Reptile & Amphibian Forums

Welcome to kingsnake.com's message board system. Here you may share and discuss information with others about your favorite reptile and amphibian related topics such as care and feeding, caging requirements, permits and licenses, and more. Launched in 1997, the kingsnake.com message board system is one of the oldest and largest systems on the internet.

Click here to visit Classifieds
Click for ZooMed
Click here to visit Classifieds

why is my baby so mean?

FLAohHerper May 18, 2006 12:19 AM

My baby beardie will not calm down for some reason.I have had it for about a month now and it is healthy and eating great..but whenever I put my hand in the cage it puffs up and opens its mouth...even after doing it for days it wont really get acclimated with my hard in there and is very flighty and aggressive..can some of you guys help me out?suggestions?thanks

mike
-----
3 American Alligators
1.0 Albino Burm
1.0 Green Tree Python
0.1 Veild Chameleon
1.0 Red Eyed Tree Frog
1.0 Bearded Dragon

"Never insult an Alligator until you have crossed the river"-oriental proverb

Replies (2)

B22 May 18, 2006 12:29 AM

Hi
some babies r abit afraid and ofthend it faint aways after couple months.
i would not go in out every time if you see he get paranomia.
i would leave him alone for a while .
http://vandivers.com/bdt.html
this link maybe helps you abit.
byeeeeeeeeee
http://vandivers.com/bdt.html

PHLdyPayne May 19, 2006 06:34 PM

Bearded dragon babies do take awhile to get used to their owners, some never completely tame down, it all depends on the individual. Also, if you are reaching down towards the dragon from teh cage top, that is more likely to bring out defensive behaviour, as bearded dragons are ingrained to fear anything coming towards them from above (ie preyed upon by birds in the wild). Try approaching from the side.

Also, one month isn't enough time for a dragon to be completely used to it's new owner, some may take 6-8 months, some may calm down for a few months then start acting aggressive/defensive again around 'puberty' then calm down a few months after that. ALl you can do is don't let the dragon's defensive actions deter you from picking it up to hold for a short time. Even if it bites, still pick it up and hold it gently but securely till it calms, then put it back in it's cage, so it associates being calm to return to his cage. Otherwise, if you leave or put it down as soon as it tries to bluff/bite/struggle, it will keep doing that.

Offering tasty treats by hand to your dragon can also help calm them down but it can also cause it to associate your hand to food and it may bite fingers thinking they are tasty worms.

All in all, it takes persistance and patients.
-----
PHLdyPayne

Site Tools