Reptile & Amphibian Forums

i have a male bearded dragon(2 yrs old) and just recently(a month or two ago) he turned on me.. i have no idea why but now i cant even get my hand in there to give him food.. ive had mean lizards but he is f****n nasty.. and my mom is getting sick of me getting bit an stuff so he would rather just get rid of him.. can you think of any ways to calm him down. i have tried holding him but i think it stresses him out to much. but if he dosent calm down i am affraid i will have to get rid of him.. which i do not want to do..

Please Help!!!!!

mike

forgot to add that if any one can use him for a breeding program thing that you have going i can work out a deal. i may trade him as well.. dont know what my mom will have me do but if she makes me get rid of him id rather him go to someone who knows what they are talking about.

also i bought him to breed so could he have a problem because his female died???? they were never in the same cage but they could see each other

where is the cage located.. is it in front of a window or a door.. do you have any other pets such as a cat or a dog that could bother him.. do you have him in a tank.. he is probably not mean just scared..if you have him in a tank he could think you are a predator since your hand comes down from above to pick him up. has his diet or cage changed recently. all of these things could be a factor. i can't remember but were you able to hold him before??? or hasn't he been held much. i know last year when i went away to school i left spike at home with my mum and she never picked him up.. just fed him cleaned his cage and talked to him oh and petted him but never picked him up .. the only play time he had was on the weekends when i came home and after i came home this summer he went from a grumpy gus to a happy lil boy.. getting out twice a day and "rocked" to sleep at night.. so just be patient...he should turn around..

btw my beardies are the reason i'm living at home this year

alissa
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2.2 chinese water dragons
1.2 bearded dragons
0.2.1 leopard geckos
1 african clawed frog, 1 african dwarf frog, 1 california newt
1.4 english setters
2.2 breeder mice
tons of fish

but what i do to calm my lizards down is talk to them.. especially with some of my more shy water dragons or aggressive animals i talk to them in a calm voice and move slowly.. for instance i have a very shy water dragon named spook and she somehow finds a way to get under my bed every time shes out even though there is bins under there for that very reason.. i always talk real queitly to her and move my hand in real slow and she calms down enough that she will let me get her out....an once again just be patient and show affection like petting and put the beardie on your chest so it feels you heartbeat.. just like you would with a baby..

alissa
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2.2 chinese water dragons
1.2 bearded dragons
0.2.1 leopard geckos
1 african clawed frog, 1 african dwarf frog, 1 california newt
1.4 english setters
2.2 breeder mice
tons of fish

i could hold him before and his cage is up agaist a wall in my room away from all my toher animals. maybe ill try moving his cage and give him a bigger area(he is in a 55 right now ill move him to the 75)