Hey all, I am new to Beardsies, but not to reptiles. I got my wife a juvie beardie after she fell in love with them at a reptile show. My question is, will he always be skittish? When I first got him, we were able to handle him for the first few days. now when you go to handle, he gees into his defensive posture. also, he does not eat any greens, only crickets and worms. Any tips is appreciated.
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2.2 BCI
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Help with Beardie.....
macajuel
Oct 17, 2008 01:20 PM
Replies (3)
mwrinkle
Oct 17, 2008 03:30 PM
Assuming that husbandry conditions are right and the animal is comfortable, how much time did you give it in its new home to acclimate without handling? It will need some time to tame if it is skittish. Two ways to help that along are get it use to your scent by say sleeping with a dish towel a couple nights. Then handle the animal when it is later in the evening when its tired. Wrapped up in a towel when it is tired and it will feel more secure, you can then pet the head to allow it to get use to being touched. Finally feeding it by hand from your palm with live food will also get it used to seeing as where it gets food from and will also get it to accept you!
BDlvr
Oct 17, 2008 04:57 PM
Tough to give an answer without more info. Age and size would be a great start. Regardless, mustard and dandelion are great to start with. Pretty much all dragons like these. Stick with it, daily, and they'll eat it. All mine do by their 2nd month. Juveniles under 250 grams I feed morning and night with a salad available between.
As far as the nervous trait, hopefully that will pass with time as you get comfortable with each other.
LordBaal
Oct 18, 2008 01:08 AM
I made the same mistake with one of my juvies I bought.
My will power BROKE, and I handled it for 30 mintues the day I got it, shes been a B**** since then, I spooked her, and now I have to rehibilitate her.
She gets better with every week. I offer a flap hand when she defends, and SLOWLY move under her chin and slowly pick her up from bellow, once she is on my hand, friednly little girl, she doesnt like me in her space. But will enjoy mine just fine.
Main thing, keep at it! and try to be slow, and un offensive.
