Reptile & Amphibian Forums

My little bro has a bearded dragon, and when we try to handle it it always is very agrivated and opens his mouth, always trying to run and squirm her way out of our hands

Any suggestions????

o yeah, what type of veggies do you reccomend the most? i usually feed it kale, but i heard it was a Calcium- binder or something

BEN

Getting beardies used to you takes time. Get him first used to your presence, try hand feeding his favorite veggie or feeder insect to get him to trust you, then try gently pettin ghim in the tank, then gently holding him in the tank. Work your way up and out of the tank slowly, being picked up and lifted is very stressfull, your dragon has to trust you first.

As far as veggies Kale does contain oxalates (calcium binders) as does spinich and chard.

Good veggies to feed as staples include: Collard, dandelion, mustard, and turnip greens are all great. So are endive and escarole.

Check out the nutrition page at www.beautifuldragons.com, it has a HUGE list of veggies and which ones should be fed and at what increments
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0.1 Bearded dragon (Hannabil)
0.1 mexican Black kingsnake (Morticia)
2.1 Leopard Gecko's (Pogo,Jeffrey Nothing, Louise)
0.0.1 Tokay Gecko
1.0 Blue Tongue Skink
0.0.1 Reverse Okeetee Corn (Autumn)
1.0 Blood Red Corn (Virus)
0.1 Bullmastiff (Asha)
4.1 Cats (Poe, Tucker, Abhid, Felicity, Emmy)

I have gotten mine used to being handle by first petting them while they eat...they're such piggies they usually ignore me...and slowly over time I pet them more and pick them up...I also talk to them...my younger one when I give him water which I use a needleless syringe for, actually does not start drinking until I have petted him...
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1.0.1 Bearded Dragons - Smaug and Pazuzu
3.1 Bettas - Jason (R.I.P.), Ori, Fishy Fishy Fishy, Faith (R.I.P.)
1.0 3 Legged Bullfrog - Jeremiah Sim Choy
1.0 Leopard Gecko - Spike
0.1 Guinea Pigs- Oreo and Bunny

I would say thet he is probably just not used to being held. With mine I started off hand feeding and worked up to petting. Then I put food on my wrist and had her climb onto my hand for the food, at which point I praised and petted her. After a few days or so she would climb onto my hand when I put it in the cage with my palm up. So I would lift her up a couple of inches, praise and give a snack, lower again, raise a few inches
higher and repeat. And so on. Then once I had gotten her out on my lap, I would praise and pet her and after a couple days she would come climbing out without any trouble.
It may seem like alot but it isn't really once you get started.
And it is a good way to tame a beardie and get it attached to you.

Also, Did you give the beardie a day or two to settle in?
Or, is he somewhere Loud or Busy?
He may just be a little torqued because of all the stress.

Anyway, I hope we helped!

thanks for the help guys

He is in a very low comotion room, its basically a reptile room in the back of our basement

I think by now hes' settled in, but we were still hanndling him after the first day, hes been here for about 2 weeks

I'll try the avice you guys gave me

I've fed her with my hands.....he really does try to rip it out of my hands, and she sometimes nips me on the finger

BEN