Reptile & Amphibian Forums

I went to a local reptile show that comes through like three times a year about a week ago. Bought all the necessary supplies, even the recommended ones, the breeder suggested. Bought a baby beardie took him home and handled him/her and petted him/her for the rest of the day. I have attempted to handle the little dragon everyday since ownership but it has gotten to the point where I believe we don't trust each other because the dragon began opening its mouth and even bit me. I now have to wear a latex glove to feel comfortable handling the little thing but don't want it to be this way. Is there any suggestion how to reaffirm my lizards trust with me and a way to help me trust the lizard enough again for bare skin handling? Thanks. (p.s. sorry to sound like a wuss)

How old is your dragon? You really should limit handling for the dragon to de-stress and get acquainted with his new surroundings. After a week or more of just letting him chill, start slow... start off putting a hand in even offering him food but do not handle him then when you see he is okay with that action start petting him in his habitat after a week or so of that pick him up in his cage then just go with his actions if it stresses him put him down if he seems happy take him closer to you. If he is very young handling should be limited for 5 or 10 minutes because at that tender age they really need their heat and lights. Each dragon is very different in personality you just may have a dragon that needs to take it at his speed. If your dragon is very dark in colour it usually means he is not happy about something when his neck and belly is very white he is a happy breardie. Look at his habitat too, if there is a lot of stuff going on in there it could be stressing him. Keeping it simple would be better until you both get comfortable as long as he has a basking spot and cave or something to hide under it is all he needs. As well, look at temps make sure you are maintaining good temps because that could also stress them. Make sure you are feeding him approprietly for his age and size, first year of their lives is dedicated to growing at a VERY fast rate you need to make sure you are able to accommodate that growth.

Hope that helps just remember to take it at your beardies speed trust will be given when it is received just respect your beardie's limitations.

i got a hamster ball and handled mine in there for a little while, slowly working up to actually handling her. now the only time she puffs up at me is when i let her run around outside for a while and its time to take her inside.

That sounds like a really good idea. Do you think he may just want exercise too? Do they exercise or just lay there for the most part?

My beardie was born on 4/15. The only this dark about him is the spots on his back. His belly and neck are like a piece of paper. I had him out last night for about 15 minutes and he did perfectly fine but not 45 minutes before that when I tried to handle him, he opened him mouth. I have him in a 20 Long terrarium, per recommendation of the breeder. I only have one so they said that would be plenty. I feed him twice a day usually about 7-10 small crickets is all he'll eat. I give him a mix of shredded carrot, romaine lettuce, apple chunks, baby beardie pellets, crickets and collard greens. That's usually what he gets daily w/ a rotation of veggies of course. his temps are 73 in the cool end, around 90 in the warm end w/ the basking spot right at 100. He has a piece of driftwood to climb on, an R-zilla rock formation to bask and hide under, a food dish and a rock formation water dispenser in his tank. We regulate him on the UVB he gets. Before we go to bed we turn the lamp off and when I leave for work in the morning I turn it on. I have found one thing...he does not like the base of his tail or back legs touched. He scampers away when even bumped in those spots. He is also shedding somewhat (because of his youth and growing so quickly I assume). This is the first reptile I've ever owned and want to have a great experience. I just haven't had much luck w/ holding them because almost every type of reptile I've ever held has biten me (fire skink, ball python, central american boa, bearded dragon, chinese water dragon). Pretty much the only thing that hasn't biten/struck me was a chameleon. Thanks for your input and I hope this gives a better idea what going on in my beardie's world to all the experienced handlers on here.

I think it's time to move him to a larger enclosure. How long is the dragon? My babies born 5/4 are already over 15" and have been in a 4 x 2 adult enclosure for some time now.

I would also get his basking spot closer to 110.

As a follow up to the advice given about letting the animal acclimate and proceeding slowly with handling, do you guys recommend adding tight hide spots? I have read caresheets with conflicting advice.

[I hope this doesn't hijack this thread. I think this relates to the original poster's question.]

i think at first a hide might be something to hold off on until your dragon is fully acclimated...ive heard of instances where sometimes they will hide most of the day when they arent used to their surroundings just yet...ive offered hides to all of my dragons and only one of them actually uses them (magellan)...prior to making magellan's hide i had leaves that he would climb on to bask and sleep under at night and used it kind of as a hide...you can try that possibly but i would get other's opinions on the hides before you take my advice completely because i lack alot experience with hides and my dragons
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1.0.0 Frilled Dragon - Frank
2.1.0 Bearded Dragons - Magellan, Galileo, Lizzy
Plus babies on the way! =]

I don't give my baby dragons a hide. I've had dragons brumate at

Funny I used a less than sign and it cut off my post after that.

I was saying that I've had dragons less than 200 grams brumate in the past even without a hide. So I don't want to encourage them to brumate or not bask. Especially if you have multiple babies/juveniles together. Sometimes the less dominant will hide rather than work it out with a cagemate.

Dragons don't always need a hide as long as there are areas in the cage that are cool enough for the dragon to thermoregulate. I don't use actual hides in my current setup but the basking areas have room underneath. Sometimes my dragon will work her way underneath to sleep or rest during the day. Other times she will just sprawl in the middle of the cool area or sleep where ever she happens to be when the lights go out.

In the past when I had designated hides, it was also random when they are used.

The main time they are used are for brumation though.
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PHLdyPayne

I gave my little guy a natural, tight hide underneath his basking spot. I think he only uses it by accident, though. He sleeps randomly throughout his enclosure. All of my other lizards have been creatures of habit, always sleeping in the exact same place each night and almost always in a hide. These beardies are certainly interesting!

Thanks again!