Scared Baby Beardie

[JaffaCake]

Hey guys I've posted before on here and ive had a lot of great advice from you all thanks for that. Both Jaffa and duncan are separated now and they can't see eachother. I still have the problem of Duncan being terrified of me. I've tried the shirt trick and holding him, I talk to him to calm him down but nothing is working. He runs away from me every chance he gets so much that he jumps on the floor and hides underneath my draws and tables. It takes me about 10 minutes just trying to get him out to give him a bath or feed him. I don't know what to do anymore, he bit me twice on the thumb yesterday while I held him. I adore jaffa and Duncan and I don't want to give up on him.
What else can I do to calm him down? Is he just an aggressive dragon or am I doing something wrong? He's grown much more than when he was housed together which is good and he eats and drinks for me it's just him being really scared of me.
He hisses, opens his mouth at me, goes into a defensive position and sprints away. Even if I just walk by the viv he runs


He's in a similar viv to Jaffa, a 75W white light and a 10.0 UVB long light, I feed them lettuce, grapes, juvenile soft pellets and locusts dusted in calcium powder.

When he is out of the tank he's okay for a bit and isn't as scared it's just getting him out of the viv that's trick. Any ideas? Thanks

 

[CooperDragon]

Sounds like an energetic little guy (that's a good sign). Have you tried holding him after he's fallen asleep or is about to fall asleep? That has worked well for me in the past. After a while they get used to being held and will tolerate it more often.

 

[JaffaCake]

Yes he's very energetic :') No he won't let me pick him up or anything when he sleeps, he will wake up then run away and hiss at me. He's falls asleep on me if I manage to get him out but other than that I can't handle him much or he gets a lot of stress marks and puffs his beard up and opens his mouth.

 

[CooperDragon]

In that case I'd just double check everything in the enclosure and give him some space for a while. No sense forcing it for now if he's upset. Give it another try down the road and see how he reacts.

 

[JaffaCake]

Oh okay :/ so I just leave him alone for a bit?

 

[HannahLouise2013]

I'm sorry I'm having the same problem. Any time I even get up from the couch (the tank is in the living room) he runs and hides. I don't understand how they can get used to us if they won't let us near them... It is very discouraging and frustrating.

 

[JaffaCake]

Yeah :/ it's pretty sad how scared and terrified he is of me while jaffa is so comfortable around me...I'll keep trying. I'm still not getting anywhere with him though, he bit me 3 times the other day it's getting hard to feed him since I need to take him out to feed, bath and clean his viv. Anyone have any tips on how to calm him down a little or make him more comfortable?

 

[Tonja]

When almost asleep, drop a warm hand towel over him and his eyes. Pick him up and wrap him up in the towel. Hold him close to your chest with his head nestled into your neck. Let him fall asleep like that. He will feel secure wrapped up or he should. Do this nightly until he is no longer afraid. Be consistent and don't back down or he will win. You have to be the dominate one in this case.

 

[JaffaCake]

Thank you very much for the advice, I will try this and see if he improves. I managed to get him out two days ago and he laid on my hand for a good hour and a half! It's the longest I've had him stay still on me without running away and hiding from me ^.^ got any advice on getting him out of his tanker easier? I have been bitten several times trying to get him out and I'm scared that when I go in to get him he will jump out of his tank and hurt himself...so is there any way that I can safely take him out of viv? He hisses quite a lot too and tenses up :/

 

[Tonja]

You can try gloves until he is comfortable with being handled or use the towel method. Also people have a tendency to reach in over them and pick them up. The third eye <parietal eye> senses light and shadow. If you are picking him up from above his head he may see you as a predator and take a defensive stance, mouth open, hissing, puffing out his beard. Try laying your hand in the tank for a few minutes at a time till he is used to your hand. Going to pick him up, scoop from the side supporting his body and legs so he feels secure. If you try to handle him after handling your other beardie, wash your hands well so you don't have its scent on your hands and see if that helps since they are territorial,

 

[Esther19]

I agree with Tonja. In addition, I think you should talk to him softly, if you aren't already. When you are able, hold him so that he can see your face while you talk to him. Sounds silly, but my dragons like it.

 

[JaffaCake]

Thank you so much guys for the advice, I will try my best and make him more comfortable with me. I will try and pick him up with gloves or a towel. Can hand feeding him help aswell? Can It make him even more comfortable with me?
Thanks Esther I will talk to him softly when getting him out and make sure he sees my face, he's such an energetic little one haha I have been thinking of changing his name cause I think he's a girl but still not sure.

 

[Tonja]

I don't think hand feeding would hurt but I would not make a habit of it. I don't know if you want him to associate your hand with food or not. I hand feed both of mine while they sit on my chest and they prefer now to be hand fed although they will eat on their own, I think its more a personal preference to hand feed. In your case it cant hurt anything. Talk to him while feeding and between bites try to stroke his back a little.

 

[JaffaCake]

I'll give hand feeding a try but I don't want him to only like being hand fed so I won't do it everyday. Other than his fear of me he is a good little guy, he eats a of his greens and locusts, drinks from his water bowl and is really energetic.
Hopefully he will get more comfortable with me like Jaffa is and I can have him out more often thanks guys for the advice, I really appreciate it ^.^

 

[Tonja]

I have mine out to roam about 2-3 times a day and cuddle them to sleep at night. I put mine back in their tanks when I feel they need to warm up again. If you let him out, they are speedy fast, tie a ribbon or brightly colored string to his tail that is long but not to long so if he gets away from you you can easily find him. If hes out roaming make note of places he stops, especially to curl up so if he gets away at any point those places would be the first to look for him.