Taming a Baby

[Sola]

Greetings All,

I am new to these boards and making my rounds to ask all my questions. I am a first time beardie owner who has read so much information before getting my beardie that I have managed to throughly confuse myself.

My question here is this - how do you tame a baby beardie? I have had my beardie since Nov 30th and am throughly in love. However, I am not sure how to lift her up to hold. If I move slowly and come in more from the side than above - I can stroke her head and she closes her eyes and is a happy beardie - mostly. However - she is very skittish and jumpy (she is a baby) and I don't want to scare her too much when pickign her up. Usually she runs around and will run 1/2 way up my arm before settling down. I have read about letting her crawl onto you by going under the head and belly - but she will gap her mouth at me and threaten to bite. She also does this often once in my hands or arm as well. With all her antics and jumping and such she has made me quite nervous. I always hold her over her cage but sometimes she jumps and I jump and it has just gotten silly. (No worries - she has never fallen - usually when I jump she isn't even in my hands - I am just reaching in). I am more than willing to put in the time and move slowly and such - but I don't know what to do. How do you get a baby beardie to trust you - or any beardie in fact? Is she just too little to worry about this?

Anyway - I will stop rambling. Like I said - I am a first time owner and just confused! Any help or advice would be great! Thanks!!

~Sola~

 

[Ethelia]

Hello there,

Dont worry, you are not the first one to have had to tame your dragon. Even with the worst behaviour a dragon can be tamed, so your new little baby should pose no problems ^_^

All taming requires is patience and perseverance, as it will not happen overnight.

When I first rescued Dex (an adult missing an arm) she had never been handled and was pretty much feral. She bit me, scratched me and hissed at me.
With some patience and a few tricks she turned into the biggest cuddlebug in the world who constantly wanted to sit in my lap and be stroked.

She is most likely opening her mouth at you because she views you as a threat and wants to show you how big and scarey she is too. As soon as she is comfortable with you she will calm down.

I used the following tricks that helped her settle down:
Start putting your hand in her tank, flat but dont touch her. She'll see your not there to grab her. Do this every now and then for a day or so.
Once youve done for a while start only hand feeding her (wriggley worms work best). If she goes to bite you be brave and try not to flinch, just raise your hand up and remove the food. She'll soon learn biting isnt a good idea.

When you try handling her try it an hour or so after lights out when she'll be sleepy and bored of fighting. At this time you can try the 'beardie burrito'. this involves wrapping your beardie in a blanket/towel like a newborn baby and laying them on your chest. If she doesnt like the beardie burito try wearing a dressing gown, alot of beardies enjoy softness. Dexter loved mine.

When you begin to start trying to handle your little one during daytime id get her out, and let her run around near you, like on the bed or on the floor in a room (close the door and make sure all gaps are blocked with cushions/pillows). She'll get used to just being near you and learning that your not big and scary. Also if she runs around exploring she'll tire herself out and so will be more submissive when you finally pick her up.

Remember:
When you go to pick up your beardie do not approach her from the back or the side, this is predatry behaviour and will spook her.
Lay your hand flat in front of her for a few seconds and then slide it underneath her. Once you have picked her up like this yuo can reposition her on your hand.

It can also work wonders to add one of your old tshirts to her tank (make sure you've worn it for an hour or so), as it means she will become used to your smell in a non threatening manner.
When you handle her remember not to smell like food or aftershave.

and repeat!

Although you might end up getting a few scratches as she squirms to run away it is VERY important not to just put her down if she struggles. She will learn that fighting gets her her own way and will make the process longer and harder.

Keep us posted!
Holly

 

[Sola]

Thanks for all that great advice! I really appreciate it! I have to find a place around me to get worms or I have to find a site to order from. I only have PetsMart and Petco near me so I will work on it!

I do have one question. After lights out - Maru tends to be sleeping 1/2 under her basking rock or in her hideaway. If I move those to get it - it will scare her - at least at first. Should I do this or just get her out those nights that she is more easily asscesiable? In time I'm sure she'll get used to me moving stuff around. I just don't want to scare her too bad.

Thanks for all the help!!

~Sola~

 

[beardie parents]

We get butterworms, phonenix worms, hornworms as well as crickets and superworms from Mulberry Farms. We go with them because we are one state away from them and shipping is actually less than going with Reptilefood.com. Reptile food only carries mealworms, superworms and crickets. Mulberry farms has a little more of a variety. I know there are more places you can get feeders for lizards but these are the only two I've used that I recommend.

 

[Sola]

Thanks! I will check them out!!

~Sola~

 

[neecie]

I just received my first BIG order from Mulberry Farms and everything is great. Got silkworms, butterworms, and first time small hornworms - and 100 crickets.........before have ordered phoenix. I recommend them.
I live in CA so delivery came next day.