Reptile & Amphibian Forums

I posted a message yesterday and I tried the advice. I let him out of the cage and on my bed to roam around and explore. I have spent the last two hours trying to pick him up without him running off the side of the bed. I eventually had to give him a shirt to hide in so I could put him back in the cage. I dont know what else to try. I cant even touch him without him freaking out and running, even in his cage. and btw he is 4 months old and the pet shop guy sold him to me at 3 weeks old
He said he will calm down after a month. I need some alternatives to get him used to being held!

Thanks much!

You need to pick him up and hold him every day, letting them explore can be a good thing too like you've tried, but it still can take awhile for them to really calm down.

He's really young right now, so he's going to be full of energy. Just give it time and hang in there, he'll come around. Maybe he just thinks the tank is boring and likes your bed more

Having a weekly soak can help in this too.

Nothing you can do but give it time. Don't forget that every dragon has their own personality, and you might just have one with a bit more attitude than others, but if you're persistant you'll win in time. Try not to be frustrated by it, consider this a bonding experience, after all you are some 5000 times bigger than he is, you're bound to be a little intimidating regardless.

Also when holding the dragon, hold him in a room where you cant lose him. Try the bathroom(as long as he get get under the door), and maybe let him walk on you. When you hold him dont hold your hand around him, but let him sit on top of your hand kind of so he has the choice to run or sit there(and dont do this high up)......try sitting on the floor and letting him roam around you. And especially like wain said, he is young and most dragons will calm down with age. Chris

One thing to remember however. Most of the time handling a dragon everyday is the best way to get him to calm down. But sometimes at young ages this can be too stressfull and be harmful to their health. If you notice he stops eating or is eating very little because you are holding him I would wait a couple months until he is older. Most of the time they calm down a bunch when they get some size on them. Good luck!

Peter

It might also be the way he is being held. My guy HATES being held in my hand, he feels (I assume) very unstable and insecure. But he calms right down if I set him on my shoulder. They seem to like ot hang onto stuff with all four feet and if they can't it unsettles them. Try setting him on your shoulder and see if he doesn't just sit there. He might also want to try climbing up on your head, mine does that from time to time and I don't really mind it. If he likes just hanging on then that would be a good way to get him acclimated to you.

Quickbeam

Thanks a lot for the info. Ill definitely do everything I can to keep him happy. I never knew he would be so smart that he would need to know me better. I guess beardies are just like humans. You cant stop the little ones and you cant get the big ones going.