Taming with treats?

[PhillyStang92]

Hey all I just had a few questions. I've had my beardie for about 1-2 months now and want to begin taming him. Ever since I got him he has not liked being handled. You go to slide your hand under him or get too close, he runs away. I got him to the point where he would sit on my hand if I worked my way under him very slowly (talk about arm cramps)...but I just moved him into a bigger enclosure. Now he is getting used to his new home I figured I'd see how he would react with me. Back to being all skittish and afraid as usual...

Now I don't normally feed him mealworms so don't bash me! But I had a container of them laying around and I know he goes nuts over them so I figured I'd try to lure him onto my hand inside the enclosure...works like a charm! Hell eat his mealworm and then sit there for about a minute I guess until he realizes "hey I'm being picked up!" then jumps off.

Now my question here is...is it okay to occasionally do this method say a couple times a day? Will he ever get used to me this way? He's not a baby so I'm not worried TOO much about impaction issues since it would only be 1-3 mealworms. Now if I can get him to go after his reptiworms then that's a different story.

Just curious if this method will have any affect on the taming process goes. And any other tips? I hear I should try and pick him up while he's sleeping. Will he not wake up and go nuts once he realizes he's being pick up or will he stay tired? I've tried the t-shirt trick btw!



Any help getting my beardie to be relaxed with me would be awesome!!

 

[chastityx]

Hey all I just had a few questions. I've had my beardie for about 1-2 months now and want to begin taming him. Ever since I got him he has not liked being handled. You go to slide your hand under him or get too close, he runs away. I got him to the point where he would sit on my hand if I worked my way under him very slowly (talk about arm cramps)...but I just moved him into a bigger enclosure. Now he is getting used to his new home I figured I'd see how he would react with me. Back to being all skittish and afraid as usual...

Now I don't normally feed him mealworms so don't bash me! But I had a container of them laying around and I know he goes nuts over them so I figured I'd try to lure him onto my hand inside the enclosure...works like a charm! Hell eat his mealworm and then sit there for about a minute I guess until he realizes "hey I'm being picked up!" then jumps off.

Now my question here is...is it okay to occasionally do this method say a couple times a day? Will he ever get used to me this way? He's not a baby so I'm not worried TOO much about impaction issues since it would only be 1-3 mealworms. Now if I can get him to go after his reptiworms then that's a different story.

Just curious if this method will have any affect on the taming process goes. And any other tips? I hear I should try and pick him up while he's sleeping. Will he not wake up and go nuts once he realizes he's being pick up or will he stay tired? I've tried the t-shirt trick btw!



Any help getting my beardie to be relaxed with me would be awesome!!

have you thought about trying it with small superworms? they look just like mealworms and they're much healthier for a beardie. you can order small ones online.

 

[Lenewen]

I second the comment to get small supers instead, they are rather addicting and beardies LOVE them!

Sure, you can tame him in this way. I think food is the best way to tame anything wild.

Picking them up while they are sleeping is my little trick. After awhile, even the meanest beardies like a little snuggle time at night under a blankie in your lap. Yes, sometimes they wake up and get mad at you but usually they sleep like the dead and it's no problem

 

[bunnyrut]

at that age/size they are usually jittery and don't like to be held.

the best thing to do is let him gt used to you kind of handling him gently. don't chase him down to hold him or he'll become afraid of your hand.

as he gets bigger he'll stay on your hand a little longer.

Tasty Treat was almost 7 months old before she would stay on me for more than 5 minutes.

 

[PhillyStang92]

Sorry for the late reply everyone! Been very busy with work and finals!
Well just an update, I tried only once to get supers from my local PetSmart and they were sold out. Funny btw how they tried telling me mealworms were better -_- no thanks...lol

So ill try again at a different location when I get some free time but I had no clue that supers were that much better than mealworms.

Also...picking up while sleeping. Sounds like an awesome idea. Except I was hissed at and bearded...lol I just can't win. Not bashing the idea I have had plenty of throw the idea around I guess my beardie just isn't at that stage yet? I'm just going to try and have to get him used to me being in there before I get any further?

 

[bunnyrut]

I got Tasty Treat used to being rubbed on top of her head.
I prefer for them to get used to the idea that i am not always going to grab them when i go by them. She would do the defensive posture if i touched while she was sleeping though, so i would only pick her up after she opened her eyes and saw it was me.

Dargon is so used to me picking him up that he doesn't fight me. he is 2 1/2 years old.

 

[Goonie]

[Moved from General to Behavior]

 

[Harley]

Beardies sleep like rocks. Alot of times of you reach in and mess with them while they are sleeping it will scare them. Even my oldest girl hates to be woken up by me having to move her. The best thing to do if you like that idea is to wait till around your lights out time and hold him till he falls asleep on you then let him rest awhile and place him in his viv. This will teach him that you are a safe place to sleep and trust will build from there.
As for you treats idea I am a fan of using the small hornworms. Get a cup of 25 smalls for 10 bucks and that will last you a little over a week doing a few a day. Don't use them to slow though because they grow really fast. http://www.lindasgonebuggie.com/page/425297584 Has the size you would need and when mine showed up there were like 30 in each cup.