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HELP with a mean baby beardie!!!!!!!!!!!

DogStar Oct 31, 2003 04:11 PM

Ok so I have had this baby since he was born, he was the one who I thought I had killed by fist letting his egg dry rock hard and then second by opening the dry egg too soon, anyways he obviously survived. NOW, he is a little demon! He puffs, hisses and bites when I go to take him out and hold him! He's well fed, "fat" all has a basking spot of 110. When I pick him up I do not come from above, I let him see my hand, no surprises. I dont take his crap either, I dont hesitate and do not shrink back from his actions.
Funny thing is he will eat from my hand!!
But he is getting worse, where he used to just gape and puff, now he actively tries to bite me.

I've been wanting to sell him but I feel like I cant in all conscience sell a mean lizard to someone, even if I tell them the truth I would feel bad.

Does anyone have any ideas I haven't explored? My other older male is getting a little puffy too, but he never tries to bite and is always nice as soon as I take him out.
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DogStar

"Many have forgotten this truth, but you must not forget it. You remain responsible, forever, for what you have tamed." --Antoine de Saint Exupery

Replies (3)

khandof Oct 31, 2003 05:19 PM

I was in the same situation and I sold mine. When I sold her she was about 8 months old. I was tired of trying to tame her, I spent about 6 months trying to do so. I was told she would eventually come around when she got older, but I was tried of putting up with her garbage. After I sold her I bought another baby dragon and she's the sweetest thing. I took me about 3 weeks to tame her. I'm not telling you to sell your dragon, I just wanted to share my experience.

meretseger Oct 31, 2003 08:55 PM

I'm pretty much stuck with my mean one, because he's a runt AND has a nice range of intestinal parasites that I'm not confident will ever go away completely. But you have to remember that at heart they are more scared and insecure than average beardies, not meaner. Mine is especially bad with being grabbed, but I've gotten good at doing it. Once he's out of the cage he won't bite but he does run everywhere. Even though I would have to try hard to get a worse beardie, I'm really attached to the little guy.
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Peter: It's OK, I'll handle it. I read a book about something like this.
Brian: Are you sure it was a book? Are you sure it wasn't NOTHING?

mismodliz Oct 31, 2003 10:03 PM

When I bought my dragon at 5 months, the breeder told me he was more aggressive than most. He had bitten the head of a brother and bitten off the leg of another. He's 2 yrs now, and although he's not the tamest guy, he doesn't hiss or bite (just freaks out easily!) So, your baby may never be the gentlest of beardies, but hopefully he will grow out of this stage.

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