Taming a baby beardie

[ElGuapo]

I was reading some of the ideas on taming a baby beardie. My Calypso is about 3 months old. She is getting fiesty and biting at me when i try to take her out of her viv. I do come in slowly where she can see me and wait with my hand under her belly to try to get her to climb my arm but she won't. She closes her eyes when i pet her, but after a while she does try to run. When i pet her in her viv she doesn't bite me. I have gently "forced" her out to give her a bath or clean her viv. She eats her crickets and roaches good. Could do without her salads and fruits. She will eat from my hands and poops regularly. He temps are good, she is on tile. I did change her viv around to put in the Reptisun 10.0 UVB tube ( I did have it over the screen) so i had to move her climbing rope to the other side of her 50 gallon tank. I don't want to change the light but should i try to move everything back to the closest to where i had it before? I have tried to put food in her mouth when she goes to bite me, i have gently restrained her to show her i am dominate. Do you think that i will stress her out by doing this? I don't want to be mean or abusive but i want her to be nice. I don't plan on giving up ( she is my girl and i love her ) but i don't want to be hurting her in any way. I held her in a blanket tonight for about 40 minutes. When she would struggle to get free, i would cover her eyes with the blanket to get her to calm down. Is this too long? Please give me your advice. :study:

(i wanted to show you the "rope" she likes to be on...she must think she is a chameleon)

 

[Dooter]

No, she's just doing what baby beardies do. She will grow out of it. Just continue to handle her, and make sure she associates you with pleasant things: calmness, food, baths, etc - she WILL calm down as she gets older.

I don't think you need to restrain her to show that you are boss - this will not do any good - it'll send her the wrong message that you are to be feared. They don't understand that the way dogs do.

She is a TOTAL sweetie pie in that pic! How cute!

Try putting her in your shirt while you watch tv - she'll likely fall asleep. This will teach her that its okay to relax around you!

 

[ElGuapo]

Ok thanks. When i put her on me she sits for just a little while and then runs. If i am not quick enough she will jump, off my shoulder, off my stomach, the couch, wherever she is. I am scared she will hurt herself so i end of grabbing her or tightening my hold on her. When she is relaxed and closing her eyes i just stroke her head but when she starts to get ancy i do restrain her

 

[Dooter]

Ok thanks. When i put her on me she sits for just a little while and then runs. If i am not quick enough she will jump, off my shoulder, off my stomach, the couch, wherever she is. I am scared she will hurt herself so i end of grabbing her or tightening my hold on her. When she is relaxed and closing her eyes i just stroke her head but when she starts to get ancy i do restrain her

Yep, sounds pretty typical. My Stanley will freak out if I try to pet his head, too. He doesn't seem to mind his back being pet, and actually seems to enjoy having his beard petted (depending on his mood)