the occasional beard for some reason, like when I was 10 min late feeding Brutus one morning. I think "tame" just means they are comfortable with you and not scared of you.