So vicious!

[btrineer]

Hey everyone,

I have a female Beardie that is 1 year 3 months old and she HATES me. She was great up until we moved 3 months ago. No when she sees me she puffs out, black bearded and will even try to go me sometimes. I still and try to pet her the best is in the mornings while she is still mellow. I was able to handle her a few months ago, but noway now. I called the reptile store and they said it could be a matureity thing. She eats her greens and crickets, goes to the bathroom, loves to be misted every day. She just went through a shed and when I talk to her she puffs out and opens her mouth. Any suggestions and anyone know if this will be forever. I still put hand in her cage every day she relentless.... I forgot to add, she can be basking and is BEAUTIFUL all orange and happy and if she sees me walk into the room and I say hi, her beared goes black...

 

[lauraj1055]

Wow, that really sucks.. So sorry to hear that.. I wish I could help.. do you think she would really bite you if you tried to pick her up? My beardie does that when he gets irritated, but I still pick him up and tell him to put the beard away.. But he never tries to bite me even though he tries to look 'bad'..

 

[btrineer]

She has lunged at me a few times, but I am the one who is always cleaning a messing with her and after reading all the other posts, I wonder if she also brumating "laying eggs" i dont know. She does like to hide in her cave everyday and thats when I have been cleaning out her cage. a few times it almost sounds like she hisses and than if i try to pet her she lunges at me with her mouth open. Yes I am afraid of getting bit, does it hurt?

 

[lauraj1055]

I've never been bit.. so I don't know.. My male will open his mouth like he wants to try to bite me, but that doesn't bother me.. I still pick him up and he's fine. He gets like that mostly if my dogs are hanging around the cage when I'm cleaning him, or feeding him... so I don't so much think he thinks I'm the threat, but the dogs are just irritating him.. try grabbing her around her stomach and pick her up, or take a towel at night right after the lights go out and grab her.. maybe somethings bothering her? Can you tell if she's gravid?

 

[btrineer]

whats gravid?

 

[lauraj1055]

whats gravid?

Does she have eggs inside her?

 

[ChinelleKitten]

Yah try and see if you can pick her up and night when she's ready for bed and just sit with her for awhile. She may be more calm. We put a face cloth (blankie) over our dragons and sit with them on the couch watching tv every night. The face cloth makes it dark for them and they just fall asleep. This may help her get used to you again.

And I've been bitten by my dragons before lol. It hurts a little but its more surprising than painful.

 

[btrineer]

She may have eggs, I did look in her cave and I saw nothing? She has been digging alot and moving her alfalfa pellets all over her viv. i tried the cloth over her face, but she wiggles alot and opens her mouth like she is going ot bite me. I am afraid, but I guess i better toughen up a little. LOL

 

[Lisafosc]

If she is digging alot and this is not usual behaviour for her then she may well be gravid! So you need to look into getting her a lay box, have a search on the site for info, and info on how to care for her at this time. the other thing I have heard mentioned alot on here, to help tame a beardie, is to wear an old shirt all day, and then put it in her tank so she gets used to your scent!

Good luck x

 

[MarleyMoe]

I've had two bites off Moe but it just felt like a hard pinch and more shock than anything the first time.
Second time we naively had him and Marley out together and with her being female he went after her and grabbed her neck as they do... he wouldn't let go so stuck my finger in there for him to chomp on instead.

He used to black beard and hiss at me at first but I just kept persevering with him and now he tolerates it. Hes not Mr Cuddly dont get me wrong but he knows now im no threat to him and will let us carry him about.

Good luck with your baby girl and these guys are great for help and advice

 

[btrineer]

thanks for your help, Ill research the nesting box and i guess i do what my husband say and man up to being bit.

 

[ReptileGuardian]

I've had two bites off Moe but it just felt like a hard pinch and more shock than anything the first time.

I've been bitten by beardies and tortoises, and I completely agree with MarleyMoe about the feeling. I've never once drawn blood from any of the bites I've sustained. I have had blood drawn from a scratch from Toruk (beardie) before we clipped his nails.

 

[btrineer]

i was a vet tech for 10yrs and I HATE bites. I have been bitten from dogs, birds, and scratched from cats. Never a lizard. Im going to get leather gloves tonight just so I feel better about it. Poor thing, I guess I will be making a box tonight for her. Any suggestions about organic soil to put in her box?

 

[Denduran87]

I swear by this method but i don't have enough experience to know if it works with most but i actually take my guy out and place him in a seperate container to feed him. I don't hand feed him so he doesn't think i'm food but he associates me with his food and gets very excited to see me now.

 

[btrineer]

UPDATE:
So last night I brought my leather gloves and box for her to nest in. She puffed up opened her mouth and jumped at me, but did nothing. i was able to grab her pet her until she calmed down. She didnt bite! She just had me buffalo'd. I picked her up and she went limp and let me do everything I needed to do with her. I soaked her and placed her in the "nesting box". Hopefully when I get home Ill find some eggs. Thank you all for the help and feedback.