Very agressive help!

[AndieTaylor]

For some time now I have been having difficulty with jack jack. Hes very aggressive. I cant get my hand near him without him trying to bite me. Hes even tried to attack my live in boyfriend through his tank!! I really wanted to be able to handle him and Ive tried hand feeding, talking to him, giving him an old shirt... everything people have suggested to me. Its at the point I have to catch him in a towel to clean his cage because hes such a biter. Is it possible that hes just aggressive by nature? What could be causing this?

 

[rangosclan]

One thing that has worked for my nefew's skiddish babies was to wait until they are REALLY sleepy and then do a "beardie burrito" by wrapping them up in your old shirt and hold him that way. Beardies are normally very loving and passive by nature, so its puzzling that yours is so aggressive. Do you know how old he is? Or what its previous owner was like or how he was treated (if there was a previous home)? It may just be that there are some issues your beardie needs to work through? Let me know if the burrito works! Good luck!

 

[Gail]

Get a thin pair of gloves and start to handle him more. Let him bite so he learns you won't go away and stop using a towel to catch him. He's either afraid or a bully so you have to basically start from the beginning, teach him you aren't scary and won't be intimidated.
Its rare for a dragon to be truly mean, though they do exist. Most behavior problems is due to inadequate or improper handling.

 

[AndieTaylor]

Thank you both!!! Hes around 12 inches at this point but I havent been able to measure him lately. I got him from a pet store as a baby so I highly doubt he was handled much before I got him

 

[gocougs18]

mine does the same thing but he runs away when i try to pick him up. i am very nice to him and never harm him. i dont hold him to hard or are too aggressive when i handle him either

 

[Toyguy]

One other thing to consider is how you pick him up. Make sure to slip your hand under his belly. They can interpret a hand over their back like a bird's claw and they might react badly to that. Put on a thin glove, as suggested, then see if you can get under him and scoop him up. Don't be too timid about it - once you go to get him, get him! That way he learns you won't be scared off and you won't hurt him. Once you have him, try to get him settled in a way that keeps his tummy and his tail supported. They are typically much happier in that circumstance.

Good luck!

 

[sonoko125]

Looking good !

 

[rangosclan]

Let us know how it is going!