socializing while shedding??

[roxypepperch]

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.

 

[MsCarter]

I'm not sure what would be best as far as stressing him out by getting him out to bathe him or just misting for now until he's more relaxed. Hopefully someone else will chime in on that.

But I can try to ease your mind a little by telling you that the behavior you have seen isn't abnormal. He's young and in a brand new area it can take them a couple of weeks (some slightly longer) to fully adjust. And yes a shed can cause them to get grumpy. My girl hates shedding and she keeps an attitude during the process lol. I dont take it personal and try to understand she's just itchy and miserable atm. As long as your set up is good and he's got proper lighting, temps, and all of that he should come around once he is done shedding.
And as far as him not eating veggies it's completely normal. Most young beardies are very stubborn about veggies. They need mostly live insects any ways because they are growing, so as long as he's eating his crickets it's fine. I would continue offering veggies however so that he will get more familiar with them. He will eventually come around.

 

[kingofnobbys]

msc is correct -wrt vegs , greens. Also moodiness is common in lizards when coming up to a shed and while shedding - imagine yourself with hives all over - you'd feel miserable too.

Unless he's (?) soiled himself or there is a stubburn bit of shed on the toes , feet, or tail I'd keep the bathing to a minimum , they are not necessary for a beardie and only likely to stress him out.

While shedding he'll appreciate having some nice pointly & rough sticks and rocks to crawl over, scratch upon and rub against. I'd visit the local woods and collect these , trees often shed twigs and sticks , and you'll probably find a few nice house brick sized stones that will fit the job nicely, no need to be obsessive about "sterilising" these, a few tiny bugs on them wont be a worry.

Since he's so young, while it would be fabulous if he liked his greens and grated vegs , he needs LOTS of HIGH QUALITY calcium enriched live insects for the insect fats and proteins to make a big strong bearded dragon. He may or may not go off his tucker for a while while shedding ,this is normal too , but wont last long.
Keep offering the greens and grated veg each day, and keep offering the bugs (at least two times , three is better , per day).

If he's become a bit standoffish while in shed, give him a bit space, he'll come round and be back to his "old" self in short order when he is over the shedding and is comfortable with his home.

If aren't doing so already I recommend you set up a EXCEL spreadsheet to keep track of what he's eating each meal, pooing, shedding, behavioural things, and start recording this information, if things go pear shaped you'll have detailed information to might be useful to vet. I've done this for all my pet lizards and have daily records going back over 7 years now.
Also worthwhile weighing him on the same day each week so you can keep track of his growth.

 

[Scherfz1]

personal thoughts on keeping stress to a minimum...

from what i have read, juvenile dragons are best in a simple environment. meaning just something to bask on, water bowl, and a food dish. nothing more is needed. because this makes finding crickets easy to find and easy to monitor his behavior. my breeder suggested these things to me as well, my guy is going through a shed now as well and he is acting just like yours and is normal. but wait to add the other furniture until his is older, more predictable and well adjusted to his current environment. slight changes can throw a young dragon off very easily.

i hope this helps.