When should i start handling my bearded dragon

They can get away from you quick, and aren't afraid to jump 6 feet to the floor from your shoulder which has happened to me, and could hurt them! When you begin to handle him, you may want to start in the tank, like Chomper suggested. If you do take him out, try setting up an area where he can't get away from you and hide easily, and handle him closer to the floor, while you're sitting.

Goonie BD. Similar threads M. Trouble with the new baby. MarnelKelis Jul 10, General Discussion. Replies 2 Views Jul 10, Gail. Can my beardie catch my cold?

TorTor Sep 28, Health. Sep 29, kingofnobbys. Just be sure to grab your pet securely, but gently to make sure he neither falls nor feels unnecessary pressure around his body. This will prevent him from feeling frightened, which may cause him to run or thrash about in an effort to feel more secure.

But it is usually preferable to support large bearded dragons with two hands at a time for maximum safety. Typically, this will mean handling your bearded dragon in a closed room, in which there are no loud noises including televisions, radios or similar devices. Even the calmest bearded dragon will eventually become stressed out if you handle him for too long. Bearded dragons are relatively clean when compared to aquatic turtles and some other common pet species.

However, they can be contaminated with a variety of pathogenic bacteria, including various strains of Salmonella. Fortunately, you can usually avoid illness by simply washing your hands after handling your dragon or anything in his enclosure. Just use plenty of soap and warm water and be sure to scrub the areas where dirt and bacteria often linger, such as around your fingernails. Note that young children, elderly individuals and those with compromised immune systems may be at increased risk of illness.

So, do not allow young children to handle bearded dragons, and be sure that others who may be at increased risk of illness speak with their physician before handling any reptile. In addition to the things explained above that you should do when handling your pet, you should avoid doing any of the following:.

Bearded dragons are generally very placid lizards, who are disinclined to bite the hands that feed them though there are certainly exceptions. However, many fledgling keepers are still nervous about the notion of picking up or handling their new pet. Pet the bearded dragon lightly on the head, then move your hand gently around its mid-section. The first time you pick it up, it may give you a funny look. Gently begin lifting him out of the enclosure with one hand, and gently stroking his head and back with the other hand.

If the bearded dragon is fully grown, you may need to use both hands to hold him. You definitely do not want to drop it! The best thing to remember is to be steady and consistent when taming a bearded dragon. Like any relationship, it takes time, patience, and a little work. The relationship you build with your bearded dragon is no different. Please refer to our Disclosure Policy for more information. Mine tries to run the minute I start lifting, and he jumps too.

Some bearded dragons take longer than others to get used to their owners—it depends on its behavior, its personality, and its sense of acceptance and trust. These things differ from dragon to dragon. Some bearded dragons take a little longer to adapt to their new surroundings than others do. The wrong signals could produce intimidation, which may greatly delay any development of trust between you both.

After enough time working with the lizard, eventually, the bearded dragon will allow you to pick it up and interact with it. Continue to show interest in taking care of its needs. Sometimes talking softly to it through its terrarium also helps keeping it in a calm state of mind Work with your dragon and nurture it as much as possible.

Make sure it understands that you intend to do no harm to the bearded dragon. You want to ensure your new pet is not in danger and is in a caring home. I have had my baby beardie for 2 weeks, he is very young, I try to pat him daily but all he does is hiss and run away and bite me. Sounds like you have one very overactive bearded dragon. The best thing you can do is to continue showing calm, yet strategic approaches. Try not to show signs of anger, intimidation, or fear. It may take some time for his aggressiveness to go away, but just try not to be too impatient with your pet.

If he hisses or tries to bite at you, try to react as calmly as possible, as the wrong signals can alert the bearded dragon as an act of intimidation. It may also help if you stayed in the same room as the pet and interacted as much as you can with it through the glass of the terrarium. Like any living creature, beardies like to be given their own space aswell. For example, if your mum keeps invading your room without knocking all the time, your going to get annoyed about it.

Its the same with beardies. You can see it, it looks like a small black speck. This is there so they can sense predators, like birds, in the wild. So approaching from above when going to handle a nervous beardie can result in not only getting bit, but stressing them out. The same goes for petting them there aswell. Its always a good idea to start from the base of the skull, and work your way down the spine. However every bearded dragon is different, and its ultimately up to the owner to find out what they enjoy.

Otherwise, he may injure his back. Get comfortable and stay calm. Place the bearded dragon on your arm, chest, or lap and it will most likely stay there comfortably while you pet it. Your calm gentle touches will help the beardie to feel relaxed. Adult bearded dragons can be up to two feet long, so you may be most comfortable sitting with it.

Young dragons are speedy, so you may want to loosely hold on. Know that a beardie's scales and spikes point in one direction, so pet him along the scales rather than against or you will end up with prickles in your skin and an angry beardie. If it becomes stressed or agitated, put it back in its cage. Watch for these gestures: Inflated, black beard: When a lizard wants to show dominance, or feels startled or threatened - this particularly happens during breeding season - it puffs its throat out.

The lizard's beard will also turn black when it is agitated. Mouth gaping: As with the inflated beard, this gesture is meant to make the dragon look menacing, as a show of dominance or to scare off a potential aggressor. Mouth open, but not wide. It may just be trying to cool off. Bobbing head: Males show dominance with this gesture. Arm waving: Sometimes a dragon may hold up one front leg and slowly wave it, which is a sign of submission. Raised tail: This is commonly seen during breeding season.

It can also be a sign of alertness and activeness. Juveniles tend to raise their tail when they're hunting prey. Return the dragon to its habitat. When you are done holding the dragon, or the dragon is done being held, return it to is enclosure using the steps described above.

You can hold a bearded dragon for as long as it will tolerate being held. Start with 15 minutes once a day and as it gets used to being handled, you can hold it longer. Some dragons enjoy being held several times a day for several hours.

When the beardie becomes restless, it is time to put him back. The length of time he can stay out of his vivarium depends on the room temperature.

Reptiles are cold-blooded, so if the room is cool, he may start to chill and his digestion will stop. If his belly feels cool to the touch, then return him to the vivarium to warm up. Bearded dragons, like most reptiles carry Salmonella. It is normal for them, but can cause illness in people. Always wash your hands after handling a bearded dragon. Did you know you can get expert answers for this article? Unlock expert answers by supporting wikiHow.

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