Baby Beardie bites us

[Mary Owen]

Hello,
I'm fairly new to bearded dragons, and lizards in general, so am hoping someone will have some advice for me. Our family recently got a baby bearded dragon, his (or her, too young to tell yet) name is Phoenix, and he's about 3 to 4 months old (7 1/2 inches long). When we first got Phoenix, he was just a bit skittish, but we held him for at least 1/2 hour each day, talked to him lots, and included him for my son's story time every night before bed (he would sit on my hand while we read). However, a couple of weeks ago, my son and I were out of town for a weekend for a karate tournament, but my husband was at home (he had to work during the day), so Phoenix wasn't "alone", and was still well cared for. The first night we were gone, my husband reached into the tank to put his veggies in his dish, and Phoenix hissed and bit him. He jerked his hand out of the tank because it startled him, but Phoenix was hiding under his branch by then. We don't know why he bit in the first place, but even worse, he won't allow us to handle him at all now. Every time I put my hand near him, he hisses and tries to bite. He did just recently go through a shed, and I thought he might get back to normal after that, but he hasn't. I'm very concerned that he's displaying this type of behavior at such a young age, and I really want to help build his trust, because he was so sweet before, and I hope we can get that back. Any suggestions, or help? Is there any hope that he will go back to his old self?

 

[PatsyB]

If your husband isn't the one that normally feeds him, it's possible that he got a little scared having a new hand in his tank. Try putting a small article of clothing in his tank that has your scents on it, that may help him get used to you again. Another thing that really worked for me was to pet and hold the bearded dragon for a few minutes before his lights go out for the night. When he's real sleepy he isn't caring about much more than just sleep. It's also important, when he tries to bite you or hiss at you, don't flinch. This will show him that you are not afraid of him and he will back down.

p.s. I LOVE that you read to your son before bed. I don't hear about many people doing that anymore.

 

[Noella]

It's great that you read to your son at night.

I'd do what PatsyB suggests with an article of clothing.

 

[timbalan]

My gf reads to our daughter every night. And yes i used to put an old workshirt in his viv he lived to sleep in it

 

[Mary Owen]

Thank you PatsyB! I'll find a piece of clothing to put in there with him. Makes perfect sense, we've always done that with our dogs to comfort them during the day while we're at work I'll have to work on the flinching, I am guilty of that! I really don't want to get bit, lol.

Yes, we love to read together at night My son is old enough now that he gets to do the reading (he's 7) and we really miss our beardie buddy! I'll keep trying with him. If he runs away should I let him go? Sometimes he darts around the tank and if he does that I've been leaving him along. I didn't think it would accomplish much besides scaring him to chase him around trying to catch him.

 

[Mary Owen]

All snuggled in for the night

 

[MisterD83]

Though I can't comment on the solution, I agree with PatsyB. My local reptile store has a sign at the front door and I love it.

"ANYTHING with a mouth can bite (Including the owner). Enter at your own risk. "


As for the beardie running away, sometimes its a game to them. I have one that sits on my chest perfectly fine then in the spur of a moment will run and jump off the couch onto the floor and wait for me to get her. IF Phoenix is hissing, inflating herself, and biting as you get close to him/her, that is defensive posturing. and I wouldn't chase. If you need to do something in the tank, work around the beardie till it stops then slowly start handling it in its enclosure and progress forward as it allows.

 

[diegothediggy]

Id suggests a slow build up. Start with just putting ur hand in the viv n not even tryin to touch ur beardie do this several times for a few mins for a couple of days she will soon grasp that u not gunna hurt her. Then after a couple of day put ur hand in for a fee mins then slowly move it towards her.makin sure u cum at her frount on n not from the bak that can scare her. Then when u manage to stroke her without her running carry that on for a few days. Then hand in. Stroke. Then pik up in the tank n stork for a few days until shes happy with u gettin her then she shud b use to u. Dnt rush her give her time n no defo dnt chance her.

 

[PatsyB]

Diego's mommy has a good idea too! I also did that with Luci. One good thing about them being this size is that their bark is worse than their bite. Their jaw isn't real strong, their teeth aren't very sharp so when they do bite you (when they are small) it's almost funny! It's when they are bigger that their bite really hurts! So it's good to try to get them out of this habit at a young age.

 

[Mary Owen]

Thanks for the great advice! We had a very good visit tonight I didn't try to pick Phoenix up, but laid my hand next to him along the bottom of the tank while I fed him his crickets. He hissed and backed away at first, but eventually stopped, and even started walking across my hand to get to the crickets! We'll keep taking it slow.

 

[Luvthemanimal]

By one beardie Jade does this also..... He's bigger though and his bite hurts like a summabitch...... Once I manage to get him I put him in a bath.... He poops and is completely fine he'll sit on me whatever no problems for hour or so...... Than I'll put him back in the viv..... Than 10 min later try and grab him and it's like the Devils hand is reaching in to get him........ It's frustrating to say the least. ........ But don't give up

 

[diegothediggy]

Well done. Little is often betta wen it comes to our beardies. No dnt give up n the more often u do it the quicker he will get use 2 u. Take little baby steps. Dnt forget he only a baby and we r huge to them. If a giant hand grabbed u i think ud b slightly scared. Beardie tend to have such unique personallities. Give it time n u will know ur little 1 luke the back of ur hand. Like any petson or animal it takes time to build trust

 

[PatsyB]

By one beardie Jade does this also..... He's bigger though and his bite hurts like a summabitch...... Once I manage to get him I put him in a bath.... He poops and is completely fine he'll sit on me whatever no problems for hour or so...... Than I'll put him back in the viv..... Than 10 min later try and grab him and it's like the Devils hand is reaching in to get him........ It's frustrating to say the least. ........ But don't give up

The bath is also a good thing too to establish trust. They are more afraid of the water than us. I found with Luci, when I was able to wrangle him up and put him in the bath, he would instantly calm down and hold my hand the whole time.

 

[Luvthemanimal]

The bath is also a good thing too to establish trust. They are more afraid of the water than us. I found with Luci, when I was able to wrangle him up and put him in the bath, he would instantly calm down and hold my hand the whole time.

Yep mine does that to..... But put him back in the viv and try and get him right back out... He's pissed lol

 

[river-7]

Hi; I use the stroking method. I reach in slowing not doing anything just feeding and after awhile I stroke the head all the while talking to the baby just for a few seconds and repeat each time you feed and they accossiate[sp] your hand with food.Do you feed by hand?? try it and don't push it just take time and that will prevail-good luck and have patience. And never reach from top to pick up your baby always under tummy after stroking her head. As birds of prey come from the top to eat dragon and that's why they give you a hard time. river-7