Reptile & Amphibian Forums

I purchased a beardie from a breeder in the area back in Jan. He is beautifull, but not so nice. (I really think he is the spawn of satan sometimes) I'm new to these lizards, but I hear they are not generally aggressive. All of his husbandry needs are met proper temps and stuff. I was told he would get better as he gets older, but he only gets worse. I've never mistreated him or abused him in any way and he eats tons. And I can think of no reason for his aggressiveness. I was looking forward to being able to hold him and let the kids play with him, that why i purchased a beardie because of their reputation for tolerating handling. I was thinking of calling the breeder and maybe asking for a trade off or something. Maybe another baby or a retired breeder , or maybe a toe or tail nip or something.
What do you all think? Is this something that could happen or am I being stupid?? Please help, this isnt what I expected at all!

You could ask, but don't be surprised if he says no, it's really just a matter of how nice he wants to be and is under no obligation IMO.

Sean
Heart Mountain Herps

How old is he? As adults they are generally very tame, I rarely handle mine and she has never been aggressive. How do you appraoch him? If you reach in from above, he will always react in a frightened way.
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Well, I understand that they do sometimes go through an aggressive stage at juvies, but he is getting worse. And I want to take care of the issue while he is still small. The breeder has always been willing to answer my questions, and seems to stand behind what he sells. So althought i do know he is under no obligation, I'm hoping he will be generous enough to help a beginner. As I think if he continues to get worse, when hes older he could pose a threat to my children or me. I left a message, as someone said, worse he can do is say no. Then I dont know what i will do.

If you have spoken with the breeder and informed him of the problem since the beginning, he might be inclined to help you out. What guarantee does he give? More than anything I guess it depends on availabliity. A lot of BDs go through a mean and nasty period. I have never seen one that stayed that way. I know of one person that just recently told me since moving her BD outdoors it is a different animal. It may be husbandry or handling. What is your setup like? how big and how old is your BD? What and how do you feed?
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Bennett

www.beardiedragon.com

sometimes it just takes time. holding them a few minutes a day really helps scuba the smaller of my two was like that for awhile then he calmed down.thats scuba with her mouth open.

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IN THE KEYS FINS UP!!

Very cute dragons, one looks as though hes a happy dude, smiling fo rthe camera!
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Eve

You sound like you know what you are doing in the husbandry end of things, but is he healthy? An ill dragon may be a grouchy dragon. Also, talk to your kids and make sure one of their friends did not come over and tease him, one bad experience can last a long time. Good luck!

It is my understanding that there is a proper way to
pick them up. So that they feel safe.
I can not remember what was said.
But it popped into my mind as maybe a cause for
his aggression. Radena

I would pick him up correctly if he would let me get that close. But he doesnt allow me to even get close, he will run off, and if he cant run he will threaten and bite. I dont think that he is sick, he eats well, poops reg and is alert and active most times.

i have a beardie that i hatched who had always been very very agressive. like--i would put my hand in the cage to get his food bowl and he would leap at me and bite. i had to be very careful...even though they have little mouths doesn't mean they can't do some damage!

anyway, i posted my problem on here in the form of, "i don't know what to do! he is well taken care of...i don't want him to be mean anymore," and somebody (sorry, can't remember who) suggested that i take him out every *night* after he has gone to sleep. sure you will wake him up but he will probably fall right back to sleep. and then just sit with him, quietly, in a darkened room. or what i did, since i live with someone and can't just turn all the lights out except the tv every night, was i put him on my lap and put a blanket or a towel over him and he would go right back to sleep. i held his tail a little in case he felt like sprinting, but usually he did pretty good. then if you do this every night for 15-30 minutes or however long, he will get used to your smell, your touch, your voice--i would talk to him a little...wait until he is good and asleep and pet him a little--he will see that you aren't a predator at all but a friend. and it worked!

try it! i'm sure your beardie isn't really a demon spawn...he'll chill out some time.

good luck,

amanda

The man at the petshop I use suggested that too, but it has not worked. As soon as he realizes I am going to pick him up, he turns on me. So i have tried just attempting to touch him so that he can see i'm not a threat, but this doesnt work either. I have spoken with the breeder and he is going to get back with me.

Sounds like your beardie loves to eat (as most do). Try to make the time to hand feed him everything he eats. Soon, he'll be looking forward to seeing you. Then, scoop him up gently and fed him as he's on your hand. Keep getting him further and further out of the tank and with you as he gets used to the previous stage. After he gets used to eating outside the tank, you can go back to feeding him normally, but take him out every day to hand feed him special foods he like best, only when he's with you. Sometimes the fastest way to their heart is their tummies!

he will take food from my hand, (on his terms.. not mine) but thats as "close" as we are going to get if he has it his way. And hes very picky about what it is. Usually only crickets and the occasional mealworm.