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Thread: My beardie won't let me pick him up

  1. #1
    Join Date
    Jan 2009
    Location
    Florida
    Posts
    662

    Default My beardie won't let me pick him up

    My bearded dragon, Gomek, is now around 16'' and he has had this problem where he won't let me pick him up. He is not aggressive in any way, he just tries to escape from my hand. He starts this little ''squirming'' episode. He mostly does it when I take him out of his tank to eat his crickets. Then, when I go to put him back in the tank, he tries to jump out of my hand into the tank. I'm worried he will get hurt doing this, because I don't like him landing hard onto his rock when he jumps out of my hand.

    Any advice?
    1.0.0. English Budgie (Peanut)
    1.0.0. Red-Eared Slider (Rocky)
    1.0.0. Bearded Dragon (Gomek)
    www.youtube.com/SnakeEyes223

  2. #2
    Join Date
    Nov 2008
    Location
    Tokyo, Japan
    Posts
    353

    Default

    You are like Godzilla for Gomek maybe (sorry, but the size difference between you and him)
    I think he feels some fear against you or it's only his instinct

    Some lizards are so sensitive and shy
    Beardies get used to the keepers with regular handling I think

    How long you have kept him so far?

  3. #3
    Join Date
    Apr 2010
    Location
    Corpus Christi, TX
    Posts
    48

    Default

    Its been a few years since I last had a beardie, but mine did that when I first got him, he stopped after a few months. I used to pick him up in the cage and just let him walk from one hand to the other while still in the cage this seemed to help.

  4. #4
    Join Date
    Nov 2009
    Location
    Sweden
    Posts
    170

    Default

    Why do you take him out for feeding? I think he will feel much more secure if he could stay in his enclosure. If you don't want crickets in the enclosure why don't you use a tong?

    I think he will calm down in time. I would suggest just lifting him up once in a while. He doesn't have to leave the enclosure, just lift him up while he's still inside and hold him for a little while. Don't do it to often, nothing more than once a week. Good luck.

  5. #5
    Join Date
    Jan 2009
    Location
    Florida
    Posts
    662

    Default

    I take him out for feeding for a few reasons. One is so that he won't ingest sand with his crickets. Another is so that the crickets can't hide in the tank and chew on him. And the last is so he doesn't think every time my hand enters the tank that it's feeding time, so he doesn't become aggressive.
    1.0.0. English Budgie (Peanut)
    1.0.0. Red-Eared Slider (Rocky)
    1.0.0. Bearded Dragon (Gomek)
    www.youtube.com/SnakeEyes223

  6. #6
    Join Date
    Nov 2009
    Location
    Sweden
    Posts
    170

  7. #7
    Join Date
    Jul 2009
    Location
    Sin City
    Posts
    252

    Default

    The only problem with feeding beardies with tongs or your hands is they are creatures of habit and will soon refuse to get their own food and insist on being hand fed. If you don't want this to happen I would suggest that you continue taking him out to feed him. My beardie is so spoiled thanks to my doting hubby that she wont even eat her salad unless it is fed piece by piece. Needless to say we don't go anywhere without taking her along because he is afraid she will starve herself while we are gone. Do yourself a favor and let him chase his food. LOL If you want him to calm down then a beardie burrito is in order.
    Step one
    Take something small like a dish towel and wrap him in it so he looks like a burrito. He will feel safe.
    Step two
    Chill on the couch and watch some TV with him on your chest.
    This works best at night when they are tired and you turn out the lights in the house so he will want to sleep. He should become more chilled out with you after about a week of this.
    Toki Tegu
    Scorch Dragon
    Nadine Columbian Boa
    2 Herb freak Teenagers & 1 Beardie loving Hubby

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