roxypepperch
New member
Hello,
I got my first bearded dragon just a couple weeks ago as a very small juvenile. I was able to put my finger under him (I say him but I haven't been able to get a definite sex on it yet) and he would grab on and I would carefully lift scoop him with my other hand and would hold him. He did fine with this for the first few weeks and would even sit on my shoulder. In the beginning I had only the food dish the water dish and a nice driftwood log for basking but then I decided he might need more stuff so I got a rock cave thing and a little wood tunnel and some other smaller rocks. He wasn't eating as well even though he seemed to like the new stuff so I decided to take everything back out. (he has always only eaten his crickets and will not eat any veggies or food mush I make, I've tried lots of stuff and so far no interest). Anyway, so then about a week ago he started acting much more jumpy and not as friendly. He would run and hide instead of grab my finger. I read sometimes juveniles get more jumpy so I thought it was ok, then he flat out freaked and ran from me one day and even opened his mouth like he might hiss. So I went to just showing my hand and doing a head rub a couple times a day like all the "taming" advice says. Well now he started to shed and I read that makes them grumpy so I assume this is why he suddenly got less friendly. (first he shed his whole tail and that went great but now his body is flaking a little and its not going as quickly) I read that baths and things are great to help the shedding process but I never go to the point of giving baths. I do mist him though. I had only had him about 2-3 weeks before the shed so I had just been gradually holding him and letting him hang out on my shoulder about 10 minutes twice a day.
So my question is, from a socialization and health standpoint is it better to totally freak him out and make him let me pick him up so I can give him what is most likely his first bath and start doing baths even though he will probably attempt to fight me on it or should I just keep misting him often and rubbing his head a little until he's happier?? I want to make sure that I have a happy beardie that wants to ride around on my shoulder and so I don't want to do anything now that will totally make him hate me.
I would appreciate any advice. Thanks.
I got my first bearded dragon just a couple weeks ago as a very small juvenile. I was able to put my finger under him (I say him but I haven't been able to get a definite sex on it yet) and he would grab on and I would carefully lift scoop him with my other hand and would hold him. He did fine with this for the first few weeks and would even sit on my shoulder. In the beginning I had only the food dish the water dish and a nice driftwood log for basking but then I decided he might need more stuff so I got a rock cave thing and a little wood tunnel and some other smaller rocks. He wasn't eating as well even though he seemed to like the new stuff so I decided to take everything back out. (he has always only eaten his crickets and will not eat any veggies or food mush I make, I've tried lots of stuff and so far no interest). Anyway, so then about a week ago he started acting much more jumpy and not as friendly. He would run and hide instead of grab my finger. I read sometimes juveniles get more jumpy so I thought it was ok, then he flat out freaked and ran from me one day and even opened his mouth like he might hiss. So I went to just showing my hand and doing a head rub a couple times a day like all the "taming" advice says. Well now he started to shed and I read that makes them grumpy so I assume this is why he suddenly got less friendly. (first he shed his whole tail and that went great but now his body is flaking a little and its not going as quickly) I read that baths and things are great to help the shedding process but I never go to the point of giving baths. I do mist him though. I had only had him about 2-3 weeks before the shed so I had just been gradually holding him and letting him hang out on my shoulder about 10 minutes twice a day.
So my question is, from a socialization and health standpoint is it better to totally freak him out and make him let me pick him up so I can give him what is most likely his first bath and start doing baths even though he will probably attempt to fight me on it or should I just keep misting him often and rubbing his head a little until he's happier?? I want to make sure that I have a happy beardie that wants to ride around on my shoulder and so I don't want to do anything now that will totally make him hate me.
I would appreciate any advice. Thanks.